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COMMUNITY SUPPORT & ADVOCACY |
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ACT Community Service Center ACT Community Service Center is a regional volunteer center that links individuals and groups with opportunities to serve in our local communities. ACT also works with organizations, providing training and technical assistance for them to work more effectively with volunteers. Serving Hampshire & Franklin Counties & the North Quabbin region.
Association for Community Living
(ACL) The Association provides services that promote dignified living for people with developmental disabilities and support for their families. The Association serves cities and towns across Western Mass, the North Quabbin area and Worcester County. Services include:
The Association is primarily funded by the Dept. of Mental Retardation and also hosts Community Resources for people with Autism as well as provides several Family Support Division programs as The Greater Athol Area Advocates for Families with Special Needs, Family Empowerment and Multicultural Families of the Amherst Area.
Athol / Orange Television (A.O.T.V.) The Athol /Orange Community Television, Inc. is a nonprofit access cable casting corporation that is dedicated to community improvement and enrichment through responsible, diverse & informative programming. It is the commitment of the corporation to involve and train people of all ages who live or work in the Athol and Orange communities to become members or program producers binging issues and happenings of the area to all Athol and Orange viewers.
Athol Area United Way The Athol Area United Way supports six member agencies that serve the towns of Athol, Petersham, Phillipston and Royalston. Agencies include:
Athol Lions Club The Lion’s Club can help people to get eye exams and eye glasses and help to put on many community events throughout the year: (4th of July Celebration, Haunted Hayrides, etc.).
Athol-Orange Rotary Club
Berkshire Children & Families Educational child care, intensive therapeutic foster care, adoption, post adoption, parenting and family literacy services, young parent services, DSS Family Networks in Greenfield and Pittsfield. Programs designed to build, strengthen and preserve families.
Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Franklin County Big Brothers/Big Sisters provides one to one volunteer mentors to children. We have a program at Northfield Mount Hermon School for North Quabbin children ages 6-10. Transportation from Athol and Orange is provided.
Child Care Outlook
167 South Main St. Orange (978)544-8205 3 Locations
Child Care Outlook, a program of Community Action, is the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency serving Hampshire, Franklin Counties and the North Quabbin Area.
Community Crisis Response Team Serving people in the aftermath of trauma (A program of Community Action!) 277 Main Street, Suite #401, Greenfield, MA 01301 Tel: (413) 773-5090 Fax: (413) 774-7460
The Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) is here to help. Since 1997, a professionally trained, 50-member Response Team has been helping local people in the aftermath of tragic events such as homicides, terrorist attacks, drunk driving crashes, hate crimes and natural disasters.
The after-effects of these events often reach far beyond the people we think of as victims. Many others may be affected – witnesses, family members, neighbors, children. All of these people may struggle with feelings of helplessness, confusion, despair, anger and grief. CCRT provides the assistance that these community members need to deal with what has happened.
CCRT is made up of caring professionals from the community who donate their time. We facilitate meetings that bring people together to talk about how the crisis has affected them, to heal with support of others, to plan next steps, and to connect with other resources needed. Types of services we provide include:
The CCRT goes out to the people who are affected. All of our services are free and confidential. We are now recruiting new Response Team Members. For more information call (413) 773-5090.
Community Action! Of Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin 393 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 Tel: (413) 774-2318 Fax: (413) 773-3834 Tel: (978) 544-5423 (rings to Greenfield) Orange Office: 167 South Main St. Orange (978)544-8091 Contact: Margaret Soussloff, Director of Family Support Programs or Tammie Butler, Director of Community Services Programs Website: www.communityaction.us
A United Way agency, Community Action serves Franklin & Hampshire Counties and the North Quabbin region:
Community Coalition for Teens (CCT) CCT collaborates with school and community partners to support programs aimed at reducing and preventing high risk behaviors by youth in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.
Community / Environmental Programming Capacity building for Schools, Community & Stewardship. Area served: North Quabbin / Millers River Watershed.
Community Resources for People with Autism
(CRPA) CRPA initiates parent support groups throughout Western Massachusetts for families with children with autism. CRPA also coordinates with other programs to provide brother and sister workshops.
