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Top Officials from Three State Agencies Visit Martha’s Vineyard Community Services to Strengthen Coordinated Family Support Policy

Children's Trust Updates

Public-private collaboration brings state officials together to learn directly from families and practitioners

Martha’s Vineyard, MA (9/1/26) — Secretary Stephen Zrike (Executive Office of Education), Commissioner Staverne Miller (Department of Children and Families), and Commissioner Amy Kershaw (Department of Early Education and Care), joined by Jennifer Valenzuela, Executive Director of Children’s Trust, visited Martha’s Vineyard Community Services to engage directly with families and frontline practitioners.

Four women, one holding a toddler, stand outside at a food table with containers of fruit. They are smiling and chatting in a sunny, green garden setting an uplifting scene.

The delegation observed and joined staff and families in the site’s “Lunch with a Librarian” program, a partnership between the state-funded Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) network and the Family Resource Center (FRC) network that combines early literacy, outdoor play, and free meals for families with young children.

The visit demonstrated the value of greater alignment across Massachusetts’ family support system. The delegation saw firsthand how state-funded programs, early childhood services, community partnerships, and food access efforts can work together to meet families’ needs—and heard directly from families about what is working, where challenges remain, and what they need from the systems designed to support them.

“Families should be able to access the support they need without having to navigate the boundaries between different programs or agencies,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “What we saw on Martha’s Vineyard shows how strong community partnerships can bring early learning, family support, nutrition, and other resources together to better serve children and caregivers. We will continue working across agencies and alongside community partners to reduce barriers and create a more connected system of support for families.”

The delegation also met with Martha’s Vineyard Community Services leadership to discuss the realities of supporting families on the ground, the strengths of integrated programming, and the policy and resource barriers they encounter.

“Families don’t experience our programs as separate agencies or funding streams—they experience whether the system works for them,” said Children’s Trust Executive Director Jennifer Valenzuela. “Bringing leaders from across state government together with families and frontline practitioners gives us the opportunity to see where coordination is working and where we can make it stronger. What we saw at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is a powerful example of what is possible when programs and community partners work together around the needs of families.”

Jennifer Valenzuela, Executive Director of Children’s Trust

“When we remove barriers and connect families to the supports they need before a crisis, we are doing the work of prevention together,” said Department of Children and Families Commissioner Staverne Miller. “The work of Martha’s Vineyard Family Resource Center and Martha’s Vineyard Community Services shows what is possible when trusted community partners bring services and supports together to meet the needs of families in their communities. This work is grounded in strong partnerships and ongoing engagement with families, practitioners, and state leaders, helping to build a responsive, connected system that allows children and families to thrive and build better futures.”

A woman kneels by a water play table, smiling at a toddler. Three adults stand nearby, watching, The scene is outdoors on a sunny day with grass, trees, and other people in the background.

“Families are best supported when the programs and services they rely on are connected, responsive, and rooted in their communities,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “This visit was an important opportunity to hear directly from families and providers and to see how strong partnerships across early education, family support, and community organizations can make it easier for families to access the resources they need to thrive.”

“Families benefit most when services are coordinated, accessible, and centered on their needs,” said Martha’s Vineyard Community Services CEO Scott Turton. “MVCS appreciates the opportunity to showcase how local and state partnerships can help create a more connected system of support for children and caregivers on Martha’s Vineyard. We are proud to be part of a collaborative network that removes barriers, strengthens families, and builds a healthier island community.”

The visit is part of the Children’s Trust’s broader work to strengthen alignment across the systems that support children and families in Massachusetts. By bringing state leaders, community partners, practitioners, and families together, Children’s Trust is helping identify opportunities to better coordinate resources, reduce barriers to support, and build a family support system that is easier for families to navigate.

About the Children’s Trust

The Children’s Trust prevents child abuse and neglect by addressing root causes and strengthening the systems that support families — programs, policies, communities, and the workforce. As a public-private organization, the Children’s Trust is in a unique position to bring the day-to-day experiences of families and the family support workforce to life, ensuring policy is data-informed and grounded in the real experiences of families. The Children’s Trust works across sectors and communities to share learnings and resources, and to turn bold ideas into action so every family can thrive. Learn more at childrenstrustma.org.