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Greetings from the CEO,
If you are looking for some cheap fun, take a look at any of the websites entitled "January is......month". Every cause seems to pick a month to call its own. Some are just plain funny like "January is Apple and Apricots month" or "California Dried Plum Digestive Month", and "Tubers and Dried Fruit Month". Other themes attached to January have more serious, if somewhat odd and obscure connections like "National Radon Action Month", "National Be On-Purpose Month", and "National Wealth Mentality Month". There is one attribution, however that seems to be well matched with January, and that's "Get Organized Month". With New Year's resolutions still fresh in our minds, its good to remember that our own and our families' good health requires a certain amount of organization once in a while. With the chaos of the Holidays over, it is a good time to sit down and think about where a little organization could help us along the way. Take a look at this month's "Family Corner" for some places to start.
Once you are a little more organized, perhaps you'll find some time to participate in "Cuckoo Dancing Week" (1/11-17)!
Sincerely,
Earl "Skip" Stuck |
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 The Family Corner
Valuable Tips to Accomplish "Something"
There's just so much to do, so many distractions, so many people asking for something...you sit at the end of a very busy, tiring day, and realize that you never
really accomplished anything. We've all had this sinking feeling, made worse by the thought in the back of our minds that tomorrow won't be any better. Well there are some simple ways that we can begin to take back control, to actually accomplish something, and to help build some good family habits that can combat the chaos.
- First, "de-clutter" your mind. Every day, find time to sit back and think through what is really important to you. You can't accomplish a million things, so settle on the top 3 things that you really need to do. You'll find that the rest take care of themselves.
- Keep a small notebook and pen handy, to jot down ideas or appointments or things to do instead of trying to remember them later on. Get everyone into the habit of using sticky notes to write errands needed to be done. Stick them to your front door to remind you as you're headed out.
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Forward this issue to a friend and encourage them to sign up.
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Program Highlights
Female Offender Program at MCI Framingham Earns Accolade
For the past 2 years, Family Continuity has operated a small program through the Department of Corrections, which supports women as they ready to re-enter society. This year, that program was the recipient of the DOC "Professional Excellence Contract of the Year Award". Although the award came to Family Continuity, the real credit goes to clinician Gabrielle Kalis, who is the individual responsible for the program, and whose efforts to support her clients have received the recognition they most richly deserve.
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New Grants Provide Springboards for Important Initiatives
In December, the agency received three small but important grants, and it would like to thank its partners:
- The Tower Foundation, for its award to purchase clinical reference and resource materials including TF CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) manuals, Treatment Planning workbooks, DSM books, and Clinical Manuals.
- The Community Partners for Health, to support the work of the Northbridge Coalition and the Blackstone Valley Connector, to address the critical needs in the community as well as to identify the strengths of the community to meet those needs. Grant funds will assist in the ongoing functioning of the coalition as well as to increase the visibility of the coalition and the identified resources within the community.
- The Cape Cod Foundation and its Kingston Fund, for a gift that will support Family Continuity's educational groups for the families of children and youth with mental and behavioral health needs.
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Real Stories
Families need many different things at different times. It could be help with basic needs, money, food, electricity, or counseling to re-open communication, or some structure to help build a calm and caring home. For some, it may be as "simple" as finding ways to have fun together, as this "Real Story" illustrates...
Jimmy's Story
I am writing a letter to thank you for your efforts to help my son access typical activities his brother has always been able to attend. Jimmy is autistic and has difficulty being in large groups especially those that may have lots sensory things happening. Over the years we have tried unsuccessfully to take him to a movie or other everyday events. Eventually my son was referred to one of your wrap around programs to assist us. The Wrap team told us about the various services they offer to families like their quarterly movie day. We politely turned them down letting them know that "we have been there done that" and it was a disaster.
Read more of Jimmy's Story Here... |
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Family Support Fund
Thank you to the Generous Donors of the Family Support Fund:
Every year, we reach out to our corporate partners for support of our Family Support Fund, which provides for emergency assistance to families in need. Paid for solely through donations, with 100% of the money received going directly to families, the Fund has positively impacted many by providing assistance for such things as repairs to cars and wheelchairs, rising heating costs, tuition for job related training, and various other real-world needs when there was no where else to turn. This year, we are proud to thank the Fund's supporters including:
Fifteen Hundred Dollar Sponsor
Anonymous
One Thousand Dollar Sponsors
401Kquote.com
Partners Benefit Group
Stuart Bornstein
Five Hundred Dollar Sponsor
Calendar Press
Two Hundred Fifty Dollar Sponsors
DSCI Corporation
M.P. Roberts Insurance Agency
One Hundred Dollar Sponsor
Mary Byrne
Fifty Dollar Sponsors
Lake Pearl Lucianos
The Drumlin Group |
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Winter Wish List
Vote Today & Everyday Until January 15th
and help Family Continuity Win The Winter Wish List contest! 
Main Street Connect, publishers of 51 online news sites in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, has partnered with Gaudette Insurance to sponsor the Winter Wish List contest, which will award one grand prize of $5,000 and five runner-up prizes of $500 to the non profit organizations which receive the most votes in the coming weeks.
Family Continuity has been consistently running in the top five! Please join in and vote for us daily. You do need to register for the site but the process is simple and if you do not wish to receive emails from the site, simply click the opt out box. |
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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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