Community opportunities
Scroll below for opportunities for Social/Emotional Support, Parent Councils,
Grief & Bereavement, Services for Students, and Community Support.
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
SPARK= Successful Positive Authentic Resilient Kids
Kindness + Courage + Community = Positive Change
Our Mission: To build a kind, resilient and welcoming community where no one feels alone, bullied, unsupported or unconnected. We support families, schools, organizations, coaches, artists, faith and community leaders in building a culture that empowers youth and promotes kindness and respect.
The William James INTERFACE Referral Service maintains a mental health and wellness referral Helpline Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 pm, at 888-244-6843 (toll free). This is a free, confidential referral service for individuals across the lifespan living in participating communities. Callers are matched with licensed mental health providers from our extensive database. Each referral meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller. More information about the service and terms of confidentiality are on our Contact page.
Knowledgeable and compassionate care coordinators are here to listen and then to match you to the best services for yourself, your family member, or—if you are a health care or other service provider—a person in your care. There is no charge for this service. Call our toll free number (1-844-528-6800) Monday-Friday for a free consultation and your call will be returned within 24 hours, or complete the contact form on this link and a care coordinator will call you by the next business day.
Advocates champions people who face developmental, mental health, or other life challenges. We partner with individuals and families to shape creative solutions to even the greatest obstacles.
First, we listen. Then, together, we do what it takes to help people thrive.
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. is the designated community-based anti-poverty agency for the MetroWest region and is headquartered in downtown Framingham, convenient to transportation and additional services.
Our four main areas of programming include: Family and Nutrition; Employment and Education; Behavioral Health Services and Comprehensive Housing Services.
Parent Councils
The Natick Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all-volunteer organization of parents and caregivers of children receiving support services in the Natick public schools and private school settings. In the Natick school system, there are more than 800 children on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and 504 plans. Whether your child is already receiving support or you are trying to determine if your child needs services, we are here to provide a parent’s perspective and connections.
ELPAC is a group for guardians to work together to advise the schools and district on matters that impact English Learners (ELs). ELPAC membership is voluntary and is open to all parents of students in Natick identified or previously identified as ELs from grades PK-12.
We Create Safe Spaces for Parents Looking for Support.
Need someone to talk to? Call the Parent Stress Line: 1.800.632.8188 (Free & Confidential 24/7
Parenting isn't easy. We connect parents with parents in both virtual and community support groups to share challenges, express frustrations, and ask questions. Find the support and feedback you need to help yourself and your children.
GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT
CareGroup Parmenter Home Care & Hospice, Inc. offers services to children, teens, and young adults who are coping with the illness or death of a loved one. A Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Expressive Arts Therapists work with individuals from age 3 through young adulthood to explore and express the feelings associated with grief and loss. These services are offered FREE of charge and are held in the home, at the hospice residence, and at the CareGroup Parmenter office in Wayland, MA.
Mission: To lead the way in ensuring that all children, teens, and families experience a healthy grieving process in a supportive environment.
Vision: No one grieves alone.
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
The group program is designed to help boys and girls ages 5-16 develop self-confidence, self-esteem, and improve social skills. Each child's self-esteem and social skills may be enhanced because he or she is in a supportive, safe, encouraging environment in which rapport and trust are built up not only with the counselor but also with fellow group members. Self-confidence is also fostered by structuring the groups and activities so that each child can have fun while experiencing concrete success.
We are a local, independently owned child and teen therapy practice based in the Greater Boston area, with offices in Needham and Sudbury. We offer a dynamic suite of services including counseling and social, emotional and creative therapy groups, designed to engage kids in fun and creative ways. Our goal is to help kids live happy, connected, more fulfilled lives.
Our services range from helping kids work on social skills to make friends, to managing their emotions to managing difficult life transitions. Our priority is to individualize our services based on the child’s needs. We provide a safe space for kids to be their whole selves. We offer both group and individual therapy sessions and are staffed with an expert team of passionate therapists who “get it."
At Engaging Minds, we focus on teaching the increasingly important executive function skills so students are better able to manage nightly homework and long-term assignments, and are better poised to reach their full potential.
Kids Connect is a non-profit tutoring program serving the youth of Natick. We provide educational services in math, including geometry and algebra, language arts, chemistry, physics and Spanish. Workshops in related topics and small groups in middle school subjects are also offered. Kids Connect provides tutoring on a sliding scale basis and is open year round to students in grades K through 12.
During the school year, Academy MetroWest conducts weekly 75 minute social skills groups in a gym setting. Groups are small, with no more than 6 or 7 members and serve children and adolescents ranging in age from 6 to 16. Participants are matched up on the bases of age, grade, physical skills, personality, and overall developmental level, with the goal of creating homogeneous groups. With an agenda centering on cooperative, non-competitive physical activities, our staff of professional counselors help children and adolescents to focus on their assets, attain consistent, concrete success, and improve interaction skills.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The NSC is an independent, non-profit organization that connects, engages, and collaborates with the community to support Natick neighbors who are experiencing hardship or economic uncertainty by promoting self-sufficiency.
A Place To Turn is committed to providing emergency food and clothing to our neighbors in the MetroWest community. We will serve those in need in an atmosphere of caring and mutual respect.
Natick Recreation & Parks is responsible for the planning, organizing and implementation of recreational programs to serve residents of all ages and abilities. The division serves as stewards of community fields and parks. We work with town departments, non profit organizations, and businesses to help improve the fabric of our community.
Families come to the FRC for many reasons. The goal of the FRC is to connect those looking for help to the appropriate services whether within the FRC itself, Wayside, or other places in the community.
FRC staff can help with facilitating the following:
Housing Support; Utility Assistance; Legal Help; Summer camps, Sports leagues, and more!
Children and families who need additional supports or are at risk of court involvement can be assessed by FRC clinicians and develop a Family Support Plan to address the child’s needs.
The FRC hosts and facilitates groups and events to strengthen families by giving them the tools they need through education and engagement!