by Leorah Avidor

—[ great cause ]—

Mission: Home Start promotes safety and the nurturing of children by fostering healthy families and communities.

Since 1972, Home Start has been collaborating with local families to prevent child abuse and neglect. Home Start provides counseling and support, as well as food, furniture and clothing to help families establish a solid start.

Known for its home-based counseling services, Home Start is one of only a few agencies that bring Parent-Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT) into the home. PCIT is a research-based form of therapy that helps parents of children with behavior problems to improve their relationships with their children, as well as increase the child’s self-esteem and improve their behavior and attention. The foundation also operates community centers where families can go for help filing health insurance applications and tax returns.

Every year Home Start coordinates the Adopt-a-Family program, which matches financially struggling families with companies or families who would like to adopt them for the holidays. Donors receive suggested shopping lists, and then they buy gifts for their adopted families. As CEO Laura Mustari puts it, “the difference it makes for the children in these families is so heartwarming!”

Find out how you can adopt a family! Log on to: home-start.org