Family Wellness Information
King Philip, Norfolk, Plainville & Wrentham Schools, 12/2023
Care Solace- New Partnership to Support Students, Staff and Families
You will be able to access Care Solace services in three ways:
Call 888-515-0595 or go to the link for your district at any time:
caresolace.com/plainvilleschools
Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at the link for your district.
Contact your school counseling professional, and they will submit a referral on your behalf.
Winter Break
At this time of year when glitter and lights abound, it is critical to understand that not everyone is celebrating a holiday, or even the same holiday; and that some may be excited for family celebrations; while others may be experiencing grief, anxiety, hardship, or loneliness. This newsletter includes resources for managing stress, accessing resources, and choosing healthy activities.
Wishing all a wonderful school vacation week, and peace and joy throughout the season! Please stay safe and take care of yourself.
Ten Helpful Ways You Can Manage Family Stress During the Holidays
For those who celebrate holidays this month, Families for Depression Awareness shares 10 ways to manage family stress:
- Talk in advance to set expectations around gift-giving
- Be selective about activities and do what matters to you most
- Have a game plan for stressful moments
- Be aware of tendency to revert to old patterns of behavior
- Set and enforce boundaries for family members who display toxic behaviors
- Give yourself time to grief and remember those you have lost
- Practice gratitude
- Replenish your body by making sleep, hydration and outdoor time priorities
- Disconnect from screens and connect with others
- Identify a lifeline to call when you feel stressed
For tips and conversation starters to help you practice these ten ways, see the full article.
Ten Helpful Ways You Can Manage Family Stress During the HolidaysSeeking Help During Holiday Breaks
During the holiday break and throughout the year, there are resources to support you and your children. Reach out to pediatrician or family physician's office for direction or referral. If you or your child is already connected to a mental health provider, checking in with them may be helpful.
Helplines provide support whenever someone is in distress:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988
- Disaster Distress Helpline: Call (800) 985-5990, Text TalkWithUs to 66746
- Chat with Lifeline Crisis Textline: Text TALK to 741741
- Trevor Project Lifeline: (866) 488-7386 (crisis support for LGBTQ youth)
- Mass Behavioral Health Helpline (24/7) 833-773-2445 (help available in 200 languages)
Community Behavioral Health Center, 190 Lenox St., Norwood
If you need to be seen right away, you can go to the CBHC for treatment assessment. Covered for all, with or without insurance.
Riverside Mobile Crisis Intervention (24/7 crisis intervention)
781-769-8674 or 800 529-5077
Mobile Crisis Intervention provider for this area. The Youth Mobile Crisis Team provides services to children (20 and under) who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis with a mobile, face-to-face response. The team can meet with youth and their families at their community-based locations or travel to homes, schools, and other locations to avoid hospital emergency room visits. The Adult Mobile Crisis Intervention (ACMI) staff includes clinicians as well as peer support specialists.
Mobile Crisis Flyer in Portuguese Uma linha que salva em tempo de crise
Mobile Crisis Flyer in Spanish Un salvavidas en situaciones de crisis
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.
Parent/Caregiver Supports
Parents Helping Parents
Parental Stress Hotline 1-800-632-8188 24/7 Confidential & Anonymous
Parents Helping Parents website - resources and information on support groups for parents/caregivers with varying needs.
Staying Warm this Winter - Home Energy Assistance
To help with heating costs this winter, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development is accepting applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Families must meet eligibility requirements to qualify for aid which is paid directly to the heating vendor. Applications are accepted online at https://www.toapply.org/ MassLIHEAP.
Income-eligible households may receive assistance from now through April 30, 2024. For more information, Cold Relief Brochure.
You can also apply through:
Norfolk Fuel Assistance Intake Site
By appointment only, open to all Norfolk residents
Council on Aging, 28 Medway Branch Rd., Norfolk
508-528-4430, Wednesdays, 9 am - 4pm
Wrentham Fuel Assistance Intake Site
By appointment only, open to all Wrentham residents
Council on Aging, 400 Taunton St., Wrentham
508-384-5425. Monday to Thursday
Plainville Fuel Assistance Intake Site
By appointment only, open to all Plainville residents
Council on Aging, 9 School St., Plainville
508-699-7384, Tuesday to Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Free COVID tests available to all households
COVID tests can help you know if you have COVID-19 when you have symptoms, have been exposed, or are about to meet up with others. Beginning November 20, Americans can order 4 more COVID tests.
The Parent Professional Advocacy League supports families with children and teens struggling with mental health. Sharing their newsletter that includes a listing of their virtual and in-person caregiver support groups, including one for caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth; and this month, information on bullying and suicide prevention.
Healthy Activities for the Vacation Week
Looking for healthy things to do with children over the vacation week and throughout December, check out Community Kangaroo. Created by Moms living in the west and southwest of Boston. Community Kangaroo allows you to search by town and region for listings of area events, sledding locations, light displays and more.
The Family Wellness Resources Website has some ideas for hikes and other outdoor activities, and the local libraries have museum passes to help defray visits to Boston area museums and parks.
"Respect. Give it. Get it." Poster and PSA Project Contest
Mass Partnerships for Youth is sponsoring a Poster and PSA Project contest for students in elementary through high school. The theme for this year’s poster/public service announcement (PSA) project is “Respect. Give it. Get it.” The deadline for POSTER submissions is Friday, January 26, 2024. The deadline for PSA submissions is Friday, April 26, 2024.
The poster project is open to students in elementary through high school. The PSA project is open to students in middle and high school.
For details on ideas, rules and submission information, LINK
King Philip, Norfolk, Plainville & Wrentham Schools Wellness
Regional Director of Wellness
Email: pearld@kingphilip.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/kingphilip.org/familywellnessresources/
Location: 18 King Street, Norfolk, MA, USA
Phone: 508 520-7991