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Norwood library’s CFCE program expands: newsletter grows, playgroups increase and screenings added
Summary
Liz Hargrove, CFCE coordinator at the Town of Norwood Public Library, told trustees the Coordinated Family Community Engagement program grew from 405 newsletter families in March to 2,039, will expand playgroups from two to four mornings a week, and will offer weekly ASQ developmental screenings alongside programming.
Liz Hargrove, coordinator for the library’s Coordinated Family Community Engagement (CFCE) grant, told the Town of Norwood Board of Library Trustees at their September meeting that the program has seen rapid growth during its first year under library administration. “We went from March having 405 families receive the newsletter and we have 2,039 families,” Hargrove said.
Hargrove said CFCE services in Norwood target children ages 0–6 and are provided at no cost through grant funding administered by the Department of Early Education and Care. With library support, the program will expand playgroups from two sessions per week to four starting in the fall, creating morning preschool‑style experiences most weekdays. She said the program already has waiting lists.
To spot developmental concerns earlier, the CFCE team will offer the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) screening during a Friday drop‑in at the children’s programming room; Hargrove said the screening takes about 10 minutes and allows for a confidential follow‑up conversation when areas of concern appear. “The ages and stages is like the parent can be assured that the information is confidential,” she said, while noting the town does track monthly ASQ completion counts for reporting.
Hargrove described a shift in the program’s passive outreach: ‘grab and go’ kits that borrow library‑owned copies rather than permanently distributing books. Tech services staff helped design labels and the library ordered roughly 250 books (about 20 copies each of 12 titles) so families can check out the same title with accompanying activities and return it for reuse. The September kit featured The Very Hungry Caterpillar and themed activities, including a lacing exercise with characters.
Trustees asked about program evaluation and measurement. Hargrove said the Department of Early Education and Care requires basic participation counts for grant justification and the library supplements that with a one‑to‑five quality survey after programs; she reported high satisfaction rates in returned feedback. One trustee recommended collecting a larger cohort to produce comparative outcome write‑ups for wider dissemination to state organizations.
Hargrove and trustees credited library staff—named during the meeting as Lydia, Kate, Nicole and Patty—for technical and operational help in building visibility and sustainable program models. The library will resume ASQ offerings at the end of September alongside the expanded playgroup schedule.
