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February 2011 Newsletter


In This Issue

The Family Corner: Getting Real About Family Voice and Choice

Program Highlight: 2010 Accomplishments

Family Support Fund Update:  Your contributions are making a difference

Upcoming Events

Real Stories: Teamwork Works


famillycorner
The Family Corner-"Getting Real About Family Voice and Choice"

We know that children with mental health and behavioral needs can be most effectively helped and supported within the context of their family, that a strong family voice in their care and treatment is critical to success. However, too often, this has fallen to the professionals, with too little family input. 
 

This is why we are excited to be co-sponsoring a unique opportunity for parents and professionals to examine the role of families in children's mental health, entitled "Getting Real about Family Voice and Choice, A conference for people who care about families" on March 22 at Bentley College in Waltham. Please follow the link for details. http://www.familycontinuity.org/downloads/Getting_Real_Brochure_final_PDF.pdf

Hope to see you there.


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Program Highlight- 2010 Accomplishments

Our "Highlights" usually focus on the individual services Family Continuity provides. However, as we start 2011, it is good to reflect on what we accomplished last year. Like all of our colleague agencies, 2010 was a challenging year, with all of our services to families impacted by funding cuts. Nonetheless, while our operating margins shrunk, the agency still:

�  served more individuals (6,635) from more families (over 5,000),

�  maintained all of our existing programs at all of its sites, despite funding cuts,

�  grew its newest programs, Family Partners and Supervised Visitation,

�  expanded such partnerships as the New American Center, allowing us to serve a large and diverse refugee and immigrant community,

�  received our highest client satisfaction rating ever, with 97% of those responding either agreeing, or agreeing strongly with all 10 of the satisfaction questions, and

�  finished the year a leaner, and more efficient organization, financially in the black.

As we enter 2011, the state of Massachusetts faces another challenging year, with funding for human services likely to face more cuts. However, Family Continuity's critical mission and its very hard working and resilient staff continue to provide an optimistic outlook for our agency's future.
 



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Family Support Fund Update

As we reported in last month's Newsletter, the Family Support Fund helps families in all of our service areas during the times of their greatest need. To provide this support, Family Continuity receives no funding, other than generous donations from friends, staff and Board members. This year's appeal is still in progress, but already it has exceeded last year. We want to acknowledge the support of some of our generous contributors, including:


 $1,000 Donor

Partners Benefit Group
 

$500 Donors

401kQuote.com - Tom Lanahan

DSCI Corporation

Tobin & Sons Moving and Storage, Inc. 
 

$100-$250 Donors

Cross Cultural Communication Systems

Eldredge & Bourne Moving & Storage

MP Roberts Insurance Agency

R&M  Realty

The Drumlin Group

In addition, we received donations from anonymous donors, staff and Board members totaling $1,950.





upcomingevents
Upcoming Events-Save the Dates
Children's League Legislative Advocacy Day:
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Snow date: Thursday, February 10, 2011
11 am-1 pm
The State House
Grand Staircase, 2nd Floor
Program Highlights:
The Children's Choice Award
Release of the Child and Family Well-fare Platform
Musical Performance by the Plummer Home
Call to Action: Visit Your Legislators!
 

Getting Real About Family Voice and Choice
March 22, 2011
Bentley College
Family Continuity will be co-sponsoring this conference along with
NAFI (North American Family Institute), Massachusetts Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) and PPAL (The Parent Professional Advocacy League). It is a full day program for parents and professional staff.




realstory
Real Stories

Occasionally, families come to us with simple problems, ones that we can help with quickly and simply. More often, their needs are complicated. We may be able to help them, but to do so, we need help too. Because of this, Family Continuity works closely with a multitude of organizations in all of its communities. Last month, our Family Partners program received this letter from a family, expressing their thanks to a whole team of folks from the schools, to area social service agencies, that came together and rallied around their family.
 

Teamwork Works
 

"One year ago today Randy was hospitalized in the Child Assessment Unit. It was the darkest day of our lives. We didn't know it at the time but it was the best thing that could have happened. We learned a lot and we were put on the path we still follow today. All of you are in our lives due to this hospitalization. A year ago, JT and I felt hopeless but today all we see is hope. With your help, Randy is happy again and his behavior and mood are manageable. Our home is not the house of horrors it was for six months. We have tough days but we have more good and great days mixed in! We are all happier and in a better place!

 

There is still work to be done but we know it will get done! You are all so wonderful. You are kind hearted, committed and caring. What I like most is you are consistent and hold Randy to a high standard. It's one I know he can meet. We know how lucky we are to have this 'dream team'. Thank you so much for all you do for our family. Thank you for your patience and for caring so much about Randy. He is a lucky child!"


 

 Gina and JT




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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Contact Us:

Toll Free 866-219-3320

www.familycontinuity.org


 To Be Continued.........