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The Janet S. Munt Family Room (The Family Room), located on Allen Street in Burlington, supports families and children in Chittenden County. The Family Room was founded in 1988 as a program of the visiting nurse association and became independent in 2017.
Janet S. Munt was a social worker and Vermont senator from 1998 to 2004, who advocated for the needs of low-income families, putting emphasis on women and children. The Family Room serves approximately 1,500 families and young children every year.
The organization’s mission is to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive space for families to connect, thrive, and grow together. The programs are not restricted to childcare but also focus on supporting the health and well-being of the entire family.
What do the different programs look like? Family play is designed to be a low barrier-program to welcome families; the structured program provides interactions between children, caregivers, and staff. At times, when more support is needed, people may be encouraged to join different groups within The Family Room community.
There are groups specifically for moms, dads, children of different ages, folks belonging to various cultures, and Super Group for families with children on the spectrum. With a variety of programs, there are opportunities to blend cultures and backgrounds while also having a space to meet others within the same community. There are learning opportunities such as English and computer literacy, sewing classes, and more. Warm, home-cooked meals are served in every program year-round, providing over $55,000 per year in food for those in need.
The staff at The Family Room is responsive, proactive, and flexible—they adjust the programs to meet changing and growing needs, ensuring that every family is connected, healthy, and strong.
Mascoma Bank has been more than just a funding partner for The Family Room. Laurie Keve, Development and Communications Director, said, “I know I can count on them to support us when we reach out— they are always happy to meet with us. Mascoma Bank has been consistent in funding small projects—they helped fund our shade structure, our brand-new website, and our program overall. They are a community partner that we love working with and feel we can count on.”
Mascoma Bank is proud to support The Janet S. Munt Family Room and its vision of providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive space for families.