HOME   |  JOIN  |    ABOUT US  |   WHAT'S NEW  |  RESOURCES & LINKS  |   CONTACT US 

About Us

The national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization Family and Home Network was founded by three at-home mothers in 1984. For over twenty years, it has provided encouragement, information and affirmation to mothers and fathers. Many are at-home parents, some are employed part-time, many will return to paid employment in the future. All are deeply committed to doing what’s best for their children from infancy through the teen years. In a society that does not value their nurturing work, our organization offers wholehearted parents a community of thoughtful, conscientious companions.

For more than two decades, FAHN has fostered a respectful exchange of ideas, parent-to-parent communication, support and understanding. For new parents especially, who often feel isolated, our publications provide a reassuring sense of shared experiences. Our monthly journal, Welcome Home, won national recognition for excellence including four Parents’ Choice Awards. It helped tens of thousands of parents find joy and satisfaction in dedicating their excellent minds and talents to their families. Unfortunately, publication of Welcome Home is currently suspended due to financial pressures. The Board of Directors is exploring the possibility of resuming publication, and back issues are available for sale.

The vast majority of our work has been accomplished by volunteers. Some worked a few hours per week with their children (moving from lap to playroom) at our office. Others worked from home, varying their time commitment and schedule over the years as their families’ needs changed. Volunteers bring a wealth of education, expertise and experience to Family and Home Network, and new Members are encouraged to get involved in the organization’s work. We’re excited about using new technology to enable volunteers to help us regardless of where they live!

Our work addresses the needs of:

Children – we learn about research on nurturing and emotional growth, and share that information with parents, policy makers and the media.

Parents – we offer the means for parents to connect so they can provide information, support and community to each other. We offer publications written and edited by parents, for parents.

Society – we educate policy makers and the media about the research on children and parents, and about policies that discriminate against families who provide “quality care” for their own children.

You’ll notice there are no advertisements on our site – we believe parents need a refuge, a peaceful place to connect with each other and to recharge. Member donations support our work, and we set the price of a basic Membership at just $15 – recognizing that many families are on a tight budget.

Member benefits include access to the Member-only portion of our website, where you’ll find more online articles and resources.

Please enjoy the free articles and other resources we offer on our website (see the “Hot Topics” list on the left side of our home page to get started). Take a look at our beautiful books and “Best of” collections, offered at moderate prices – they make great gifts. Sign up for our free E-News, sent every 4-6 weeks. And please become a Member of Family and Home Network today, sharing YOUR expertise and experience with us!

To receive periodic updates about our work, please sign up for our free E-News.

A volunteer Board of Directors oversees the work of Family and Home Network.

Our Vision:

Universal recognition of the critical importance of parents’ emotional engagement with their children; societal support for the need of parents and children to spend generous amounts of time together; profound respect for parents who make these commitments and acknowledgement of the short- and long-term benefits to society.

Our Mission:

Advocate for parents and children of all ages concerning their need for generous amounts of time together;

Affirm the choice to be home through the many stages of parenthood to nurture children of all ages;

Provide parent-to-parent support,education and networking;

Correct society’s misconceptions and refute stereotypes about parenting;

Encourage respect for the contributions made by each parent, as couples share decisions regarding nurturing and providing for their families;

Empower all parents to preserve and improve the opportunity to forgo or cut back on paid employment; and

Educate society about the benefits of parents and children being emotionally engaged and spending generous amounts of time together.