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 jkeilson@advocatesinc.org or Andrea Moynagh at amoynagh@advocatesinc.org.
The Fred Gaspari Fund for MetroWest Families
The Fred Gaspari Fund grant program is an exciting new 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 members’ care. For more details and to apply, download the application here or contact Corinne Barber at cbarber@advocatesinc.org or 508.628.6442.
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 autismalliance@earthlink.net 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.
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 to play an active role in the Advocates' community. Some of the things you can do are:
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