Center For Family Connections

CONTACT:

350 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
617-547-0909
www.kinnect.org

Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, Founder and CEO

DESCRIPTION:

A lot has happened to the traditional American family on the way to the 21st century -- waves of divorce, restructuring, blending, single-parenting, gay parenting, adoptions both here and abroad, artificial insemination, surrogate pregnancy, foster care, and on and on -- many new situations affecting many adults and children, in many different ways depending on the individuals. It’s an opportunity for philanthropy. CFFC was founded in 1995 by Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, a developmental psychologist and adopted person herself, who since 1973 has created several of the nation’s first service programs outside placement agencies for adoptive families, focusing on children–in particular, ensuring that they “feel seen, safe, and valued,” and to help them adjust to new family situations. The demand for CFFC services has multiplied; they now have 13 staff and 15 fee-for-service clinicians, serving 1500 people annually, 30% of whom are low-income. For her pioneering work in the field, Dr. Pavao was nominated in 2000 by Senator Kennedy and Congressman Capuano, and received, the Congressional Coalition’s Angel in Adoption Award. In 2003, Dr. Pavao was honored with and Adoption Excellence Award in the category of Individual Contributions from the Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At a time when the very definition of “family” is being stretched, CFFC is helping to keep families together, and especially helping to heal the children. You can help, too.

(2003: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)