Family Resource Center Contact: Kerry Mahoney, Director

(781) 942-4888 Ext. 1-4015 Email: km@theemarc.org

The Family Resource Center serves children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in the following communities: Everett, Lynnfield, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham and Wakefield.

SERVICES AND SUPPORTS

Information and Referral: Who to call and where to go for help and assistance.

Special Education Advocacy: Fee for service advocates can assist you with understanding special education laws and how they can benefit your child. Services include consultation, team meetings, record reviews and negotiations.

Adult Advocacy: Individualized assistance and consultation in accessing and navigating government benefit programs and services supporting adults with mental retardation.

FRIENDS (Family Resource Information, Education Network for Disability Solutions): A series of educational workshops providing parents with the support, information and networking they need to become effective advocates for their children.

Support Groups: An opportunity for families to come together and share common experiences in raising their children with special needs. Groups currently offered are Support for Seniors for older caregivers; Sibshops, a recreationally-based program for school-aged brothers and sisters; and on a bimonthly basis a Disability Awareness Program is featured in the children's room at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Saugus.

The Successful Parenting Program: This program is designed to meet the needs of parents with cognitive limitations. Through a parent aide program, parenting education groups and case management, families work to establish a safe and stable home in which to raise their children. The program is funded by the Department of Social Services and The Children's Trust Fund.

Family to Family Support Center: Part of a statewide collaboration supporting individuals on the Boulet Settlement and others who wish to plan for their childs future. Provides information on best practices and innovative solutions for families interested in planning for the future; opportunities for networking; educational forums on housing issues, legal and financial planning, etc.; person-centered planning; and assistance in implementing future plans.

Recreation: Activities for children and adults: community trips, team sports; swimming, bowling, tennis, inclusive recreation opportunities.

AND FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS ELIGIBLE FOR DMR SERVICES

Respite Care: Respite providers can offer flexible care and companionship that aid in meeting individual family's needs. The Family Resource Center maintains a listing of providers that can be matched with families.

Flexible Funding: Enables families to choose the support necessary to keep their children at home. Families may purchase goods and services or hire their own caregivers to give themselves a much-needed break.

Building Community Bridges: Using a broker model, this program helps families with children ages 3-10 develop and implement an individualized support plan. The program provides information to strengthen family's knowledge of support services available within their own communities and aids them in accessing those supports. Referrals are open, but the child must be eligible for DMR services.

Intensive Flexible Family Support (IFFS): This program offers families whose children are at risk for residential placement, case management and support to enable them to care for their children at home. This is a family-directed program and services may include, but are not limited to: respite, behavioral consultation, educational advocacy, help in accessing other social support programs and flexible funding. Families are referred to the program by their local DMR Children's Service Coordinator.

DOE/DMR Agreement: This is a joint program run through the Department of Education and the Department of Mental Retardation. The purpose of the program is to enable families to bring back home a child in a residential placement, or to prevent an imminent residential placement from occurring. Services may include case management, respite, behavioral intervention and in-home training, home modifications and other individualized services that a family deems necessary to maintain their child at home. Referrals to this program are made through DMR and/or your local school system.

The Family Resource Center is sponsored by The Arc of East Middlesex and receives financial support from The Children's Trust Fund, Department of Mental Retardation, Department of Social Services, The Arc of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, grants from cities and towns, and private donations.