Marlboro, MA | Thom Marlboro Area Early Intervention

Thom Marlboro Area is committed to providing high quality, comprehensive, and family-centered early intervention services to infants, toddlers, their families, and others in the community who care for them. Our nurses, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, mental health counselors, educators, and other specialists are passionate about supporting families and young children. If you have a concern regarding your child’s development, please contact us.


340 Maple Street, Suite 203
Marlboro, MA 01752

Dawn Gutro, Director
Phone: (508) 624-0304
Fax: (508) 624-0391
Hours: 8:00 - 4:00

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early intervention program in Marlboro, MA

"I went from feeling powerless by the circumstances under which my child was born, to feeling powerful by the knowledge of how to specifically help my son.”


Services We Provide

Early Intervention

Early Intervention (EI) in Massachusetts is a statewide, family-centered, developmental service. Thom Child & Family Services offers the earliest possible intervention and support for children birth to three years old and their families. Children can be eligible based upon developmental delays, identified disabilities, or certain birth or environmental circumstances that can put development at risk. Early Intervention services are provided in a child’s natural environment. Regular visits with Early Intervention providers can occur at home, at childcare, and in other community settings.

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Early Intervention Programs

The Thom Marlboro Area Program currently has a total of 16 Community Playgroups held at our Marlboro Center and in the community. Groups offered change periodically based on the families' and children’s needs and interests. If you are interested in learning more about our groups, please feel free to ask your child’s service coordinator for options available for your family. If further information is needed, please feel free to call the Center at 508-624-0304.

All groups are open to children receiving Early Intervention Services along with community children who are not enrolled in Early Intervention. The majority of groups offer a concurrent parent component facilitated by a Social Worker or Certified Early Intervention Specialist.

▸ Parent/Child Group

Currently held on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30AM at the Together We Can Family Network in Marlboro. Parents stay with their child throughout the duration of the group. This group incorporates a beginning and ending circle time activity for parent and child to explore, free play time as well as snack. It is a wonderful way for children and parents from surrounding communities to socialize and promotes developmental skills for children.


▸ Jump, Jiggle & Jive™

Offered from 9:30-11:00 Monday mornings at the Grace Baptist Church in Hudson. This group is a music and movement group for children and parents. Children are encouraged to work on and master new skills and concepts, such as developing a sense of rhythm, body awareness, communication (including imitation skills and following directions) and social interaction skills. Parents actively participate in this group with their children.


▸ Chatty Children

Meeting on Fridays from 12:00-2:00, is a group for children who have developed some language. The group will focus on learning to produce sounds accurately, use language to communicate with peers, and improve overall language ability. Each week will emphasize a specific theme and/or sound. This group is facilitated by both a Developmental Specialist and a Speech-Language Pathologist.


▸ Baby & Me Group

Held at the Marlboro Center on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:30 and is facilitated by a Developmental Specialist and Physical Therapist. Parents/caregivers attend this group with their babies and have the opportunity to realize their value as their child’s first and most important teacher. Parents discover new ways to interact with their child as well as informally socialize, find and provide support with other parents. Group parent infant massage sessions as well as presentations from EI specialists of various disciplines are available on an ongoing basis.


▸ Toddler Times

Groups meet from 9:15-11:15 on Monday through Friday and are led by experienced Early Childhood specialists. A wide variety of developmentally appropriate activities are offered based on the needs/interests of children and are structured to follow a consistent routine. Groups incorporate free playtime, circle time, fine and gross motor activities as well as a snack. These groups promote language skills, imitation, learning to follow directions, socialization, independence with self-care skills and stimulating motor experiences.

Parents are present with their children during the beginning and ending circle times. There are parent groups available during all of these morning groups.


▸ Positive Play

Group meets on Wednesdays from 2:30-4:00 and is designed to help children engage with adults and peers in positive ways and to develop age-appropriate play skills. This group’s primary focus is to develop social and play skills. A parent group designed to provide support and information is available simultaneously with this group.


▸ Sing with Me Music Group

Meets on Mondays from 12:00-1:30 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Westboro. This is a music-based playgroup. The focus of this group is to promote the use of music, movement and musical instruments. All families will receive "music books." An adult must attend with the child, as parent participation and education is a fundamental goal of this program. Be assured that an ability to sing is NOT a requirement. Our aim is for every family to have a joy-filled musical experience.


▸ Lunch Groups

We have three lunch groups available.

The Monday (11:45 -1:30) and Thursday (12:00-2:00) groups incorporate many of the general objectives of our toddler groups, while including the additional benefit of a full lunch experience.

On Wednesdays from 12:00-1:30 we have the Food Explorers Group. This group is for children and their parents who have been experiencing significant feeding difficulties. This group will provide positive experiences with food and increase exposure to different foods in a structured environment with the ultimate goal of increasing your child’s food intake. The children’s group is facilitated by two Occupational Therapists who will follow a specific feeding evaluation and protocol. There is a separate parent component to this group.

Other Program Services

Workshops and Support for community providers and families on the following topics:

  • Behavior
  • Parent Infant Massage
  • Child Development – all areas
  • Red Flags – identifying developmental concerns
  • Consultation to childcare and other community providers
  • Community Developmental Screenings

Latest News From Our Office

Meet Our Staff

Thom Marlboro Area Early Intervention

Thom Marlboro Area Early Intervention is in the business of helping children and their families achieve their goals. We recognize that our success depends on the skills and experience of the people who work for us. Thom Marlboro Area employs nearly 50 full and part-time staff members: therapists, teachers, nurses and social workers, several of whom are fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Latvian.

Meet some of our dedicated staff:

Carolyn is a Speech and Language Pathologist with experience in multiple settings including childcare, public schools, day and residential programs, and outpatient rehabilitation. Within early intervention, she is interested in feeding and swallowing issues, creating communication systems for non- or minimally-verbal children, and supporting neurodivergent children and their families. Carolyn is a member of Thom’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force and has a love of languages and learning new things.

Suzanne is passionate about helping families navigate the process of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. She is a Developmental Specialist with more than 10 years experience working with individuals diagnosed with ASD. She has worked in both private and public school settings as a Behavior Consultant and Applied Behavior Analysis Lead Instructor.

Julie is a Physical Therapist with a keen interest in body tension and movement and how it impacts the body systems of infants. She has worked at non-profits, as well as private day schools, to help children and students with disabilities.

Lauren is a Registered Nurse who enjoys helping children meet their developmental milestones. She finds it especially rewarding to be an emotional support to parents. In her spare time, you can often find Lauren enjoying life by the lake whether that be boating, swimming, or hiking.