Healthy Families:  Support for Parents Age 20 & Under

Becoming a parent for the first time can be a challenge. It's even more of a challenge if you're age 20 and under. 

Healthy Families is a free home visiting support program for first time parents, age 20 and under, living in the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin regions, as well as Ludlow and Chester in Hampden County. Home Visitors provide parenting support and child development education at participant homes as well as in groups with other first time pregnant and parenting teens. Activities are geared toward young parents' interests, whether it be support groups on relationships or making special journals about their child's first years of life.

​Home Visitors also model healthy parent-child interaction, facilitate age-appropriate activities with children and parents together, make referrals, and provide information about a range of topics in a non-threatening and supportive way. But most important of all, they listen. All services are voluntary and confidential. Spanish speaking home visitors are available.

Healthy Families offers:

• Weekly home visits that focus on you and your baby

• Parent support groups

• Advocacy for housing, food, health care, transportation, employment, and education

Submit an easy online referral at: www.healthyfamiliesreferral.wordpress.com

Franklin County residents call 413-475-1545 or 978-544-8205

Hampshire residents call 413-387-1270

WIC is a lifeline for millions of families across the country. Specifically geared to pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women and children up to age 5, WIC provides a debit card to buy nutritious foods like milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, juice, peanut butter, and beans at local authorized grocery stores. In addition, it offers nutrition assessment and counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals to services that help keep families healthy and safe.​

During the first 5 years of a child's life, WIC provides a safe, nurturing environment for education, healthcare and social service referrals, as well as free access to nutritious foods.  

Community Action WIC serves:

• Infants and children up to age 5 years of age

• Women through all stages of their pregnancy, breastfeeding, and up to six months postpartum

• Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin residents with nutritional needs 

WIC Provides:

• A debit card to buy nutritious foods from the grocery store and local farmers markets

• Nutrition assessment and education

• Breastfeeding support and information

• Immunization screening and information

• Referrals to other social service programs

• Breast pumps and Infant Formula

To view the Massachusetts WIC Program income eligibility guidelines, please click here.​

To access the Massachusetts WIC online application,

please click here.​

To access the Massachusetts WIC nondiscrimination statement,

please click here.

For more information on Community Action's WIC services, please view our WIC Site Directory and contact the WIC office in your area.