SBORO YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES

No matter what has happened in the previous year, the beginning of a new year can bring a sense of renewed hope and energy. It's a time to reflect on the challenges we have faced, find appreciation for what we have, and set goals in our quest to become the best versions of ourselves. From all of us at SYFS, we wish you success, health, and happiness in 2022.

Given the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, our in-person services are moving online for a period of time. Please review the information below for what to expect out of our different services during the month of January. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility moving forward as these plans may change.

During the first 2 weeks of January, all consultation and counseling appointments will be occurring online. SYFS staff will not be going into the schools until February, at the earliest. If you/your child is being seen in school during the school day, efforts will be made to conduct online appointments outside of school hours. We will resume in-person counseling appointments in our offices beginning the week of 1/17/22, assuming COVID-19 cases begin to decline.

For more information on our Mental Health Support Services, please visit our website:

https://www.southboroughtown.com/youth-and-family-services/pages/mental-health-support-and-therapy-referral-services

Please contact our Assistant Director, Meaghan Eiland, at (508) 481-5676 ext 2 or meiland@southboroughma.com if you have additional questions. Please note that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed over email.

QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training is a grass-roots way for you to help keep friends, loved ones, and our community safe. QPR is an acronym for Question, Persuade, Refer. Not unlike CPR it teaches basic skills to help a person in crisis. In this 2-hour training, you are taught how to ask the suicide Question, how to Persuade a person to tell you more, and to seek help and Refer to outside professionals. It is offered in a small setting of no more than 12 participants to allow for time to ask lots of questions and try out newly learned skills through role-plays.

QPR Suicide Prevention trainings are moving online for the month of January. Training dates are listed below. If you're interested in attending in this capacity, register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlRqwQG1ZncKwrVUb46V4ALhNYK_W4tTNGsdmbrrUq_yLcZQ/viewform

Available QPR training dates

Saturday, January, 22 9-11am

Wednesday, January, 26 6-8pm

Have questions? Check out our list of Frequently Asked Question below.

Still have questions or need more information? Contact Shannon Kinayman.

skinayman@southboroughma.com

(508) 481-5676 ext 3

Sharable flyer below.

Positive communication is a critical element in relationship success and yet, it is something that challenges all of us. How do you support your loved one who is in distress? How do you get your needs met while still preserving important relationships? How do you persevere when your navigating challenging conversations with someone regularly? SYFS is offering the workshop, Listen With L.O.V.E: The art of communication in relationships to address some of these challenges and review critical elements of successful communication. If you are a parent, spouse, friend, son or daughter, or simply a human in relationships with other humans, please consider joining us.

We had hoped to debut this training in the month of January. Because this training would work better in-person we are postponing its debut to February. We will be in touch with registrants to let them know of this change. Stay tuned for more information on when this will be rescheduled and to learn about subsequent training opportunities.

For questions or more information about this workshop, please contact Shannon Kinayman.

skinayman@southboroughma.com

(508) 481-5676 ext 3

Looking for comradery, a space to vent, an opportunity to hear that others are going through something similar and you're not alone? As a compliment to the Listen With L.O.V.E. Workshop, we are offering communication skills and discussion groups to take deeper look at some of the skills presented in the workshop and apply them in real life. Take a time out for yourself and choose from two options: a weekly lunch break or a biweekly early evening meeting. Both are informal opportunities to get support and recharge before going back to your daily lives.

Like the Listen With Love workshop, we had hoped to debut these groups in the month of January. Because these groups would work better in-person, we are postponing its debut to February. Stay tuned for our plans to debut these groups.

This program affords eligible households with financial assistance directly to their heating vendor. Eligibility is based on gross annual income and family size. SYFS is an intake site for new fuel assistance applicants, a benefit that is issued through South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC). If you are a renewing fuel assistance applicant, you can go directly to SMOC.

Income Eligibility and Benefit Levels:

https://www.smoc.org/pdf/FY%202021%20LIHEAP%20Income%20Eligibility%20and%20Benefit%20Chart%20DEC%20increase.pdf

Household Guidelines:

https://www.smoc.org/pdf/Income%20Guidelines.pdf

Fuel Assistance Checklist:

https://www.smoc.org/pdf/FY2021%20Fuel%20Assistance%20Checklist%20and%20Acceptable%20Income%20in%20English.pdf

For more information about Fuel Assistance, please contact Christina McCarthy at cmccarthy@southboroughma.com or (508) 481-5676

Southborough Youth and Family Services provides compassionate and equitable behavioral health and social services to Southborough residents of all ages.

Email: syfs@southboroughma.com
Website: https://www.southboroughtown.com/youth-and-family-services
Location: 21 Highland St Southborough, MA 01772
Phone: (508) 481-5676
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBoroYFS/