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It's a cycle of child-death incidents followed by investigations, reports, audits, apologies, promises, and reforms-and then the cycle repeats yet again. Meanwhile, for many years, Friends of Children has been publicly asking for specific outcome measures that demonstrate the intended and actual impacts of child welfare reforms in Massachusetts, for children and for families.
There were no answers.
For years, we have been imploring our leaders to step outside the cycle of tragedy and follow up on the endless investigations, news reports, and journalistic pieces that document this litany of systemic failure.
The silence that has followed our requests has been deafening.

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Failing Our Kids Measures of the Broken Child Welfare System in Massachusetts By June Ameen, Friends of Children, and Kate Lowenstein, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, with Joan Montgomery Halford, writer...

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We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our C.M.E.T. (Come Meet Everyone Thursday) Support Group in person every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at our office 900 Main Street STE B, Worcester, MA, 01610. 
From 6PM - 7PM. If you can’t make it in person join us on Zoom!

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We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our C.M.E.T. (Come Meet Everyone Thursday) Support Group in person every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at our office 900 Main Street STE B, Worcester, MA, 01610. 
From 6PM - 7PM. If you can’t make it in person join us on Zoom! https://t.co/E11WhBREnN

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We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our C.M.E.T. (Come Meet Everyone Thursday) Support Group in person every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at our office 900 Main Street STE B, Worcester, MA, 01610.
From 6PM - 7PM. If you can’t make it in person join us on Zoom! pic.twitter.com/E11WhBREnN
— Proactive Families Advocacy Inc (@ProFamAdvocacy) June 7, 2023

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We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our C.M.E.T. (Come Meet Everyone Thursday) Support Group in person every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at our office 900 Main Street STE B, Worcester, MA, 01610. 
From 6PM - 7PM. If you can’t make it in person join us on Zoom! https://t.co/E11WhBREnN

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We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our C.M.E.T. (Come Meet Everyone Thursday) Support Group in person every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at our office 900 Main Street STE B, Worcester, MA, 01610. 
From 6PM - 7PM. If you can’t make it in person join us on Zoom! https://t.co/E11WhBREnN

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We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our C.M.E.T. (Come Meet Everyone Thursday) Support Group in person every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at our office 900 Main Street STE B, Worcester, MA, 01610. 
From 6PM - 7PM. If you can’t make it in person join us on Zoom!

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FRP-Worcester serves parents involved with the Department of Children and Families' two Worcester offices, and provides them with home and community based treatment and support. IHR engages these families in substance use disorder treatment and provides peer recovery support as well. The project is evaluated by Advocates for Human Potential.

Short Title: FRP

Funders: Children's Bureau, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (Federal)

Area Served: Central Massachusetts

Download Service Coverage for Families Involved with DCF

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Family Recovery Project, Worcester | Institute for Health and Recovery

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FRP-Worcester serves parents involved with the Department of Children and Families' two Worcester offices, and provides them with home and community based treatment and support. IHR engages these families in substance use disorder treatment and provides peer recovery support as well. The project is evaluated by Advocates for Human Potential.

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​Pernet's Parent Aide Service is a state-funded program that complements the support that families receive from the Department of Children and Families.

If individuals are interested in having a home visitor to work with them on household management, parenting skills, or access to community resources then they may request a Pernet Parent Aide through their DCF worker.

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​Parent Aide Program - Pernet Family Health Service

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​Pernet's Parent Aide Service is a state-funded program that complements the support that families receive from the Department of Children and Families. If individuals are interested in having a home visitor to work with them on household management, parenting skills, or access to community resources then they may request a Pernet Parent Aide through their DCF worker.

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Young people who have left the foster care system without family and other supports need to know how they will survive and flourish. Each young person is an important part of their peer community. They are also supported by volunteers who will connect them to resources and can also offer coaching as they navigate young adulthood. This program can be long-term, up to three or more years.

Become a FOCUS member and enjoy the benefits of community-building, resources, education, and coaching programs!

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FOCUS is a community-based program that connects transition aged foster youth to resources and community members who help you succeed and be independent!

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Charles Lerner brings over 20 years of experience in child welfare and mental health. He is the founding Executive Director of Boston CASA.

It's our goal to build a CASA movement that'll ensure 8,000 children living in foster care receive the care that they deserve. Be part of that movement!

Massachusetts CASA has a clear vision for 2022/2023.

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Massachusetts CASA Association - Advocates for Children

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Charles Lerner brings over 20 years of experience in child welfare and mental health. He is the founding Executive Director of Boston CASA. It's our goal to build a CASA movement that'll ensure 8,000 children living in foster care receive the care that they deserve. Be part of that movement!

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Family Continuity's Intensive Flexible Family Supports (IFFS) program, provides community-based, clinical services for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Operating out of our Peabody and Lawrence offices, the Northeast Team provides interventions and supports that help children avoid out-of-home placements and obtain and maintain skills to maximize functioning in the community.

Specific Services Offered

Behavior modification and management

Intensive case management

Crisis intervention

Family and individual therapy

Social skills training

Referrals

Referrals are accepted through the area DDS office.

Cost

There is no cost to families enrolled in this program.

Contact

FAMILY CONTINUITY

29 Bassett Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601

Phone: 508.862.0273

Services provided at our Hyannis office location

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Family Continuity's Intensive Flexible Family Supports (IFFS) program, provides community-based, clinical services for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Operating out of our Peabody and Lawrence offices, the Northeast Team provides interventions and supports that help children avoid out-of-home placements and obtain and maintain skills to maximize functioning in the community.

