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If you have a child who will be between 18 months and 3 ½ years of age by October…
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If you would like to learn new ways to read, talk, and play with your child…
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If you would you like to get FREE, books, educational materials, and ideas to help build our child’s skills…
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A trained Home Visitor can come to your home or transitional housing for weekly one-hour visits to model ways for you and your child to explore books and educational materials, related to a thematic, play-based curriculum.
Our program, for Cambridge families with children between the ages of 18 months and 3 1/2 years, supports parents in their role as their child’s first teacher. We have been a program of the Cambridge Public Schools for over 40 years, and are certified by the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP)*, a research-based , nation-wide program.
Our goal is to build on young children’s natural interest in learning by promoting parent-child interaction and play, and by encouraging parents to use everyday items and the world around them as learning tools.
How the Program Works
A trained Home Visitor makes weekly, one-hour visits to play, read and interact with your child and family. Our thematic curriculum based on the interests of young children, and is designed for the way young children learn best…through active involvement. Home Visitors share skills, ideas, resources, and activities related to the curriculum theme.
Each week, the Home Visitor brings a new book and an educational toy or activity. The materials are given to your family, so they can be used again and again. Parents are encouraged to use the books and other materials as often as possible during the time between home visits.
Our Staff
We have 12 Home Visitors. They are part-time employees of the Cambridge Public Schools. Each Home Visitor is assigned several families each year. Each family and their Home Visitor work together throughout the year.
The program is run by the Program Coordinator Tamara Joy Harper and the Assistant Coordinator Peggy Beucler. Both are available by phone to answer your questions, to take down enrollment information and to listen to your suggestions. All intake visits and regular supervision visits are carried out by Honey. She is also available for additional visits to families if requested by the family for specific reasons.
Our Cambridge Public School Site Supervisor is Mary Grassi.
In addition to English, staff members speak Bangla, German, Japanese, Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Pashto, Farsi, and Spanish.
Eligibility
In order to participate in our program you must:
- live in Cambridge
- have a child who is between the ages of at least 18 months and no more than 3 ½ years by October of the year enrolling
- be willing to participate actively in the weekly home visits and to do follow-up activities during the week
Families who will attend the program for a full school year will be given priority. Other priority considerations may apply depending on program demand and families’ needs.
How to Enroll
Enrollment is ongoing on a first-come, first-served basis. Families (or a representative) should call 617.349.6849 or 617.349.6724 or come by our office to enroll.
Tamara Joy Harper, Program Coordinator – 617.349.6849
Peggy Beucler, Assistant Program Coordinator – 617.349.6724
Cambridge Public Schools
Haggerty School
110 Cushing Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Tel: 617.349.6724 or 617.349.6849
Fax: 617.349.6908
Program Site Supervisor: Mary Grassi
For information about the nation-wide Parent-Child Home Program, please click here.