The birth of a new baby is often a time of joy and excitement, but is a big transition that can also bring worry, exhaustion, anxiety, stress, and mood changes. JF&CS's Center for Early Relationship Support (CERS) promotes the earliest parent-child relationships by supporting parents as they manage the challenges of caring for their baby.

Our home and community-based services:

• Help parents build responsive relationships with their child
• Reduce sources of stress in the family
• Strengthen core life skills that help individuals plan, regulate emotions, and develop greater self-awareness

CERS offers services in the home, community, or virtually for parents and/or caregivers who are expecting or have an infant or young child.

For specific eligibility or more information, contact us at 781-693-1200 or CERSIntake@jfcsboston.org.

Services for Parents and Caregivers

Families with Babies and Young Children

JF&CS offers a variety of home and community-based services for families who have new babies or young children. Our services include home visiting supports and parent support groups in the community.

Our team has extensive knowledge in supporting families:

• parenting a premature or medically fragile infant
• impacted by trauma
• impacted by substance use
• experiencing stress, mood changes, or anxiety
• with parents under the age of 23

Adoption Resources

We provide the resources, services, and support you need to navigate every step of your adoption journey.

Consultation and Training for Professionals

Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

Our consultation services for Early Education and Care settings focus on the relationships between caregivers and children within the classroom. Services include training, consultation, and supervision support.

Infant Mental Health Professional Development

JF&CS offers rich learning opportunities for mental health professionals, as well as allied health professionals from various disciplines, as part of consultation and capacity building within systems of care for families and caregivers of infants and young children.

Training and Technical Assistance

JF&CS experts provide support, resources, and ongoing learning opportunities for providers in the statewide home visiting program serving families impacted by substance use.

Volunteer with CERS

Lauren & Mark Rubin Visiting Moms® program matches volunteers with new parents during the first year of their baby’s life. Volunteers are trained and supervised to support parents who are adjusting to parenthood.. Volunteers visit new parents at home and provide a weekly visit up until the baby’s first birthday.

Rubin Visiting Moms volunteer opportunities are available across Greater Boston.

Interested in supporting CERS and our work with families?

Learn more about our volunteer opportunities by completing our volunteer registration form.