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Youth Villages Intercept | Youth Villages

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The Youth Villages Intercept in-home services program provides treatment to troubled children and families in their own homes at times convenient for the families. Learn more today!

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This section has information about how DCF can get involved with a family when it thinks that there has been child abuse or neglect. It includes information about how DCF works, what you can do if DCF gets involved with your family, and what happens in a care and protection court case.

Scroll down to articles and other content in this section below.

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Department of Children and Families (DCF)

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This section has information about how DCF can get involved with a family when it thinks that there has been child abuse or neglect. It includes information about how DCF works, what you can do if DCF gets involved with your family, and what happens in a care and protection court case.Scroll down to articles and other content in this section below.

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Charles Lerner brings over 20 years of experience in child welfare and mental health. He is the founding Executive Director of Boston CASA.

It's our goal to build a CASA movement that'll ensure 8,000 children living in foster care receive the care that they deserve. Be part of that movement!

Massachusetts CASA has a clear vision for 2022/2023.

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Massachusetts CASA Association - Advocates for Children

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Charles Lerner brings over 20 years of experience in child welfare and mental health. He is the founding Executive Director of Boston CASA. It's our goal to build a CASA movement that'll ensure 8,000 children living in foster care receive the care that they deserve. Be part of that movement!

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The state gets involved with your family through the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Courts. DCF is the main state agency that gets involved with your children's welfare.

Their primary responsibility is "to keep children and youth safe from abuse and neglect."

DCF and the courts can get involved with your children's well-being in these ways:

1. A parent, guardian, or school can file a Children Requiring Assistance (CRA) petition in the Juvenile Court. The Child Requiring Assistance law helps parents and schools get services to help discipline very difficult children.
SeeAsking the Juvenile Court for help with your child

2. A person reports suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
SeeHow does the Department of Children and Families (DCF) find out about child abuse and neglect?

3. A person, usually a DCF social worker, files a Care and Protection petition in the Juvenile Court and asks a judge to order that your child be removed from your home because the child is in need of "care and protection."
SeeCan DCF take my child?

4. You and the other parent have a custody case in the Probate and Family Court and DCF has been involved with your family.

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abuse and neglect claims your rights and dcf abuse and neglect claims children and families abuse neglect claims your rights and dss

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Abuse and Neglect Claims: Your Rights and DCF - MassLegalHelp

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The state gets involved with your family through the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Courts. DCF is the main state agency that gets involved with your children's welfare. Their primary responsibility is "to keep children and youth safe from abuse and neglect."

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DCF Contact Information | Parents Helping Parents - Parents Helping Parents

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Parents Helping Parents offer free resources for parents. Find contact information for the Massachusetts Child At Risk Hotline, Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline.

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Family Networks - Wayside Youth & Family Support Network

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Wayside's Family Networks is a partnership between Wayside and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF).

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MSPCC's Kid's Net Program provides a range of services to connect foster, pre-adoptive, and kinship families to the information, resources, respite and support networks they need to address the unique challenges that come with raising foster children. Services are available to foster families throughout Massachusetts.

Kid's Net Brochure: English | Spanish

Kid's Net After-Hours Helpline: (800) 486-3730

MSPCC offers a telephone helpline that provides emergency assistance to foster, kinship and pre-adoptive families when DCF offices are closed. The helpline is staffed by social workers experienced in foster care issues. They can provide telephone support to help resolve after-hours situations. The helpline is open 5 P.M. to 9 A.M., Monday-Friday and 24 hours on weekends and holidays.

Helpline Rack Card: English | Spanish

Training

Kid's Net provides training throughout the state with topics specific to the issues facing foster, adoptive and kinship families. Click below for our Statewide Virtual Training Calendar!

We are building our online library! Over the next several months Kid's Net will be adding videos of our trainings so that you can access them on your time. Please check back regularly for new topics!

To access our trainings, please visit our training library here.

Support Groups & Resources

Kid's Net provides support groups and resources throughout the state with topics specific to the issues facing foster, adoptive and kinship families. Click on your region below to access your office's Support Group & Resource Calendars!

Family Resource Liaisons

Family Resources Liaisons (FRLs) are experienced foster, adoptive or kinship parents who offer information, support and mentoring to other parents. Find the Family Resources Liaison Directory here.

FRL Rack Card: English | Spanish

Respite

Everyone needs a break from parenting once in a while, and respite is an important way to ensure that parents are able to take care of themselves, so they can continue to care for their children. Respite is a planned time-out or vacation for DCF foster and pre-adoptive parents. Families can receive up to ten nights of paid respite each year.

Respite Rack Card: English | Spanish

Short-Term Child Care

Planned, short-term, day and evening care provided in licensed childcare homes or reimbursement of a DCF approved caretaker is available to allow foster, pre-adoptive and kinship families to attend to foster care-related or personal business; provide a break from parenting; and to meet other needs that impact the overall stability of the family.

Child Care Rack Card: English | Spanish

Babysitting

Babysitting reimbursement for DCF approved caregivers is available for up to 10 hours per month. Foster parents should work with their Family Resource Worker to ensure their desired caregiver is approved in the DCF system. The foster parent is responsible for communicating with the caregiver and ensuring they are available on the date/times care is needed.

Babysitting Rack Card: English | Spanish

KINnections

Available in Metro Boston

As part of the Kid's Net program, KINnections focuses on providing support and respite to grandparents raising their grandchildren. The program provides support groups, informational resources, and camp scholarships.

KINnections Featured in Boston Seniority Magazine.

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MSPCC's Kid's Net Program provides a range of services to connect foster, pre-adoptive, and kinship families to the information, resources, respite and support networks they need to address the unique challenges that come with raising foster children. Services are available ...