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Overview
Dorchester CARES was established in 1989 with a mission to coordinate,
develop and institutionalize comprehensive community-based programs,
which will support families and prevent child abuse and neglect
in target neighborhoods. To achieve this mission, we bring together
all interested individuals and organizations in order to strengthen
families and build more supportive communities.
Focusing on neighborhood and institutional levels of influence,
CARES intends to build a caring community around families with
children, enhancing natural helping networks and making it as
easy as possible for the right kind of help to be available
at the right time and right place
Goal
CARES aims to coordinate intervention services for families
- linking providers from a variety of disciplines and organizations
so that gaps can be filled and comprehensive service plans can
be developed, delivered, and monitored for families where children
are at a significant risk.
The goal is preserve the family structure, prevent recidivism,
decrease suffering, and decrease cost of out of home placements.
Prevention
Primary
- Family Coops
1. Basic Needs - Food Pantry, Clothing Closet, Drop-in Child
Care
2. Parenting Education and Support - Welcome Baby, Nurturing
Programs, Parent Groups
3. Resource Information and Advocacy - Community & Family
Advocated
4. Cooperative Service Exchange - We Care About Neighbors
(We CAN)
5. Family Support and Education Programs - Sewing Classes,
Play Groups, GED, ES
Secondary
- Home Visiting Program - 1st time teen mom or expectant
teen under the age of 20; infant under the age of one. Build
parenting skills, strengthen family relationships, link
services.
- First Steps - At risk parent or expectant mom; infant
under 6 mos; no open DSS cases; no major mental health diagnosis;
not currently using substances without active treatment.
Tertiary
- Patch - Collaboration between Dorchester CARES Coalition,
community residents, the Department of Social Services and
the Department of Youth Services. The Patch Team will work
with families whose children are at risk; pool resources,
and develop strategies to address family concerns; link
families to both formal and informal resources.
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