Parenting Journey

Parenting Journey is a Somerville nonprofit that develops parenting programs and trains family services professionals to run them. Its approach is strengths-based and trauma-informed: rather than lecturing parents on how to parent, its groups help them recognize and build on what they already do well. The organization works through a network of agencies, public systems, clinicians, counselors and teachers who bring Parenting Journey groups to the families they serve, and it also offers resources directly to parents.

Programs follow what the group calls its NEST philosophy: non-didactic, evidence-based, strengths-focused and trauma-informed. A quasi-experimental evaluation with the Institute for Community Health and Boston University found statistically significant gains among graduates of Parenting Journey 1, the core curriculum, including more positive feelings about themselves and better relationships with their children. The organization also advocates with partner groups for policies that reduce the inequities adding stress to family life.

What to Know

• Parenting Journey has been working with families since 1982.
• Its trainings have been delivered in English, Spanish and French.
• Organizations can arrange to bring Parenting Journey groups in-house through its training team.
• It publishes a formal diversity statement committing to fair, inclusive practice across identities and backgrounds.