Program Description
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The Family Support Center, recently renamed the Michael B. Christensen Family Support Center, was established in 1996, in cooperation with GLCAC, Inc.and the Exchange Clubs of the Merrimack Valley as part of of a National Exchange Club campaign to prevent child abuse and neglect. The mission of the Family Support Center is to increase the ability of families to nurture their children, to foster a sense of family, self-sufficiency and empowerment. April is the month for the “Blue Ribbon Campaign” held for Child Abuse awareness. |
Program Components
Parent Aide Program
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The Parent Aide Program matches trained volunteers or paid parent aides with families who are at risk of child abuse or neglect. An initial needs assessment is conducted by Center staff to determine family dynamics and patterns of coping. Through in-home education and activities, parent aides teach effective, non-violent, problem solving skills and parenting techniques. Parents are also provided with intensive support services. Parent aides often make the difference in enabling parents to succeed. |
Family Preservation and Support Program
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The Family Preservation and Support Program, funded by the Department of Social Services, provides comprehensive services and fosters interagency coordination in order to support families with children up to age 18. The program conducts extensive client assessments to investigate family strengths and area of necessity, environmental factors, and family life cycle. Based on findings, working service plans are developed which identify both short-range and long-range family goals. Services offered directly by this program include:
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Lawrence Parent Child Home Program (LPCHP)
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The LPCHP has been helping parents understand the importance reading, talking and playing with their young children in order to encourage healthy development and to ensure children enter school ready to learn. Also through reading and play, parents and children will bond in a healthy stress free environment, through 2 weekly home visits for two years the children receive free toys and books to enhance language skills and prepare for preschool |
Parents Skills Program (PSP) / Parents Education Program (PEP)
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The Parenting Skills Program (Head Start) and the Parent Education program provide 12 week parent education classes for parents to break the cycle of child abuse. Child Abuse operates in a cycle. Parents who abuse their children today, were often abused themselves. Children who are abused today, are most likely to grow up and abuse their own children. Parents Education sessions are held
Tuesday from 11:00a.m. to
12:30p.m. in the GLCAC, Inc. downstairs conference room, located at 305
Essex Street, Lawrence, MA 01840. Parenting Skills
sessions are held Thursday evenings 6 p.m.-7:30p.m. |
Referrals
| The Family Support Center is now accepting new referrals. If you know of a friend or relative that can use our (Free) services, please contact us. |
Eligibility Guidelines
| Parent Aide Program | Referrals can be made by organizations, friends or family. The program is free with no income guidelines. |
| Family Preservation and Support Program | Must be referred by the Department of Social Services |
| Parenting Skills Program | Head Start Referrals |
| Parent Education Program | Must be referred By Department of Social Services |
| Lawrence Child Program | Referral can be made by
anyone -Children between ages of 18 months-3 years old with poor language skills -Lawrence Resident only -Eligible for public assistance (DTA, Food Stamps,
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Contact Information
Telephone:
(978)
681-4985
FAX:
(978)
681-4949
Postal address:
Michael B.
Christensen Family Support Center
305 Essex
St. Lawrence
Lawrence,
MA 01840
Contact name:
Susan Mitchell , Program Director
Electronic mail:
General Information: familysupport@glcac.org