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Greetings from the CEO,
May is Mental Health Month, but every day of every month, we are thinking about the emotional and behavioral stresses that affect our clients, families, neighbors, and ourselves. Increasingly, we are becoming aware of some of the far-reaching effects of trauma on our lives. Perhaps we may not have personally faced a traumatic event, but few of us have not seen the effects of trauma on a loved one, family member or friend. For too many, past trauma is the seed, buried and left alone. A seed which, if tended, allows us to get past even the most frightening and difficult events. If not, the seed can grow to eventually affect our family relationships, mental and physical health.
Family Continuity clinicians, mentors and family partners see the effects every day, that's why we are trained to consider the importance of past trauma in all of our work. If you think that trauma in your life might be affecting your mood, behavior, or relationships, or that of a loved one, please read on and see how through understanding it, you can regain control and direction.
Earl "Skip" Stuck |
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 The Family Corner
How Trauma Affects You
Watching any newscast, on any day, at any time always leaves us with one indisputable fact...horrible things can happen to anyone, tragedy can impact a family. Too often, the residual effects of trauma can linger on, and in some cases cause greater harm than the initial event. As part of Mental Health Month, Family Continuity is raising awareness of trauma, the devastating impact it has on our well-being, and how to address these effects and create dramatic changes in people's lives.
A traumatic event-which threatens our lives, our safety or our personal integrity-can affect us profoundly. Although most people think that "trauma" refers to physical trauma that occurs as a result of a car accident or assault, it is much more than that. Continue here to read more about "How Trauma Affects You!" |
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Forward this issue to a friend or colleague and encourage them to sign up. |
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Program Spotlight
Family Continuity Focuses in on
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidenced based psychotherapeutic model that supports children and families who are experiencing significant emotional, behavioral, and conduct difficulties related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other traumatic life experiences. It incorporates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral, family, and humanistic principles and techniques and while it was designed to be used with youth and their parents, it can be delivered to clients of any age. Through the therapy, children and parents learn new skills to help process thoughts and feelings related to traumatic life events; manage and resolve distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to traumatic life events; and enhance safety, growth, parenting skills, and family communication.
For nearly a year now, all Master's Level Family Continuity clinicians have been trained in TF-CBT, and it has been incorporated into the practice of each of Family Continuity's six "hub" offices in Hyannis, Lawrence, Peabody/Beverly, Plymouth, Whitinsville and Worcester. The training is involved, consisting of an initial two day training, six months of monthly phone consultation/supervision meetings to discuss actual TF CBT work with clients, and an advanced two day training. |
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Real Stories
Blamed For My War Wounds
by Nicole Goodwin, RISE Magazine
 Usually, our "Real Stories" come from Family Continuity families and staff. This month however, and in keeping with the theme describing the impact of trauma on individuals and families, we'd like to share Nicole's story, an Iraq war vet, and how the trauma of wartime can affect a family, even after a parent's return home.
When I came home from serving my country in Iraq, I also brought home a lot of war wounds inside of me. Over time, my symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder grew harder and harder to handle, and made it harder and harder for me to take care of my daughter.
Eventually I was found guilty of neglecting my daughter and I ended up separated from her for six months. During those six months, my caseworker changed three times. Each time the caseworker changed, I felt like I was on trial again, having to recite my personal information concerning the case and all the things that had gone wrong in my life that led to my daughter's removal. Continue reading Nicole's story here... |
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Family Continuity in the News 
Family Continuity has been featured in several local news stories in recent weeks. Links below will bring you to each of the articles.
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Staff Recognition Awards
Family Continuity through the Jen Yates Service Recognition Award Program recognizes employees, interns and volunteers for outstanding performance of their job responsibilities in service to Family Continuity's clients, co-workers, and the agency. For the Third Quarter of FY'12 Special Recognition Award nominations were awarded to 27 people who combined for a total of 28 award nominations.
The Nominees were....
Administration: Tom Byron, Liz Ball, Kevin Nicastro, Elena Marchand
Hyannis Family Partners: Patricia Terry, Jennifer Ross
Hyannis Clinic/Home Based Team: Mary Eddy, Becky Alves, Suzanne Laub
Lawrence Home Based Team: Stacey Trull (2)
Peabody Clinic/ Home Based Team: Amanda Stratton Kirk, Sarah Krass
Plymouth Clinic/Home Based Team: Donna Cotter, Michael Perkins
New American Center, Sub- Contracts: Heidi Busch
Whitinsville Clinic: Kara Boucher, Rayna Gebara, Brittany Stroup, Edythe Stoddard, Ayon Bose, Christie Cnossen, Selen Kepke, Stacey Pimental
Whitinsville Home Based Team: Kailyn Santacroce, Kern Dickenson, Laura Bleakney, Chris Marques
As always, we select two of the nominated individuals to receive $100.00 gift cards in appreciation of their efforts...this quarter's winners were: Laura Bleakney and Stacey Pimental
Congratulations & Thanks To All of our Staff for their dedication, diligence & hardwork!
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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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