Here at Family & Children's Service, we believe in strengthening and supporting families through education, empowerment and connection with community resources. We offer multiple programs under two main categories of service in the towns of Charlestown, Chelsea, East Boston, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop and surrounding communities.
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Services Offered
Family Alliance - A Family Stabilization Team which consists of licensed clinicians and case managers who work with families that are currently involved with the Department of Children and Families. Family Alliance works with individuals and their families in their homes and communities to stabilize, strengthen, and build relationships with family, peers, school and communities, and to foster a sense of belonging and connection to self, home, school, and community. Our clinician and case manager conduct home visits up to three times a week, to provide the tools for families to stabilize and work towards their goals and treatment plans. Services are provided five days a week. We are also available to families by phone twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week through our emergency hotline. Referrals are made by the Department of Children and Families.
Parent Education Program - Based on The Incredible Years curriculum, the program is designed to promote parents' self-confidence and competence through instruction on positive parent management skills and to teach parents the milestones of healthy child development. Each unit gives parents the information they need and provides opportunity to apply their learning through role play and class discussion. Parents who complete the program report they are better equipped to respond appropriately to their child's behaviors.
F&CS currently offers Parenting Groups in English, Spanish and Khmer: Incredible Years Infant Program (for parents of children age 0 to 3); Incredible Years BASIC Program (for parents of children age 3 to 6). Child care is available during parenting classes upon request.
The Young Parents Program (YPS) - A community-based program funded by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) which serves pregnant and parenting young adults up to age 23 and their children. Using a strength-based model, YPS home visitors work closely with young families to assess needs and offer a wide range of targeted supports intended to promote the healthy development of children, as well as the overall stability, independence and health of young parents. Initially, YPS will be serving up to 30 families in Chelsea and Revere.
Youth and Young Adult Strategies - Family & Children's Service offers several programs to empower youth and young adults, regardless of their backgrounds, their environment, or their past experiences. The agency focuses on asset-building in middle school girls through our program The Right Moves; engages youth ages 10-16 in activities that build their social skills and excite them about learning through our TEEN SCENE drop-in center, and supports multidisciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through coordinated efforts for prevention and intervention by offering Project Advance for young men and women aged 14-24.
Fees and Payment
Parenting classes are offered free of charge as a service to the community. (Parent Education Program)
This is a non profit agency.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual Faith-Based LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.