The Carson Center at Valley Human Services Real Help Valley Human Services provides behavioral health and child care services for residents in Ware and Palmer and the many rural communities that surround us. Outpatient Services Valley Human Services provides individual, family and group psychotherapy for individuals of all ages. Our licensed therapists see clients at the clinic on South Street, in the Ware Public Schools and occasionally in their homes. We provide psychiatric assessments and prescribe medication for those who can benefit from this type of treatment. Community Based Flexible Support Services CBFS services are designed for adults with serious and persistent mental illness who are eligible clients of the Department of Mental Health. CBFS services are based on the values of: Recovery and resiliency Rehabilitation Person-centered care The primary goals of CBFS services are to facilitate and support each individual's maximal integration in the community and to increase clients'capacity for independent living and their recovery from mental illness. Referrals are made by the Department of Mental Health. Services are available to clients deemed eligible by DMH. School-Based Services Valley Human Services provides three therapists to the Ware Public Schools who are available to see children referred by their teachers, by their parents or by themselves for help. Therapists consult with teachers, attend team meetings, provide support to the entire school community in case of a crisis situation, and give special support to children who are in foster care placements. Therapeutic Foster Care Children and adolescents who need a temporary home are referred to us by the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Children and Families. Clients are placed in one of our licensed homes and are given a caseworker who will coordinate all of these clients services and work towards the goal of returning them home or making the transition to independent living. Our foster care families are highly trained and supported by the child's caseworker who meets with the entire family weekly and sees each child two to three times a week. Children who are in a foster placement receive individual weekly therapy, recreation therapy, family work when appropriate and access to an appropriate educational placement. Intensive Family Based Services Sometimes a little extra support helps to keep families from breaking apart. Families referred to our program receive individual and family therapy, parenting support, casework services and recreation therapy. Families are assigned a caseworker who coordinates all of the services available and acts as the family's advocate with schools, the courts, and provides transportation  for appointments and school meetings. Recreation Therapy Our Recreation Program is community-based, and strives to introduce children and adolescents to leisure time activities for life. Families are included in many activities and often accompany their children on trips to Boston, New York and the nature trails of Western Massachusetts. Activities offered to our clients range from sports such as swimming, biking, boating etc. to volunteer activities such as cooking dinner at the Springfield mission. Child Care Services Our four child care centers provide early education, and a school age program is a place for older children when they are not in school. Parents who are working or studying may be eligible for subsidies for their children's tuition. Kidstop Children's Center is located at the Storrs Youth Center on Pleasant Street in Ware and cares for infants and young children from birth through age three. This new facility is bright and spacious with equipment and materials designed for infants, toddlers and young preschool children. The center opens at 7:00am and children may stay until 5:30pm. Parents are encouraged to visit whenever possible and provisions are made for mothers who wish to breastfeed their infants. Kidstop Preschool Center is a pre-kindergarten program for those children who will be ready to attend kindergarten in the fall. The program is located in the early childhood wing at Ware High School where we share facilities with the public school's early learning classrooms. Kidstop opens at 7:00 am each day and children may stay until 5:30pm. With a staff ratio of one teacher to every eight children, individual activities can be designed around the interests and developmental level of each child. The program consists of early literacy, math and science, art, music, physical activity and periods of rest. Kidstop School Age Program located in SMK Elementary School in Ware, cares for children before school, after school and during all school vacations, including a full summer program. Children may arrive at school as early as 7:00am. They are given breakfast and participate in a variety of activities, including homework help, until school begins at 9:00am. At the end of the school day, children may reenter the program and remain until 5:30 pm. Children have the option of attending the morning session only, the afternoon session only or both sessions. The school age program is open year round and is in session during all school vacations, half days and snow days. During the summer the children attend a full day program which includes many field trips and daily excursions to the Ware swimming pool. Quaboag Children's Center is located in Palmer, MA and accepts children ages 2.9 until they are ready for Kindergarten. The center opens at 7:00 am and children may stay until 5:00 pm. Children participate in a  curriculum  customized to their individual and developmental needs. Early literacy, math, science, art, music, physical activity and periods of rest are combined to give each child a stimulating and happy day. Parents are encouraged to visit all of our centers at any time and may join their children for lunch or other activities. Main Location 96 South Street Ware, MA 413-967-6241 (T) 413-967-9807 (F) ___________________________________________________________________________ Childcare Services Child Care Services Our four child care centers provide early education, and a school age program is a place for older children when they are not in school. Parents who are working or studying may be eligible for subsidies for their children's tuition. Kidstop Children's Center is located at the Storrs Youth Center on Pleasant Street in Ware and cares for infants and young children from birth through age three. This new facility is bright and spacious with equipment and materials designed for infants, toddlers and young preschool children. The center opens at 7:00am and children may stay until 5:30pm. Parents are encouraged to visit whenever possible and provisions are made for mothers who wish to breastfeed their infants. Kidstop Preschool Center is a pre-kindergarten program for those children who will be ready to attend kindergarten in the fall. The program is located in the early childhood wing at Ware High School where we share facilities with the public school's early learning classrooms. Kidstop opens at 7:00 am each day and children may stay until 5:30pm. With a staff ratio of one teacher to every eight children, individual activities can be designed around the interests and developmental level of each child. The program consists of early literacy, math and science, art, music, physical activity and periods of rest. Kidstop School Age Program located in SMK Elementary School in Ware, cares for children before school, after school and during all school vacations, including a full summer program. Children may arrive at school as early as 7:00am. They are given breakfast and participate in a variety of activities, including homework help, until school begins at 9:00am. At the end of the school day, children may reenter the program and remain until 5:30 pm. Children have the option of attending the morning session only, the afternoon session only or both sessions. The school age program is open year round and is in session during all school vacations, half days and snow days. During the summer the children attend a full day program which includes many field trips and daily excursions to the Ware swimming pool. Quaboag Children's Center is located in Palmer, MA and accepts children ages 2.9 until they are ready for Kindergarten. The center opens at 7:00 am and children may stay until 5:00 pm. Children participate in a curriculum customized to their individual and developmental needs. Early literacy, math, science, art, music, physical activity and periods of rest are combined to give each child a stimulating and happy day. Parents are encouraged to visit all of our centers at any time and may join their children for lunch or other activities. Main Location # 96 South Street # Ware, MA # 413-967-6241 (T) # 413-967-9807 (F) Under 5 Thrive Under Five Thrive (U5T) supports young people ages 16-29, who are pregnant or parenting at least one child under five as they seek to obtain their GEDs at the Ware Adult Learning Center (WALC). The program is modeled after national and regional initiatives designed to break the cycle of poverty by offering a variety of services to families in need during the most critical years of child development. The VHS service model offers intensive, hands-on supports and activities to strengthen families and promote continuing access to further education or training even beyond the GED. The program also features Express!, an innovative arts and humanities program for participants, guiding them through comprehensive spoken poetry, performance training, and, pending anticipated funding, dance movement and filmmaking projects. Through Express!, creatively engaged participants learn organizational, problem-solving, and verbal skills with direct application to the marketplace, family functioning and academic success. Finally, U5T supports the young children of our participants in reaching their developmental milestones through use of Dr. Brazelton's Touchpoint approach throughout our childcare and parent support programs. Funding provided in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Housing and Community Development, Massachusetts CDBG Program. Services Comprehensive case management Parenting groups Family outreach Nutrition classes Transportation Expressive arts classes Childcare during classes Community service Transitional assistance with employment Transitional assistance with higher education Location 96 South Street Ware, MA 01082 413-967-6241