Family Continuity logo

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

December 2010 Newsletter
*Special Edition*


In This Issue

The Family Corner DOUBLE FEATURE:
A look at challenges families face and ideas about how you can grow and thrive together

Holiday Donations Needed

Real Stories: Personal accounts of struggles, resiliency, and success from staff and clients




Special Family Corner DOUBLE FEATURE: "The Gift of Giving" and "Beating the Holiday Blues"



Teach Your Kids the Gift of Giving

We know that kids love getting presents at the holidays, but what truly makes the season special is the genuine sense of goodwill all around them. That's why now is the best time to show a child how to spread that warmth by helping others. Yes, it's great for the needy, but it's even better for your child. Children love being helpful (it makes them feel grown-up), and volunteering gives them the chance to experience the rewards that come from making someone else happy. When your child gives, here's what he gets...

The Courage to initiate change.
When a child improves someone else's life, he sees that he can change the world around him -- and even himself -- for the better.
New Compassion for all beings. Helping communities, people, and even animals in need helps kids flex their caring "muscles".

An Enthusiasm for teamwork. Working with others toward a common goal shows kids that sharing responsibility can have a bigger impact than going it alone.
Powerful pride. Volunteering is a win-win experience for kids: Every little bit they do helps, and that, in turn, is a great self-esteem booster. You can't match the feeling when a child realizes that they did something
to make someone else smile.

 

It's never too early to expose your child to activities that help others  Here are some tips to help motivate children to give back.


Start small/Start young.
Teach your toddler about generosity by encouraging her to share her toys, rewarding her for helping around the house or showing her how to give a loving hug to someone who is crying or hurt.
Praise kindness. When your child does something nice for someone, compliment him. Say, "Thank you for helping Mommy pick up those clothes" or "It's so nice of you to share your book with Timmy."
Set an example. Let your kids see you doing generous acts - your example of helping others will make an impression, because if parents do it, children are more apt to.
Talk about reaching out. Slip a newspaper article about a family in need under your child's plate and discuss it over dinner or direct her attention to causes that spring from the news.
Get their input. By asking your child for her ideas (e.g., "Our neighbor, Mr. Andrews, is sick. What should we do?"), you're saying that her opinions count.
Remember the end goal. Showing children the full circle of their volunteer work makes them want to do more. After your child has collected canned food for the homeless, take her with you to drop it off at the shelter or church so she can see firsthand the results of her work. Nothing is more powerful or motivating than seeing, first hand, the impact on others of good deeds.

 

This Holiday Season, spend some time teaching your loved ones the joy of giving to others. You won't regret it.

With Thanks to Hillary Quinn, from her article in Redbook, July 16, 2009

 

Beating the "Holiday Blues"

What Causes Holiday Blues?


Many factors can cause the "holiday blues": stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one's family and friends. The demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to feelings of tension. People may also develop other stress responses such as headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating and difficulty sleeping. Even more people experience post-holiday let down after January 1. This can result from disappointments during the preceding months compounded by the excess fatigue and stress.

So, what can you do about it?

  • Keep your expectations for the holiday season manageable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself. Pace yourself. Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the important activities.
  • Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don't put the entire focus on just one day (i.e., Thanksgiving Day). Remember that it's a season of holiday sentiment, and activities can be spread out to lessen stress and increase enjoyment.
  • Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely; there is room for these feelings to be present, even if the person chooses not to express them.
  • Leave "yesteryear" in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes. Each season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don't set yourself up in comparing today with the "good ol' days."
  • Do something for someone else. Try volunteering some of your time to help others.
  • Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, going window shopping or making a snowperson with children.
  • Be aware that excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.
  • Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way.
  • Spend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or contact someone you haven't heard from in a while.
  • Save time for yourself! Recharge your batteries! Let others share in the responsibility of planning activities.

.





Holiday Donations Needed

Family Continuity is hoping that our community will help our residential clients this upcoming Holiday season.  We are in need of gifts for our teen/young adult and older adult residential programs and donations for a holiday party at the residential programs as well.  Most of our clients do not have family around and the staff try hard to make the holidays bright for our clients. 
 
Gift cards are urgently needed to ensure we are able to fulfill our goal this year.  We are looking for gift cards to stores like: Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Barnes and Noble, Borders, GameSmart, Bob's Stores, Simon Malls, Newbury Comics, etc. 
 
Gift cards to Market Basket, Shaw's or Stop and Shop are also needed to purchase a holiday dinner for each of our residential homes. 
 
We are always in need of new twin size bedding, pillows and towels. 
 
We have a total of 55 clients that we are looking to supply gifts to this holiday season.  Please help us make the holiday a bit brighter for our clients!

For additional information please contact:
Robin Risso, LMFT, Regional Director
Family Continuity Programs, Inc.
9 Centennial Dr. Ste 202
Peabody, MA 01960
978-620-2501


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.


PETE'S STORY

We are the parents of Pete, a 12 year old boy who is diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome as well as some other learning disabilities. This has proven to be a real challenge for both Pete and us as parents, as we believe it is for many families. One of the most difficult aspects that we have faced throughout this long process has been in knowing about and accessing services. In most cases, services for children like Pete exist, but navigating through the roadblocks to gain access to these services can be very difficult, especially alone.

This is why we write this letter today, to express our sincere gratitude to the groups at the Lynn Wraparound/CASSP program (a Family Continuity program that provided mentoring and flexible supports to children and youth) that have made our navigation to services easier. We, as a family, belong to the Friday Night Support group. This group alone has helped us in so many ways. We have often left this group on Friday nights with information, phone numbers, website addresses that we have used to gain more information on the condition that our son suffers from on a day to day basis. This group often has speakers that provide information, and sometimes just offers respite on a Friday night that is a welcoming relief.  Read More.

Join Our Mailing List 
E-mail us and let us know you want to be on the list today! Please forward this to others and encourage them to sign up! Click the above box.


 
Contact Us:

Toll Free 866-219-3320

www.familycontinuity.org


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.
 
Donate Now to our Family Support Fund
Our Family Support Fund needs your help now!  It provides flexible funds to cover a variety of real world challenges and emergencies that our clients encounter.

Help ensure that we can continue to offer key support when needed.

DONATE NOW
 To Be Continued.........