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Greetings from the CEO,
"Fun" and "Frustration", could there be two words that contain such different meanings? In this Newsletter, we spend a lot of time talking about both. It's Summer and we want you to all be thinking about fun with your families, and our "Family Corner" offers some advice about why it is a crucial ingredient for thriving families and offers tips on where to find it safely and affordably.
So what about "frustration"? It sure gets in the way of fun, and it is one of the first emotions that too many families encounter when they try to access services for themselves and their families. Andrea's "Real Story" lets us know just how frustrating it sometimes is to get answers about needed services and what a relief it can be when someone is there to answer our questions. Navigating the child welfare/ mental health/special education/human services/elder care/housing and other related systems can present daunting challenges for those who seek help.
Confusing terms, acronyms, and service rules are a major cause of frustration for many consumers. We will be addressing this topic in upcoming newsletters, but for now you might be interested in a human service acronym dictionary that Family Continuity is working on that may begin to help you track down the information you need. Don't worry, if the acronyms don't make sense to you, many of them are mysteries to us too. But PLEASE- ask, and you will find someone here to help you figure it out.
Earl "Skip" Stuck |
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 The Family Corner
Having Fun With our Families
What is at the top of your list of things that are important for families to do together? Chores around the house? Sitting down to a nice dinner? Attending church? Playing board games? Watching TV? or Sharing in family decisions? Each of these activities, and many others are critical to keep families close, caring, and supportive of each other. Sharing time and work helps parents teach responsibility, builds trust and affection, and provides a million opportunities to help parents and children grow together. Even when children are grown, and families care for elders nothing beats time together. But every bit as important as time spent working, building, and solving life's problems, is time spent HAVING FUN!
With all that needs to be done to keep our lives organized, to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads, it is easy to forget that without FUN, we don't have the glue required to build happy families. Just like attributes such as responsibility, reliability, caring and compassion, we learn how to have fun in safe and positive ways from our families. In fact, families that have fun together often lay the best and strongest groundwork for character building. Children that have an enjoyable family life, rarely have to turn to dangerous, harmful or illegal ways to entertain themselves. Continue reading about how to "have fun with our families" here |
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Program Highlights
Family Continuity Offices Continue With "All Staff Day Fun"
Our Hyannis Office Enjoyed Fun in the Sun
at the Red Jacket Resort-Yarmouth, MA
 | | Greetings from our Hyannis Team |
On June 15th our Hyannis Office headed to the beach for their all staff day! They had a fantastic day at the Red Jacket Beach Resort in Yarmouth,Ma and the weather could not have been better. Staff were able to enjoy swimming in the indoor and outdoor pools, the jacuzzi, lounging on the deck or on the beach, fishing on the pier, jet skiing, kayaking, volleyball, boating, and most of all lots of smiling and laughter. In addition to the good time that was had by all Melissa Giroux and Michael Alfond were both presented with 5 year Service Recogntion Awards by Family Continuity COO, Kathleen Englehardt.
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Our Peabody & Beverly Offices Celebrated
with a Day at the Beautiful Lynch Park
 | Peabody/ Beverly Staff Taking
A Break From Their All Staff Day
Fun at Lynch Park in Beverly |
Oh what a day our Peabody and Beverly offices shared. Lawn chairs, suntan lotion, wiffle ball, frisbee, cornhole, some creative human games like the three legged wheel barrel race , and the whirling dervish represented just a sampling of their morning fun! From all accounts a great morning of fun lead into what was reported to be the best picnic lunch ever... lobsters, steamers, wings, ribs, chicken breasts, steak tips, and all the fixins! Yum!
Additionally six staff were presented with 5 year Service Recognition Awards: Jill Isabella, Steve Cellini, Ben Salzman, Amanda Stratton Kirk, Mark Scarano, and Rebecca Krol.
Be sure to check back next month for more highlights from our other hub site all staff days! |
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Real Stories
Andrea's Story
Those of us who work in human services too often underestimate just how hard it is for parents and families to get questions answered, or to even know what questions to ask. Each system has its own language, rules, and ins-and-outs that make finding the help you need a real challenge. Andrea was in just such a dilemma until she found the guide she needed, listen to her story.
My name is Andrea and I have a four year old son Sam who attends our local school's special education preschool program. I am a single parent whose job requires me to be at work before Sam goes to school. Luckily, Sam has been going to a family day care home about two blocks from our home. Just as school was ending in June, I started to hear rumors that our town was going to stop providing transportation for children in day care homes. I was told that he would have to be transported to and from my home. I was lost and did not know where to go for answers. One of my relatives told me about Family Continuity and the services they offered. She said that although the person she knew had lots of experience in special education laws, her office was located about sixty miles away.
I contacted the Lowell Wraparound Director and explained my dilemma. In this economy, I could not take the chance of losing my job, but I also could not allow...to continue reading Andrea's Story click here. |
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Have You Registered for the High Five 5k?
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Lace up your sneakers and start training today! The Mullet Marathon will be hosting a High Five, 5K to benefit Family Continuity on Saturday, October 6th in beautiful Sandwich, MA on the Cape. Follow the link and register today at www.highfive5k.com and don't forget to spread the word to your friends and family. Hope to see you all on October 6th! |
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Volunteers Needed 
Volunteers wanted to help us support family success in every community! Volunteers are needed in all of our hub locations (Beverly/Peabody, Hyannis, Lawrence, Plymouth & Whitinsville/ Worcester).
We don't need much of your time, we simply need some of your time!
Click here to view a list of our available volunteer opportunities.
Volunteers interested in working with us do not need to have a human services background but must share in a strong commitment to supporting families. Volunteer opportunities vary by location with all sites looking for volunteers who can commit to working a set number of hours per week or month or who can help complete a specific time limited-job/project.
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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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