DIAL / SELF Youth & Community Services – North Quabbin DIAL/Self Youth & Community Services is a community-based non-profit agency dedicated to promoting the health and positive development of teens/young adults in Franklin and Hampshire Counties and the North Quabbin region. DIAL/SELF – North Quabbin provides free clinical services, information and referral, and case management through their TeenLine program (ages 16-21) including emergency housing options. In collaboration with the YWCA of Western Ma, eligible young men and women can receive parenting/pregnancy services up to the age of 24 through the TeenLine Program. Our new Transition to Independent Living Program (ages 16-21) offers services to young adults as they transition from homelessness to living independently in safe, stable circumstances. DIAL/SELF services are free! Please call or stop by at anytime!
Elder Protective Services The Elder Protective Service Program investigates reports of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation & self neglect. Protective service case work also includes counseling, safety planning & family intervention, homemaker/health aide services, transportation, housing, legal assistance and advocacy. Service area includes Franklin County & North Quabbin (which includes 4 Worcester County towns: Athol, Phillipston, Royalston & Petersham).
Family Friends
Wish you had more grandkids to play with or read to? Have we got a family for you! Parents in Franklin County want to connect with local residents (age 55 and up) who have wisdom and life experience. We are looking for part-time grandparents to read with kids, play educational games, and offer ideas on parenting and raising kids in a loving and supportive home. Flexible schedule and on-going support, and reimbursement for some expenses, including mileage, are provided. NCOA studies show that people who volunteer live longer, happier lives than those who don’t!
Family TIES of Massachusetts Family TIES is a statewide information and support network for families of children with disabilities or chronic illness. Family TIES offers up-to-date information and resources including:
First Call for Help First Call for Help provides information and referral services to residents in the North Quabbin community. Staff is able to provide help for individuals and their families to meet their basic needs. In addition, First Call provides information about housing search and stabilization.
Franklin County Home Care Corporation The mission of FCHCC is to help older Americans, people with disabilities and caregivers maximize their independence and quality of life. Programs include:
Franklin/Hampshire Career Center Workforce and economic development through the delivery of employment, education and training services designed to meet the needs of job seekers and employers. Service areas include all of Hampshire & Franklin Counties & Athol, Phillipston, Royalston & Petersham.
Greater Athol Area Advocates for Families with Special Needs
The Greater Athol Area Advocates for Families with Special Needs (GAAAFSN), a program of the Association for Community Living, provides community-based family and individual supports/services to people with Mental Retardation and other specific developmental disabilities. In order to access supports, the child or adult must be eligible for Department of Mental Retardation services. These supports/services include:
Geographical Areas Served: Franklin County, North Worcester County, North Quabbin Region
Healthy Families If you’re a young parent 21 and under and this is your first child Healthy Families is a state-wide program that can help you become the parent that you know you can be. In this program, you get to decide when and where you’d like to meet and work with your Home Visitor to achieve the goals that you set for yourself in life and being a parent. It’s also a great place to network and meet other young parents and find out what services there are for you in the community. All of our services are free and confidential. Here, it is all about you and your child.
Institute for Community Building (ICB)
The Institute for Community Building is an organization committed to
building collaborative relationships for youth.
New England Learning Center for Women In Transition NELCWIT is an organization committed to ending violence against women and providing services to women and children, who have experienced sexual assault and/or physical, emotional, verbal abuse or harassment. No insurance is required and all programs are free! Programs include:
North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce The North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce serves the nine town North Quabbin region. Though primarily a membership driven Economic and Community development organization, the Chamber also acts as a liaison between the business community, and a variety of health and human service programs and agencies available in the region. The Chamber works to maintain lines of communication between these different sectors of our communities and provides a wide variety of referral services.
North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy An association to develop and support relationships for persons in need of guidance, companionship or advocacy. In each relationship one participant is a local citizen with a mental disability or disorder. The other participant is a local citizen whose gifts, interests and skills match with the gifts, interests and needs of their relationship partner. Serving the nine-town North Quabbin area. Assistance provided by advocates includes:
North Quabbin Community Coalition (NQCC) The North Quabbin Community Coalition is a community-wide alliance committed to improving the quality of life for all those living and working in the North Quabbin region. For more information about our organization visit our Mission & Task Forces pages.
