The Child and Family Institute exists to nurture, nourish and honor the family and each of its members. The Institute believes that parents, children and their home environment form an important interactive triad. This triad holds the potential for creating the family magic from which grows a playful, joyful and creative community of respect and love.

At the Child and Family Institute, Family well-being is viewed as both process and goal. Therefore, in all its programs the Institute models and encourages a vital sense of playful and joyful interaction. The Institute supports families working together as they learn to express acceptance, love and a sense of belonging.

The Child and Family Institute develops and offers educational programs and experiential opportunities based on the belief that parents and their children are worthy of mutual respect and reverence. This reverence flows from the faith that there exists within each member of the family a unique and wonder-full person.

The Institute believes that ritual and tradition weave the family bonds into ever deepening love. Families are encouraged to create their own traditions and rituals as ways of strengthening their spiritual bond and enriching their growth. Many of the Institute’s programs reflect the Christian tradition while recognizing, welcoming and honoring the wealth of wisdom held in all faiths.

Ultimately, it is hoped that through their relationship with the Institute, parents and their children will extend their family experience of love and belonging to the greater community.

The life-giving seed for the Child and Family Institute was planted in 1978 while Josetta Walsh, AMS* was working at Santa Clara University. Numerous young families approached her to assist with their needs for programs in parenting and spirituality to nurture their family life. As families continued to express their needs in these areas, Josetta perceived that many programs existed for families in crisis but few for families who wished preventative help.

In 1986, Father Jeff Patnaude, Rector of Trinity Parish in Menlo Park, California, understood this same need, and, with the support of the parish vestry, asked Josetta Walsh and Sr. Kristine Goodrich, snjm* to establish a family institute. The Child and Family Institute began in the Fall of 1986 operating out of two rooms known as the Meadow and Hearth.

The Staff at the Institute responds to the emerging needs of modern families by designing new, unique programs to meet these needs. These programs are piloted and evaluated with the families. When a successful model is developed then the program is made available to other locations.

After the trial period at the Institute, programs are then written up and the staff offers training in the programs to groups in other localities.

The Institute makes their programs available to families in low income areas with no cost to the families.

*American Montessori Society (Masters and Certification)

*Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (Catholic Religious Order)