Family Support

Family Support Services

The Family Support Center offers a variety of supports with the goal of keeping services that are family and individually driven.  Staff welcomes the opportunity to work with each family or individual to understand their needs, as well as, provide supports that will be meaningful to them. We believe in a team approach that brings a family, their community, and possible service providers together to provide needed supports and services.  The following services are available to families.

• Information & Referral
• Resources, Services, and Benefits Navigation
• Educational Seminars
• Family Networking
• Support Groups
• Brothers and Sisters’ Group
• Project Kids Connect (Recreational Programs and inclusion facilitation into existing community activities)
• Family Fun Days
• Family Advisory Council
• Agency with Choice
• Funds for Respite and / or Recreation

Information & Referral

Families face many challenges in their search for appropriate and available resources and services.  Whether families are looking for a particular resource or are interested in knowing what resources exist, Family Support staff can provide direction.  Staff are knowledgeable about federal and state benefits, services available under Mass Health, Social Security, guardianship, adaptive equipment, future planning, transition services, Educational services and programs, early Intervention services, Positive Supports training, Community resources, counseling programs, specialists, support groups, and other commonly needed resources and supports requested by families.  For further information please contact the Family Support Center.

Resources, Services, and Benefits Navigation

Service Navigation is designed to assist families in caring for their family member at home by providing individualized guidance, support and problem-solving assistance, as well as help families access and coordinate potential community resources and services.  Service Navigation is available to individuals who are eligible for services through DDS.  For further information please contact the Family Support Center.

Educational Seminars

The Family Support Center offers a series of educational seminars to share information on a variety of subjects with families.   Families are asked for ideas on future training topics.  Training topics have included Future Planning, Educational Rights and Support, Social Security Benefits, Positive Behavioral Supports, Transition Services, etc.  For further information please contact Beth Bogus at ext. 3118.

Family Networking and Support Groups

Families coming together and supporting each other has always been fundamental to The Arc’s services.  The Arc hosts both a Dads’ Night Out and a Parent’s Support Group on a monthly basis.  Come enjoy dinner and conversation with others who walk the walk.  For further information please contact Cathryn Vasconcelos at ext. 3104.

Brothers’ and Sisters’ Group

This is a group just for brothers and sisters of kids with special needs.  The group is open to siblings ages 8-12.  Activities have included games, sports, movies, arts & crafts, and conversations about having a brother or sister with special needs.  For further information please contact Cathryn Vasconcelos at ext. 3104.

Project Kids Connect (PKC)

The mission of Project Kids Connect is to facilitate life long relationships between children / teenagers with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities with other community members.  One of the ways we do this is by supporting inclusion at various community activities and through the provision of ability awareness training.  PKC also offers community based vacation club activities through out the year.  Families interested in having their child/teen included in a particular community activity or who wish further information on vacation activities are encouraged to call and speak with Sandy Boyer at ext. 3123.

Family Fun Days

The Family Support Center offers Family Fun Days throughout the year.  Families of children, teens, and adults are invited to the days to enjoy activities and to connect with one another.  Recent Family Fun Days have included a Day in the Park with a cookout and trip to the Zoo; a Day at Chamberlain Farms with hay rides, pumpkin picking, and travel through a corn maze; an afternoon at a local YMCA for swimming and gym activities.  For further information contact the Family Support Center.

Family Advisory Council

The council is a group of people, primarily family members, who are committed to ensuring the best possible services for individuals and their families whom The Arc supports.  This group advises the Department of Child and Family Services on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the services and supports offered.  For further information on the council contact Beth Bogus at ext. 3118 or visit their website http://www.ARCFAC.com.

Agency with Choice (AWC)

In March of 2009 the Department of Developmental Services issued a policy of Self-Determination.  Under this policy, the Department is committed to promoting self-determination by supporting and expanding opportunities for self-direction by providing services under a co-employment model.  This model allows people to independently choose their support provider.  Since this model fits in with The Arc of Bristol County’s service provision philosophy, we applied and became a qualified provider for AWC.  If you are interested in this model of service provision, we encourage you to contact your DDS Service Coordinator or Beth Bogus at ext 3118.

http://www.ARCFAC.com

Respite and / or Recreational Funds

The Department of Child and Family Services is committed to decreasing stress at home and in the community.  One way we do this is searching out funding for families to access respite and recreational opportunities.  Generally these funds must be allocated within the terms of the grant.  If you are searching for respite funds and / or financial assistance for recreational activities please contact Beth Bogus at extension 3118 to see if we have an active grant that you can access.