Family Support Services
Intensive Structured Supported
Family Living
Intensive support for parents with cognitive disabilities and their families
This program is a Family Preservation Model which offers families an opportunity to gain stability in their lives within a supportive environment. The target population is families involved with the Dept. of Children and Families, including parents with children in foster care who would like the opportunity for reunification or for families at risk of separation. Participation in the program is voluntary and each participating family has a program plan specifying individual goals and objectives and family contract. Most families are expected to participate in the program for 1 – 2 years.
Families involved with this program live in separate apartments in a seven-unit apartment building in Franklin County, MA. The apartment building is in a residential neighborhood within walking distance from local stores, banks, library, post office, school, parks and recreation areas. The program features:
- Affordable housing as each unit has a MA Residential Program housing voucher
- Ongoing support and guidance from an assigned parent educator with offices and resource room available on site
- Evening, night time and weekend availability from a supportive neighbor who lives on site and offers mentoring support and serves as a parent role model
- Weekly parent education and support groups that enable parents to work on parenting skills with peers
- Weekly community meetings, dinners, and seasonal special events for families
- Weekly children’s activities and outings
- Opportunity to be matched with volunteer Family Friends for additional support
Eligibility and Referral
Intensive Structured Supported Living services are closed referral from the Department of Children and Families.
Contact Information:
Susan Jones, Positive Parenting Director
413-774-5558 x 1054
Leslie Kinney, Director of Family Support
413-774-5558 x 1003
