Family Service

CONTACT:

430 North Canal St.
Lawrence, MA 01840
978-327-6600
www.familyserviceinc.com

Kay Berthold Frishman, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Lawrence was the nation's first planned industrial city, and has been a first home for many immigrants. Ethnic diversity and economic turbulence are its way of life. Today, it is a Latino-majority city; per capita income ranks 348th out of 351 Commonwealth communities; 1/4 of all births are to teenagers; weapons injuries are triple, and juvenile drug charges quintuple, state averages. Only half of Lawrence youth complete high school, and Hispanic dropout rates far exceed those of other groups.

Family Service is one of Massachusetts' oldest human services agencies, founded in 1854 just after Lawrence itself. It brings together many organizations on programs in workplace mentoring, parent education, and skilled outreach to isolated elders. Its focus on children and youth, is a long-term healing strategy.

Family Service needs to expand its successful program, "Caring Capacity," which gives day-care workers access to mental health professionals for consultation and training. What does it mean when a two-year-old child won't come out from under a table all day? Is the child who always plays alone depressed, or just shy? A full-time social worker or psychologist can assist 20 day-care workers per week with problems like these, helping hundreds of children. With your support, they can grow.

(1998: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: General)