North Quabbin PATCH North Quabbin Patch is a program designed to promote the safety and well-being of children and families through the collaboration of families, agencies, and the community.
Orange Lions Club
Parental Stress Hotline The Parental Stress Line offers parents and caregivers in Massachusetts 24-hour, confidential, anonymous, and toll-free support to handle the stresses of parenting and referrals to services in a caller’s local area. No problem is too big or small for a parent to call. For more information about these opportunities to support parents and families in your area, contact the Outreach Coordinator, at (617) 927-0624.
Parent-Child Development Center Head Start The Parent-Child Development Center offers comprehensive Head Start, Early Head Start and childcare services to children birth up to Kindergarten through a menu of options including: center-based classrooms and home visiting, and in licensed and monitored Family Child Care homes throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties. Some services are offered year round, others are school-year. Head Start and Early Head Start services are free to eligible families. State sliding scale fees apply to childcare services. Classrooms in Greenfield, Turners Falls, Northfield, Bernardston, North Orange, Amherst, Ware, Northampton, and Easthampton. Home Visiting throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties. Family Child Care in various locations throughout the two counties.
Quabbin House/Clubhouse Quabbin House is a small community based Clubhouse modeled on the widely respected Fountain House Club in New York City. We are a member of a division of Clinical Support Options (CSO) in Greenfield. The Clubhouse creates a positive environment in which people who have experienced a mental illness can achieve productive and satisfying lives. Quabbin House is simply a place which relies upon its member’s talents, skills, and dreams in order to succeed. We are a response to every person’s need to be involved in respectful, gratifying relationships and meaningful work. Each and every member is a highly valued contributor to our overall success. We use member skills in developing a “people helping people” atmosphere. At Quabbin House a high level of member participation is vital to the successful operation of the Club. In order to utilize the abilities of each member we are organized in the following ways. Transitional Employment is a program unique to clubhouses around the world. The goal is to help people who have had a break in their employment history, or who do not yet have a work history, to fully rejoin society through paid work. The unique supports of Transitional Employment help to develop a successful partnership between the employer, employee, and the Quabbin House. There is more to life than work so Quabbin House is also open on Saturday, Sunday and holidays for “socials”. Schedules offer a variety of events such as going out to eat, shopping, movies, game days, brunches at the club and more. A support group is also offered the second Wednesday of each month from 5-7 pm at the club. This is for friends and family of those with mental illness. This group is facilitated by staff trained by NAMI. (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.) There is also a Dual Recovery Meeting held at the club 2 times a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. These meetings are for those who have both a mental illness and an addiction. You do not have to be a member of the Quabbin House to attend these meetings. For more info on this please contact, Jennifer Mannino at (978) 544-1859 at or after 4 pm on Tuesday or Thursday.
Quabbin Mediation Quabbin Mediation mediates disputes and teaches mediation, negotiation and communication skills for all sectors of the population in the North Quabbin region and beyond. Program includes:
Seeds of Solidarity Education Center Seeds of Solidarity brings to life the connection between environmental and social justice issues through research, demonstration, and hands-on education. Our work is a response to the inequitable distribution of resources and ecological destruction that plague communities locally and globally. We partner with the schools to promote wellness through school gardens and greenhouses. Seeds of Solidarity Education Center provides educational programs that promote regional food and energy self-reliance. We try to contribute to the vitality of the area through our SOL (Seeds of Leadership) Garden program for area teenagers, and through the annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival.
Stavros Center for Independent Living Their mission is to promote independence and access in the community for persons with disabilities and deaf people. For 30 years Stavros has been actively advocating for the civil rights of people with disabilities and provides services to residents in Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties. Following are descriptions of many of the services provided:
The United Arc of Franklin and Hampshire Counties provides an array of advocacy and support services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties and western Worcester County. Programs serving the North Quabbin area include:
Valuing Our Children (VOC) Website: www.vocathol.org
VOC is a Massachusetts Family Center offering support and education to families in the North Quabbin region. Programs include:
All services are free. Transportation and childcare for classes and activities is available. |
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