Greetings,
In summer we can all enjoy the longer days, time with family, and getaways. At Family Continuity,we are focused on ensuring that the individuals, families, and communities we work with still have the programs, supports, and resources they need to adjust to the changing routines of summer, and rejuvenate to get ready for the seasons ahead.
This summer we will be busy launching our new Recovery Support Center in Whitinsville, finalizing and implementing our new Strategic Plan, planning for our 5k race in Sandwich, and growing and strengthening our programs and infrastructure throughout the agency.
I wish you all a safe and happy summer and look forward to continuing the great work we do together as a community to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background and situation, is able to access the supports they need to live meaningful, engaged lives.
Until Next Time,
Barbara Wilson, LICSW
President & CEO
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Family Continuity was recently awarded a contract from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to open a new Peer Led Recovery Support Center in Whitinsville. We have been providing recovery services to the greater Northbridge community for over three years and operated a small Recovery Support Center for the last year. This contract will allow the recovery community to expand services in the area. FC’s recovery programs are heavily invested and embedded in the Whitinsville/Northbridge community and have established relationships with local churches, schools, businesses, service providers, municipalities, state agencies, and other community organizations/groups.
The RSC, located in downtown Whitinsville, supports adults and young adults who self-identify as in recovery from substance misuse and/or gambling disorders and fill a gap in recovery supports in the area. The fully functional RSC will offer a mix of emotional, informational, instrumental, and affiliation supports operating under the Peer Participatory Model and provide a host of peer oriented support services, the scope of which will be informed and delivered by the local recovery community. All programs inclusive of peer-led groups, community meetings, and recreational outings will be offered to anyone who identifies as in recovery regardless of faith, cultural background, or primary substance misused. This new initiative exemplifies Family Continuity’s commitment to supporting family success in every community and our agency value that change is always possible.
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Johelly Chalas
J
ohelly has been with Family Continuity for 2 years and works out of our Lawrence office. She earned her Master's degree in Mental Health from Cambridge College and enjoys exercising, walking daily; reading; cooking; and spending time with her family. Johelly, enjoys working with people and is very passionate about her work! Below is the experience of one of our clients that worked with Johelly. We are so so proud of the work that Johelly, and all our staff, do every day!
“En las circunstancias mas dificiles de mi vida tuve la suerte de que persona valiosa se cruzaran en mi camino johelly solidariamente se acerco a ratificarme su ayuda y brindarme apoyo para salir del estado en que me encontraba hoy no tengo mas que gestos y palabras de agradecimiento para ti mi agradecimiento sere eterna te agradeceré eternamente tu apoyo y ayuda que cuando mas lo necesite.”
“In the most difficult circumstances of my life I was lucky that a valuable person crossed my path. Johelly approached me with empathy to help me and give me support to get out of the state I was in. Today I have nothing but gestures and words of thanks for Johelly and I am eternally grateful for the support and help she gave me when I needed it most.”
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AUGUST
Meet our new RSC staff and join us on August 24
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at our first annual recovery walk to let the community know that no one walks alone!
to learn more or register.
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Save the date: October 12, 2019
Join us for our 2nd annual
Cape Cod for Kids 5k (formerly the High Five 5k) in Sandwich, MA. Funds will support
Family Continuity’s
programs that provide a spectrum of emotional, developmental, and behavioral supports for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families and seniors. Services are evidence-based, best practice therapies, and support diverse areas within communities, such as school settings, primary care practices, and home-based and clinic services.
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Worcester World Refugee Day
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Family Continuity staff representing our Cultural Broker Program attended the Worcester celebration of World Refugee Day on June 21st. Put on by Ascentria Care Alliance, together with the Refugee & Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC), this event featured cultural food, dance, music, art, and other special presentations. As is our tradition, FC staff handed out stuffed animals to the children in attendance!
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What a great turnout at our Recovery Support Center pizza party! 22 people came to celebrate our new Center and enjoy community.
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June: Pride Lights for Pride Month
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Pride Lights is a celebration of the community’s strengths and resilience, rooted in collective resistance, and a recognition of those whom we have lost throughout the years to HIV/AIDS. A signature tradition of Boston Pride Week, PRIDE LIGHTS, was celebrated in June 4th, 2019 in South End at the Blackstone Square Park. Pride lights featured performances, music and its name implies the illumination of the park. The park lighting ceremony was meant to commemorate departed friends, family and coworkers, and to increase awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is still affecting our community today. Indira Gumbe, Program Director at Family Continuity, volunteered at this event on behalf of Waves Ahead and SAGE Puerto Rico advocating for the need to support the development and formation of stronger segments of the LGBT Senior Communities, Homeless, and Others; in order for them to transform their quality of living by promoting an inclusive public policy for all and providing the skills & resources necessary in order to empower them as individual, families, and community-as-a whole.
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Community Outreach Initiative Network (COIN)
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On June 11
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, Family Continuity was fortunate to have two employees in attendance at the 9
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Annual Mental Health and Law Enforcement Conference, sponsored by DMH and held at Fitchburg State University. Sarah Gagne was a panel member, representing her work in COIN, and Jack Green was in attendance, to support his work on the Blackstone Valley Connector. Sarah was accompanied by Chief David Scott, from the Pepperell Police Department, as well as two other mental health/law enforcement teams (from Barnstable and Watertown) on a panel entitled Mental Health and Law Enforcement Team Responses to Specialty Populations (Youth, the Elderly and Veterans).
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We had a great day in Sandwich at the Caring Cod Fishing Tournament that raises money to support children who have been impact by substance use on the Cape.This fund has helped countless kids over the last three years attend summer camp, go to dance class, play sports, etc. A big thank you to the volunteers who put on this important fundraiser and the community that comes out to support the cause every year!
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Our Diversity Committee has just launched the first edition of their newsletter, Every Voice. This quarterly publication is a chance to share information, resources and tools with staff to ensure we are providing culturally responsive services. Click the image below to read more about what we are up to!
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CAREER AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Behavioral Health Clinician - Plymouth, MA
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Board of Directors Volunteer
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