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 In This Issue | |
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Greetings from the CEO,
Here's a question we hear too often, usually posed by someone laying the groundwork for an argument as to why human services are a waste of time and money. A close friend and social work professor once was asked, "Is it really possible to help every person, every family? Aren't there some that are just too far beyond help?" His response, "Well, no you're not going to help everyone..." he went on to say "But the thing is, unless you put in the effort to get to know them, and really, really try to work with them, from a distance, they all look like the kind of family that won't succeed." His answer well describes a key value that is the center of Family Continuity's work.
Here's what we do know. Our assumptions about others from a distance are nearly always wrong. Getting close enough to really know someone requires effort, persistence and a steadfast belief that even if everyone won't succeed, personal involvement will help many people regain their confidence and turn a corner that they would never be able to achieve alone. In our business, we can't succeed unless we constantly remind ourselves of this man's words.
Sincerely,
| PS... see this month's "Real Story" for an example of how this played out for one mother and her family. |
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Earl "Skip" Stuck |
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The Family Corner
"Someday we'll laugh about this..."
How many times have you heard this? You might not believe it at the time, but experience demonstrates the truth of this statement. In stressful times, we need to put things into perspective. Most situations turn out to be not as bleak as they first appear, especially with the passage of time and a good dose of humor. As a support to mental health, humor is not just about knock-knock jokes. It is certainly not about putting others down, using hurtful sarcasm or ridicule. Rather, it is the ability to place perspective on a situation and realize that despite the momentary impulse, this is not "the end of the world." A sense of humor is the key to resilience. It can lighten our burdens and help us keep things in perspective. A good hearty laugh reduces stress, elevates mood, and brings our nervous system back into balance.
Click here to continue reading and to see how humor helps... |
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Follow Us On facebook 
Family Continuity recently joined the social media super highway by way of facebook. We encourage you to like our facebook page and to recommend it to your friends. Family Continuity can be found at
www.facebook.com/familycontinuity |
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Safety Training Opportunity
Workplace Safety Trainings Available for Non-Profits
As was announced two months ago, Family Continuity has been awarded a training grant through the Mass Dept. of Industrial Accidents to provide Safety training to human service workers. This grant will support both the agency's internal training for its own staff, as well as up to 8 day long training sessions for other human service providers in Massachusetts. If you are interested in looking at this training support for your agency, please contact Skip Stuck, CEO, at 508-862-0274 or email sstuck@familycontinuity.org. |
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Agency News
Family Continuity is NASW Massachusetts' "Employer of the Year" for 2012
Family Continuity was recently informed by the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter, that the agency has been selected as its 2012 Employer of the Year. This is a tremendous honor and a tribute to the hard work of Family Continuity's staff, intern supervisors and trainers who give as much back to their profession as they do to their clients. Family Continuity was recognized for its contributions to the field, especially in the areas of social work safety, and the positive feedback NASW has received from workers and interns. Skip Stuck, CEO, will accept the award on behalf of the agency at the NASW Annual conference and symposium dinner on Thursday, March 29th at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham. Family Continuity thanks the NASW for this recognition, and is proud to partner in NASW's own efforts to advocate for the social work profession through training and advocacy. |
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Real Stories
If ever there was a case of "from a distance, they all look like the kind of family that won't succeed" (as you read in the Message from the CEO), Angela's story would be one. Fortunately, it is also a case where honesty, tenacity, and effort made all of the difference in turning a life around.
Angela's Story 
My name is Angela. I am 41 years old and the mother of two girls: Samantha 13 and Victoria 11. I have a college education and always held upper management positions. I led a very full life; weekends were for the girls. I have also been an addict most of my life...
Continue reading Angela's story here... |
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Program Highlights
New DMH Contracts launch new direction for Family Continuity Programming
 Since 1999 Family Continuity has served children, youth and their families through four contracts funded by the Dept of Mental Health - the Hyannis and Lawrence Flexible Support programs, and its Lynn and Lowell Wraparound programs. These programs worked with children where they lived, in community and family settings, helping children and youth through mentoring and counseling, and supporting their families to meet their mental health needs. These programs were a source of pride for the agency, and a very highly respected service to DMH and the community. In 2011, with a shrinking DMH children's case-load, DMH ended all of these programs state-wide, replacing them with a series of interventions serving a smaller group of clients, but with a wider variety of services. A new RFR entitled "State-wide Individual and Family Flexible Supports" described new programs in family systems intervention, individual youth support, youth support groups, and flexible funds administration. Family Continuity applied for and was awarded approval for all of these services, and on 1/1/2012, the old contracts were replaced by these.
Under the new contracts, Family Continuity will provide all of these services for Cape Cod and the Islands and the Upper Merrimack Valley as well as youth groups for Lowell. While these services will be provided to some of the same clients, because the new caseloads are likely to be smaller, these programs will be administratively built into our Lawrence and Hyannis home-based teams. Fortunately, many of our former flex staff will stay on, continuing to do fine work as they have in the past.
We want to take this opportunity to applaud the excellent 
work of the past 13 years by the agency's DMH Flex staff. Their dedication has impacted many lives for which Family Continuity will always be in their debt. With the continued hard work of those remaining, as well as new staff to be hired, we know that we will continue to work closely with DMH children and families for years to come. |
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Forward this issue to a friend or colleague and encourage them to sign up. |
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Winning a Winter Wish
 | | Donate to the Family Support Fund today! |
Family Continuity's Whitinsville office was a recent winner in thedailynorthbridge.com's Winter Wish List Contest. Although the agency didn't walk away with the grand prize of $5,000 Family Continuity did secure a $500 prize. Thanks to all who supported the agency with your votes!
Family Continuity is always in need of your support. Please remember that monetary donations to our Family Support Fund 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:
 Family Continuity
60 Perseverance Way, 2nd Floor * Hyannis, MA 02601 ATTN: Fund Development Office
or call 866.219.3320 for additional information
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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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