About Children's Trust Fund
What is it?
The Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund is a statewide nonprofit organization leading efforts to prevent' child abuse and neglect by supporting parents and strengthening family. As an umbrella organization, CTF funds, evaluates, and promotes the work of over 100 agencies that serve parents.
Child abuse is the leading cause of death for children age four and under. In 2000, more than 80% of child abuse and neglect in this country was inflicted by one or both of the child's own parents! Shamefully, Massachusetts has the 4th highest rate of child abuse and neglect in the nation.
The Children's Trust Fund was created in 1988 as the state's only organization dedicated solely to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Now, with almost twenty years of experience, CTF is a nationally-recognized leader in parenting education and support. The right kind of training and support can help moms and dads learn to raise happier, healthier, safer children. CTF funds the most effective training programs and public education, giving families access to parenting support in their own communities.
What does it do?
The Children's Trust Fund works to ensure that all parents have access to effective, community-based family support resources and the skills and knowledge they need to raise safe, happy and healthy children. CTF funds more than 100 family support and parenting education programs including Healthy Families.
Healthy Families Massachusetts provides a trained home visitor who offers information and support on a voluntary basis to all first-time parents age 20 and under. Research shows the benefits of home visiting:
- A significantly lower rate of child abuse
- Better-educated and better-paid parents
- Healthier children
- Fewer subsequent pregnancies among teen moms
The Healthy Families Massachusetts Newborn Home Visiting program is available in all communities in Massachusetts, including Somerville, through their 27 funded agencies across the state.
CTF also funds parenting education and support programs and six family center throughout the state, including locations in Cambridge, Somerville and Medford. We decided to choose Children's Trust Fund, and more specifically, Healthy Families, to receive the profits from the Tufts University Dance Marathon because it is appropriate to give back to our community.