East Boston Family
Engagement Network

East Boston Family Engagement Network (EBFEN) is a founding member of the Boston Family Engagement Network.

EBFEN provides family support services and coordinates family access to programs that promote children’s healthy development and family wellbeing.

  • EBFEN offers a wide variety of services and programming for families and parents:

    • Welcome Baby Visits

    • Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Screenings

    • Parent-Child Playgroups

    • Individual Family Support

    • Adult ESOL Classes

    • Workshops and Events

  • Families and parents currently living in East Boston

    • Welcome Baby Visits are for families with a newborn child

    • ASQ Screenings and Playgroups are for children ages 0-6

    • Individual Family Support & Adult ESOL Classes are for adults

  • East Boston Social Centers at 68 Central Square

    Services can be provided over the phone, via Zoom, or in-person, according to family needs and staff availability

    Programming takes place in a variety of places in East Boston

  • Services and programming are available year-round

    Days and times vary according to need and availability, but can include evenings and Saturdays

    Office Hours for EBFEN: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

  • All East Boston Family Engagement Network services and programming are free!

Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)

ASQ-3 screens have been used for over 20 years to help parents identify their children’s strengths and areas where they may need additional support. It provides a developmental snapshot of a child between one month and 5½ years. With the addition of ASQ-SE screens, a child can now be screened for social and emotional development as well.

Welcome Baby Visits

A Welcome Baby visit provides a celebratory home visit to families with newborns up to 9 months old in East Boston. Welcome Baby visitors arrive with a beautiful gift bag filled with baby essentials. Families and caregivers will also receive information about activities, resources, and services in the community. Welcome Baby visits can be conducted in English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Vietnamese. After the first visit, families and caregivers may request to participate in our Expanded Welcome Baby program, allowing up to seven additional visits.

Learn More

Run by Parent Partners

EBFEN’s Parent Partners are the leaders who make the East Boston Family Engagement Network stronger every day!

They are members of the East Boston community who work to connect families to resources at events such as resource fairs, the East Boston Farmers Market, and the East Boston Social Centers Community Baby Shower.

Parent Partners meet twice a month to plan, facilitate, and reflect on how community outreach and activities are going. Meetings also include training opportunities, introduction to partner organizations, and leadership opportunities. EBFEN Parent Partners are volunteers who receive a small stipend for their participation.

Parent Partners planned and organized a family day trip to George's Island complete with a complimentary ticket and lunch for all 125 folks who joined!

Parent Partners planned and organized a family day trip to George's Island complete with a complimentary ticket and lunch for all 125 folks who joined!

Parent Partners are always ready to lend a helping hand at Social Centers' events including the East Boston Early Educator Provider Dinner which brought together center-based and family-childcare educators and Directors for the first time since COVID

Parent Partners are always ready to lend a helping hand at Social Centers' events including the East Boston Early Educator Provider Dinner which brought together center-based and family-childcare educators and Directors for the first time since COVID in May 2024.

Parent Partners lend their expertise and foster a sense of belonging at the Annual Every Child Shines Community Convening.

Parent Partners lend their expertise and foster a sense of belonging at the Annual Every Child Shines Community Convening.

Parent Partners ran games and connected families with resources at EBSC's Community Baby Shower in October 2024.

Parent Partners ran games and connected families with resources at EBSC's Community Baby Shower in October 2024.

Parent Partners shared resources such as The Basics Principles, Welcome Baby visits, and Ages and Stages developmental Questionnaires with families at Mutual Aid Eastie's Resource Fair in August 2024.

Parent Partners shared resources such as The Basics Principles, Welcome Baby visits, and Ages and Stages developmental Questionnaires with families at Mutual Aid Eastie's Resource Fair in August 2024.

Parent Partner and Board member, Assia does arts and crafts with children and their families at a Resource Fair this past summer.

Parent Partner and Board member, Assia does arts and crafts with children and their families at a Resource Fair this past summer.

Contact Us

If you or a family you work with are interested in EBFEN services, including Welcome Baby visits, play groups, ASQs and more, please fill out our EBFEN Sign-up Form and our team will reach out!

Sign Up

If you are interested in becoming a Parent Partner or have any other questions about East Boston Family Engagement Network, please contact the Director of EBFEN.

Meet the Team

Connect with us on Facebook for frequent updates on community events and resources

Connect on Facebook