Action For Boston Community Development

Abcd's head start and early head start programs helped over 2,100 children prepare for success in school and life by providing high quality early education and care. Head start serves as a model for early education initiatives nationally, providing comprehensive services - education, health, nutrition, family services and intensive parent engagement, and advocates for the needs of young children from low-income families.

Abcd's energy program made payments to local vendors to keep more than 15,000 households warm this year. The abcd energy conservation services provide vulnerable boston households with heating system and appliance repairs and replacements, weatherization, lighting, and more. As one of the co-founders of lean (low-income energy affordability network) and the lead vendor for eversource, abcd helped to design and implement statewide programs for 45,000 low-income households under the massachusetts green communities act. (continued on schedule o).

Abcd provides a variety of services to low income families at its central offices and through a network of neighborhood service centers.other program services include health services, housing and homeless prevention, summer youth employment, education, career development and employment, financial literacy, elder services, food pantries, adult education, foreclosure prevention, tax preparation and drop-in services.health services reached over 13,600 individuals with disease prevention and reproductive health care and provided training and support for 35 clinics and 93 health care providers.housing and homeless prevention helps families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to maintain or obtain affordable housing. In fy2024, abcd helped 545 families have a place to call home.abcd trained volunteer tax preparers helped 3,521 families and brought $7 million into local households through federal tax refunds and tax credits.on average, foster grandparetns spend 38 hours a week sharing their compassion and wisdom children facing extraordinary challenges incuding poverty, learning disabilities, and even homelessness.summerworks, abcd's summer jobs program, places under-resourced boston area youth in paid positions at nonprofit employer sites. In fy2024, 282 youth were placed at a worksite over a six-week period. In addition, abcd held workshops on interviewing, budgeting, and other job readiness skills. Abcd operates two alternaive high schools. Ostiguy high is a "recovery high school" serving young people struggling with substance abuse. University high is an alternative high school for students struggling in traditional public schools. Both schools offer students a challenging education and a caring environment with small classes and individual supports.