|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings from the CEO,
When I come down with the flu, I think of it as an illness that primarily effects me. Now my wife might take issue with that, when I'm whining for hot chocolate or an extra blanket, but more or less, I own my illness, and when I'm well again, life goes back to normal for everyone. Sadly, this is not true for families and children of individuals afflicted with illnesses such as substance addiction and the many varieties of mental illness.
Unlike the flu, these illnesses are not so easy to cure, and even when they are brought under control, they leave lasting scars on the individual as well those who surround them. In the November issue, the Family Corner will focus on the impact of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, and the scars it leaves on children. In addition, our "Real Story" this month will look at a child's experience with a mentally ill parent through her own eyes.
Earl "Skip" Stuck |
|
|
 Program Highlight 
Workforce Safety
Family Continuity continues to provide leadership in worker safety. Over the last 4 years, the agency has expanded its efforts to create a culture of safety for its workers. While this work is never finished, the staff safety committee has accomplished a lot, revising agency policies and procedures, creating and training on safety assessment tools, serving on statewide taskforces, writing and testing a comprehensive safety training program for Family Continuity staff, and providing similar support to over 20 other organizations.
Recently, the agency trained 10 staff as trainers to increase our capacity to provide support internally and to others in the field, and has applied for a grant to fund this work in the coming year. In addition, and working with legislators and other groups such as NASW and local universities, it has helped draft and sponsored worker safety legislation that is expected to be voted on this coming spring. We will continue to work, and hope for your support for this important bill.
Click here for a complete copy of the recent testimony of Skip Stuck, our CEO, at the hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Health.
Click here to view proposed legislation: H592/S1206: An Act to Promote the Public Health through Workplace Safety for Social Workers |
|
Please help us grow our mailing list.
Forward this issue to a friend or colleague and encourage them to sign up.
Click the box above. |
|
The Family Corner
Alcoholism & Other Drug Addictions
 | |
National Association for Children of Alcoholics |
Alcoholism and other drug addictions have genetic and environmental causes. These addictions have serious consequences for children who live in homes where parents are involved. More than 28 million Americans are children of alcoholics; nearly 11 million are under the age of 18. This figure is magnified by the countless number of others who are affected by parents who are impaired by other psychoactive drugs.
The impact can be devastating, but read on to see that there is also some good news, and ways you can help.
Click below to continue reading...
Alcoholism & Drug Addiction-Important Information |
|
Real Stories
Voices In Her Head My mother's mental illness haunts us both.
By: Shannel W.
 When I was 4 years old, my mother went into the hospital. We found out she had a mental illness called schizophrenia. After that, she was in and out of the hospital a lot.
A year later, my mom left me in our apartment by myself. A social worker found me looking like a mess and brought me to live with my grandmother.
Still, I remember that my mom and I were close when I was little. I wanted a pet so my mom got me a cat named Lulu. I also had a little jewelry box. I used to put on jewelry and my mother's shoes and play dress up.
My mother and I would go to the park to jump rope and play hand games. We would watch my favorite video, Michael Jackson's "Do You Remember the Time?" We would sing along and dance until we both got in bed to sleep.
Follow this link to continue reading "Voices In Her Head"
Reprinted with permission from Rise magazine, Copyright 2010 by Youth Communication/New York Center, Inc. (www.youthcomm.org). |
|
Be A Holiday Hero
It may be early, but it's not too early to catch the SPIRIT of the season! Family Continuity assists thousands of individuals and families year round with various crises that threaten
 | | Make a Donation Today |
their stability. For many of these individuals and families the holiday season is often the roughest season of the year, emotionally and financially.
Please consider stepping up to become a Holiday Hero to bring a bit of good cheer and joy to an individual or family in need. Monetary donations are always accepted but other items such as movie, store, or restaurant gift cards as well as certificates for music, karate or dance lessons can provide a family with a great memory making experience.
Donations can be mailed to the address below. Please feel free to indicate (if you have a preference) which program or hub office -Hyannis, Lawrence, Peabody, Plymouth or Whitinsville you'd like your donation to be forwarded to:
Family Continuity
60 Perseverance Way, 2nd Floor
Hyannis, MA 02601
ATTN: Fund Development Office
or call 866.219.3320 for additional information.
|
|
Follow Us On facebook
Family Continuity recently joined the social media super highway by way of facebook. Unfortunately the journey wasn't as smooth as we planned and members of our contact list received between 7 and 9 emails from facebook on our behalf. We value your interest in our work here at Family Continuity and sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.
We do encourage you to like our facebook page and to 
recommend it to your friends and colleagues.
Family Continuity can be found at www.facebook.com/familycontinuity
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
