Family Continuity
 
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In This Issue
Program Spotlight
Real Stories
Family Corner

Be A Holiday Hero!

 

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!

Family Continuity assists thousands of individuals and families year round with various crises that threaten their stability. For many of these individuals and families the holiday season is often the roughest season of the year- emotionally and financially. 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  

Hyannis, MA 02601

ATTN: FSF/ Development

or call 866-218-3320 for more information

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REAL STORIES 

Sometimes a little help at the right time can go a long way. This is especially true when a family has worked hard, made great progress, as this "Family Support Fund" request from Bonnie's Family Partner demonstrates.

 

Here's Bonnie's Story 

Mother and Teen Son    

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness."  - Helen Keller

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Quick Links

 
Family Continuity was the 2012 Employer of the year for NASW's Massachusetts Chapter. We might just be the perfect fit for you. 

 

Check out our employment opportunities here.   

 

 

Join Our Mailing List 

   

We believe in our mission of "supporting family success in every community" and hope you do too.

 

Please consider helping us advance our mission by making a charitable contribution to Family Continuity today.

 

 Donate Today


View our donation options here. 

 

Snowflake 

  
 

Newsletter                 December 2013
Greetings from the CEO,  
  

One of this month's newsletter articles talks about the recent "Community Games and Pizza Night" held by our Whitinsville staff and the Northbridge Coalition. It got me thinking. You might assume this would be a 'kids' event, but you'd be wrong. It turns out that the nearly 150 folks who came were equally spread among every age- kids, families, and elders. Everyone had a great time, but what is there about a night of playing games that is so attractive to all of us, regardless of our age?  Aren't we supposed to outgrow the need for play? Well, as experience tells us, maybe not. Play needs to be an integral part of life, from birth to death; at home, in work, and out in the neighborhood. The need to play knows no limits if we want to stay close to others, healthy, and optimistic.

 

This holiday season, when you're visiting friends and family, opening gifts under the tree, find some time to play with the kids, but don't leave out the adults, they need it too. If you are too out of practice to know how to play, take a look at this month's Family Corner for a few ideas.

 

Happy Holidays!

  

Sincerely,    Family Continuity logo  

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Earl "Skip" Stuck

 

Program Spotlight

 

Community Game and Pizza Night Draws a Crowd

 

Recently, Family Continuity and the Northbridge Coalition sponsored another open community family fun night. The event invited all citizens to come and enjoy a night of games and stories featuring Marcia Nichols, Children's Librarian from the Whitinsville Social Library as the dinner speaker, who talked about how playing games with children is a great way to spark conversations and social exchanges. These conversations with children also serve as a way to build language, literacy, and learning skills.

The event had a great turnout with nearly 150 in attendance. It was also a multigenerational event with attendees from age 1-70 plus...The door prizes were great and the evening was enjoyed by all.

This is truly becoming a community event that is gaining support with donations from the Chamber of Commerce, Whitinsville Community Center, West End Creamery, and Knights of Columbus. The Whitinsville Christian School representatives came to see what it was all about and left so amazed! They will be joining in the growing number of supporters.

Our thanks go out for the great job of those who helped.

For more information, contact Craig Maxim at 508- 234-4181

  

 

Family Voice and Choice Conference 2013

 

On Friday, November 15th, Family Continuity and the five other members of the Commonwealth Alliance of Family And Children's Services held its 3rd Annual "Family Voice and Choice" Conference in Marlborough, MA, with a group of nearly 200 in attendance. Subtitled, "Moving Toward Shared Decisions and Mutual Responsibility" the full day event featured a keynote address by Robert Guinto, and a lunch presentation by Gina Gallagher and Patricia Terrasi, the "Shut-up Sisters" who explored the humorous, heart-warming side of the challenges of raising "imperfect" children in a world preoccupied with perfection. The day also featured nine workshops that explored how families make decisions, and can make better ones, from both the family and professional perspective. This time, as has become a trademark of this conference, the program was created to appeal to a mixed audience of professional staff, parents, and youths, and diverse mix of (as the brochure says) "people who care about families" appreciated the ideas and experiences shared by the presenters.

 

Family Continuity is proud to have, along with NFI, created and founded this conference, and to continue to be a partner and strong supporter of empowering families and youth. Special thanks go to Kathleen Englehardt, who headed up the planning committee, as well as Amanda Winn, in addition to Brendan Bartlett, Donna Grant, Craig Maxim, Jen Orlando, and Stacey Pimentel, who presented a well received workshop on Trauma Informed Treatment.

Thank you all!!

 

  

Family Corner 

 

Taking Play Seriously...It's your responsibility

 

Play is Fun! It is a time when we feel most alive. But play can also be hard work, because we too often take it for granted and may completely forget about it. Play isn't a luxury-it's a necessity. Play is as important to our physical and mental health as getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. It supercharges learning, helps us relieve stress, and connects us to others and the world around us. Play can even make work more productive and pleasurable. Despite its power, somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us stop playing. Click here to learn about the importance of play and how to put more of it into your life.

 

 

News!!!

 

Whitinsville Open House Celebrates In-School Services:

 

As had been announced in our October newsletter, at the beginning of October, Family Continuity initiated its first two school based mental health programs in partnership with Northbridge and Uxbridge High Schools. The programs provide on-site clinical services, consultation, and training for students and to support staff at each school, two days per week. On Monday, November 18th, an Open House was held at our Whitinsville office to celebrate the first full month of the programs operation. The initial report card has exceeded the expectations of all of the program's partners, with Northbridge already meeting the first year utilization goals, and Uxbridge not far behind. Speakers, Superintendants Dr. Nancy Spitulnik of Northbridge and Kevin Carney of Uxbridge expressed their enthusiasm about the program emphasizing the high level of acceptance by students and school personnel alike. State Senator Richard Moore talked about the important role that community collaborations such as these play in the lives of citizens young and old. Dr. Jan Yost, President of the Central Massachusetts Health Foundation, an initial funder of the programs expressed the Foundation's excitement as being part of this innovative pilot. All speakers applauded the work of two individuals, Dr. Karen Kittredge, of the Tri-River Health Center and former Northbridge School Committee member, and Craig Maxim, the Whitinsville Mental Health Clinic Director, who spearheaded the effort.

To all of these community leaders and the Family Continuity clinical staff working on this project...Congratulations on a terrific start, foreshadowing great things to come.