At Advocates, we believe that the people we support and their family members are the best experts on their lives. We strive to establish true partnerships with the people we serve and their involved family members in order to provide person-centered, individualized supports. Our partnerships are strengthened by an array of resources, activities, supports and opportunities for involvement that enhance family members' ability to provide care and advocacy for their loved ones and themselves.
Looking for Services for a Loved One?
Be sure to check out our FAQ page which is designed to answer many of the questions you may have about Advocates as your search for the right provider for your family member. If you are interested in Advocates services, we invite you to contact one of our staff. Please see the directory on our How to Access Services page.
Advocates Family Alliance
The Advocates Family Alliance is a growing group of dedicated family members who collaborate with Advocates staff and their loved ones in need of services to improve communications, plan activities, develop resources and provide support to other families. Presently, the group meets once a month at Advocates Natick office. New members are welcome and encouraged. To learn more, contact Jeff Keilson at or Andrea Moynagh at .
The Fred Gaspari Fund for MetroWest Families
The Fred Gaspari Fund grant program is ani initiative spearheaded by the Advocates Family Alliance to help area residents provide in-home care for their loved ones with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Several grants of up to $500 each are awarded each year to area families and individuals in memory of Alfred Pasquale Gaspari, a longtime advocate with the former Southern Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens (SMARC). Awards are granted for a variety of needs related to the family member's care. The Fall 2011 grant cycle is now open! Download the grant application.
Advocates Family Support Services
The Autism Alliance of MetroWest
Founded in 1993 on the belief that information is the most powerful tool for living with autism, the Autism Alliance MetroWest provides resources, education and support to over 850 area families.We maintain an education and resource center with over 600 up-to-date publications available for check-out at the Morse Institute Library in Natick. Our many events and support programs bring families together to find strength and hope through sharing. Learn more by signing up for the Alliance's newsletter, Family Voices, or by contacting or 508.652.9900.
Project Able provides culturally competent family support services to Chinese and Vietnamese individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families in the Greater Boston and South Shore areas. Project Able aims to develop each family's capacity to meet the needs of their family member within their own community. Our greatest accomplishment has been our success in overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers in order to help families get the care they need. For more information, download our printable brochure or contact the Project Able Office at 617-988-8132.
Advocates Supported Home Care program compensates family members or live-in hired caregivers to provide care in the comfort of home to individuals over 16 who are MassHealth-eligible and who, because of medical, physical, cognitive or psychiatric problems, cannot safely live alone.
Advocates South Coastal Family Support Center provides trainings, workshops, case management, information and referral services to over 300 families caring for loved ones with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the Massachusetts south shore area. The program director and two staff are committed to a family driven and culturally competent approach that respects the unique needs, goals and wishes of each family. For more information contact program director Alicia Cannon at or call 1-877-628-6789.
Family Satisfaction Survey
The Advocates Family Satisfaction Survey was created by members of the Advocates Family Alliance to encourage families and guardians to tell Advocates administrators and staff how satisfied they are with the services that Advocates provides their loved one or person for whom they provide guardianship services. In 2006 -2007, Surveys went out to all of the families and guardians for individuals receiving services in Advocates Developmental Disabilities Residences, Day Habilitation Program and Employment Services. In 2008, Surveys went out again to families and guardians in these programs as well as to the families and guardians for individuals in Advocates Deaf Services and Brain Injury programs. The Survey is now being reviewed for use for families and guardians with a family member or individual receiving mental health services. Click here for a summary of the 2008 Survey results.
Getting Involved
Advocates provides several opportunities for family members who would like toplay an active role in the Advocates' community. Some of the things you can do are:
• Join the Advocates Family Alliance.
• Participate in our Family Satisfaction Survey. View 2008 Survey summary of results.
• Sign up to receive our agency newsletter, Tuned In, full of information about events, accomplishments and new programs.
• Participate in our monthly Music Jam event.
• Enter our Annual Essay contest, held each March in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Events, or volunteer to to serve as a judge. For more info, contact .
• Celebrate with us at our annual gala, art exhibit, or some of the many other agency events throughout the year. Contact .
Links
Autism Alliance of MetroWest
Autism Housing Pathways
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page
The Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program
The Home Modification Loan Program
ARC of Massachusetts
Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Mass. Advocates for Children
Mass. Association of Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (MASSPAC)
Mental Health Recovery Resources
Substance Abuse Recovery Resources
Susan Senator's blog
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| Advocates is a 501(c)(3)organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. |
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Supporting you, your loved ones, your friends, Your neighbors...
Advocates provides support services for people with:
- Mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse
- Intellectual or developmental disabilities or co-occurring mental illness and developmental disability
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Autism and pervasive developmental disabilities
- Acquired or traumatic brain injury
We also provide support services for:
- Deaf adults with mental illness or a developmental disability
- Families who are supporting a family member with a disability
- Elders living in the community who may have a mental illness or substance abuse disorder
- Adults with a mental health diagnosis in jail or re-entering the community
- Youth in transition from foster care
- Individuals and families who are homeless or at risk for homelessness
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