Who We Are

Welcome to The Janet S. Munt Family Room

Located in Burlington’s Old North End, the Janet S. Munt Family Room is a welcoming parent-child center for all Chittenden County families with children from prenatal to age 5. Each year, we support over 1,600 individuals with 29+ free programs, services, and resources designed to nurture both children and caregivers.

Since opening in 1988, our mission has been to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive space where families can connect, thrive, and grow together. Our programs go beyond childcare to support the health and well-being of the entire family.

Originally founded in 1988 as a program of the VNA of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, we received independent 501(c)(3) status in 2017.

An elderly woman holding a sleeping baby outdoors in a garden with flowers and greenery.

Janet S. Munt

Our center is named for Janet S. Munt, a pioneering social worker and Vermont senator who advocated tirelessly for the needs of low-income families and especially women and children. Janet Munt understood the need for holistic services, and that supporting parents and caregivers in making good choices for themselves and their children was of paramount importance to the health of the community.

A parent feeding a toddler at an outdoor gathering with people in the background.

What Makes Us Unique?

Parenting is challenging, and you don’t have to do it alone. The Family Room provides:

  • Connection: A place to meet other families, build friendships, and feel part of a diverse and supportive community.

  • Support: Access to parent education, concrete resources like food and diapers, and programs tailored to the needs of dads, caregivers, and families of all kinds.

  • Growth: Developmental support for young children and opportunities for parents to learn and grow alongside their little ones.

Our warm, inclusive environment is a place where families can share a cup of coffee, enjoy a home-cooked meal, and leave feeling more connected and supported.

A man helping a child drink from a yellow cup, with a red plate containing food on the table.

About Our Families

Our families come from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, live in 18 cities and towns, represent 63 countries of origin, and speak over 40 languages. Over 50% of our families are at or below the Federal Poverty Level. Many of our families are not eligible for State and Federal food security programs such as SNAP, and depend on The Family Room for low-barrier access to food and other concrete supports. Also, many are New Americans, immigrants, refugees, or those who identify as BIPOC. Many families have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s), which puts them at higher risk for various life-long challenges.

No matter your background or situation, The Family Room is here to meet you where you are.

Group of children playing on a colorful rug with toys and building blocks with an adult supervising in a room with wooden furniture.

The Family Room Way

We know that raising children is hard. The Family Room fosters connection, education, and development in children while nurturing a diverse community. We prioritize an open and welcoming atmosphere where families can connect, de-stress, and receive support, accompanied by hot coffee and home-cooked meals.

Understanding the impact of unmet needs on parenting, mental and physical health, and relationships, we provide flexibility and community connections to offer appropriate and no-cost concrete supports. The mission revolves around ensuring family safety, meeting basic needs, and supporting the health of the whole family.

Our multi-generational approach combats social isolation, postpartum depression, empowers fathers, improves school readiness, prevents abuse and neglect, encourages better nutrition, and supports those dealing with substance misuse.

Two toddlers interacting with a large purple exercise ball in a daycare setting, supervised by an adult woman in a headscarf, with other adults sitting in the background.
Group of four women sitting at a table in a colorful room, one holding a booklet titled 'Ventures Basic.' They are smiling and appear to be engaging in a friendly conversation. On the table, there's a smartphone, a pair of glasses, and a plate with fruit and pastries.

Our Free Programs

All of The Family Room’s 29 programs are low-barrier and free of charge and include:

  • Drop-in playgroups and parent support groups

  • Enrolled parent education classes

  • Healthy Families From the Start prenatal / perinatal program

  • Programs targeting the support of dads

  • Computer literacy and English Language Learning

  • Home visiting and family support services

  • A 5-STAR preschool

  • Through our partnership with the UVM Children’s Hospital, we offer well-child visits at our Building Strong Families Clinic. 

  • We offer food, diapers, and other concrete supports to all families who participate in our programs.

A woman with glasses smiling at a child who is touching her face, with a colorful bead maze toy visible in the foreground.

Why Choose The Family Room?

At the Janet S. Munt Family Room, we believe every family deserves a safe, supportive place to grow and thrive. Our multi-generational approach focuses on strengthening the whole family by:

  • Reducing social isolation and postpartum depression

  • Supporting school readiness for young children

  • Preventing abuse and neglect

  • Promoting better nutrition

  • Empowering caregivers and parents

Parenting is a journey, and we’re here to walk it with you.

Come join our community, share in the warmth of connection, and see what makes The Family Room so special.

Strengthening Families Protective Factors

The Family Room weaves the Strengthening Families 5 Protective Factors framework into all of our programs. Strengthening Families is a research-informed approach by the Center for the Study of Social Policy that has proven to increase family strengths, enhance child development and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. Protective factors help families succeed and thrive, even in the face of risk and challenges. They are:

  1. Parental resilience: Be strong even when you are stressed

  2. Social connections: Give and get support

  3. Knowledge of parenting and child development: Learn more so you can parent better

  4. Concrete supports in times of need: Get help when you need it

  5. Social and emotional competence of children: Help your child manage feelings and relationships

Our Community

We collaborate with 65+ community and State agencies including WIC, VT Legal Aid, NOFA, VT Council on Humanities, VT Foodbank, US Committee for Refugees & Immigrants, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, Lund Family Center, Howard Center, Turning Point Center, VT Adult Learning, UVM Medical Center, VT Dept of Health, VT Dept for Children and Families, Burlington Electric Dept, Easter Seals, Inclusive Arts VT, Winooski Valley Park District, and others. See our 2024 Impact Report’s “Our Neighborhood” for a more detailed list of partners.

We also partner with area colleges and universities for highly skilled interns, and we enjoy the commitment of nearly 100 volunteers who donate over 10,000 hours per year. Many of our volunteers, including Board members, are current or former Family Room parents.