August 2009 Newsletter
In This Issue
Garden Grows More Than Produce
Two New Residential Programs
Tool Kit
Upcoming
Events
Click on the title of the event to
learn all details.
Understanding Learning Differences
(8/12 - 8/14)
Wish List
Real Stories
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Hyannis, MA
Garden Grows More Than Produce
Quick Links
Events Calendar
Family Continuity's Lowell Wraparound
program, which is funded by the Department
of Mental Health (DMH), is excited to
announce its collaboration with the
Merrimack Special Education Collaborative
(MSEC) in Billerica to extend a summer
program for youths with disabilities. The
MSEC program supports approximately 70
students ages 14 to 22, with mild to
moderate cognitive impairment, autism and
learning disabilities that live in the Merrimack
Valley area. Students in the program have
planted a garden at the MSEC site in
Billerica. The students have been tending to
the garden all summer and as they harvest
the fruits and vegetables, they are donating
them to local group homes for adults served by DMH and Family Continuity
and to the National Food Bank program. This is a win-win situation for all
involved. The students learn life skills while supplying others with healthy
food.
Family Continuity is a private, non-profit mental health and social services
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agency serving Massachusetts from hub offices in Beverly/Peabody,
Lawrence, Whitinsville/Worcester, Plymouth and Hyannis. Our motto is,
"Supporting family success in every community". Our programs and
services target a spectrum of emotional, developmental and behavioral
challenges for children, adolescents, adults, couples and seniors.
"We are so pleased to be able to help our clients as well as others in the
community," stated Lynn Powers, Program Director of the Family Continuity
Lowell Wraparound program. "It is important that our clients learn daily
living skills to become independent and this is a great way to do it."
MSEC offers many vocational programs for youth and adults throughout the
year. On top of learning daily living skills, the students are required to
participate in volunteer efforts such as making and delivering food items
(birthday cakes, casseroles, etc.) to residents in adult group homes,
cleaning up local parks, and assisting in recycling efforts, among other
endeavors.
Family Continuity Welcomes Two New
Residential Programs
Family Continuity has added two new programs to its services. As part of
our partnership with Eliot Human Services, we have assumed management
of Department of Mental Health (DMH) residences, The Cabot Street Group
Home in Beverly, and the Andover Street Group Home in Peabody. Each
program has a solid reputation for their services to DMH adult and
transitional aged clients. For more information about our Adult Specialized
Group Home Care programs click here.
We are looking forward to having these new programs join the Family
Continuity team.
Tool Kit
The Parent/Professional Advocacy League has
created a handbook, Police Pocket Guide:
Responding to Youths with Mental Health
Disorders for local police officers to use. Please
visit www.ppal.net/default to download a
copy of the full version or click here to
download a copy of the abbreviated version.
For more tools like this visit Family Continuity's Resource Guide.
Wish List
We are in need of the following items. If you are interested in donating an
item, please call Ginny Irving at 508-815-5120 or email
girving@familycontinuity.org.
Sports equipment
Wheelchair
Sofa, chairs, coffee table for waiting room
Chairs and table for conference room
Real Stories
Real Stories are submitted by clients who want to share the success they
had thanks to the support and services provided by Family Continuity.
ANTONIO'S STORY
My name is Antonio and I am currently 18 years
old. I grew up in a rough neighborhood in
Lawrence with my parents and three siblings. I
witnessed a great deal of violence and drug
abuse both inside my home as well as out in the
community. As far back as I can remember
DCF has been a part of our lives. I recall being evicted from our family
home on numerous occasions and being bounced around from place to
place. My mother was really struggling with substance abuse and DCF
finally became our guardians. Although some things were better for us, it
was really hard because all of my siblings were not able to be together.
Despite being separated we still remained close because we went through
so much together as a family.
Unfortunately, I found myself living in a DYS lock up facility when I was
fifteen. This really scared me, but I did what I needed to do and was
fortunate enough to earn an interview at Family Continuity's SAIL
Program. Read more.
Family Continuity's Mission Statement:
Supporting family success in every community by empowering people,
enhancing their strengths, and creating solutions through partnerships to
achieve hope, positive change and meaningful lives.
Agency Values: Family, Community, Advocacy, Leadership, and Change
Treatment Philosophy, founded on the belief that positive change is
always possible:
* The most effective treatment provides a continuity of care,
acknowledging that connected, relevant supportive services to
clients/client families promote recovery, stability, self advocacy and
permanency in the midst of changing needs.
* Therapeutic change occurs in the context of a dynamic treatment
partnership between clients and helpers that is founded on choice,
respect, honesty, and a shared responsibility for and participation in the
development of solutions.
* Effective treatment is empowering and strength-based, recognizing
that all clients possess resources for change and that change is possible
when these resources are utilized.
* Creating meaningful lives starts with identifying goals and connecting
that to individualized, flexible and creative treatment planning that
incorporates a client's family/community relationships, culture, and
context.
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