GREENFIELD — Pathlight has opened a Family Empowerment support center in the large office building on Munson Street where the courthouse moved to during its downtown renovation.
The social services organization has run a family support center in Hampshire County for families with children, teens and adults who are intellectually challenged or have autism for many years and had done the same in Franklin County until 2010, when The United Arc took over providing those services, Valle Dwight, director of communications for Pathlight, said.
Dwight said among other services, Family Empowerment provides workshops, parent education, support groups and more and will eventually offer its Whole Children after-school activities program when the pandemic is over and people can meet in person again.
Family Empowerment is funded by the state Department of Developmental Service, Pathlight and grants. Dwight said the state puts out a request for proposals for family support centers to operate in every county. She said agencies provide information like what services they’ll provide and how they’ll provide them.
“We were already providing some services in Franklin County and some families were traveling to Hampshire County for services,” she said. “We decided to submit a proposal for Franklin County. We’re just expanding our Hampshire County program into Franklin County. We’re back.
“Whether people are caring for a preschooler, school-age child, teen or adult, we help find state and local resources to develop a unique plan of action and a community supportive of individuals’ needs,” Dwight said. “We provide information, referrals, service navigation, family networking, family training, connections.”
She said programs like Whole Children are part of Pathlight’s long-term plans for Franklin County. In the short-term, it will providing the workshops, classes and other types of support virtually.
“Some of our clients are more medically vulnerable and at higher risk, especially during a pandemic,” she said. “We have online classes and workshops that are free to all.”
The United Arc Executive Director Lynne Marie Bielecki said the state put all family support centers out for competitive bid, as required, and Pathlight was the winning bidder for the Franklin County center, but The United Arc will continue to provide services to individuals and families throughout Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Worcester Counties as it has since 1951.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.