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The Guidance Center
The Guidance Center
Our Programs
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Early Childhood Services
Child and Adolescent Services
Intensive Family Services
Family Advocacy, Stabilization and Support Team
Family After School Program
Family Intensive Reunification and Stabilization Team
Meeting Place: Supervised Child Access Service
Temporary Care Services Family Support

The Family After School Program is an intensive therapeutic after school program designed for seriously emotionally disturbed children, ages six to 12. Participating youth are referred by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Mental Health Services Program for Youth (MHSPY) from the Cambridge and Somerville communities. The primary goal of the Family After School Program is to prevent hospitalization and out-of-home placement for youth who require therapeutic services and who cannot be maintained in regular after school settings.

Watch a short video presentation about the Family After School Program:

Through therapeutic group work, the program focuses on strengthening children’s social skills, decision-making abilities and emotional functioning. The Family After School Program's underlying philosophy is that, when viable, a child cannot be treated apart from his or her family, nor can the family be treated apart from the larger community. Parents are active participants in their child’s treatment at the Family After School Program and become empowered as they learn new skills that assist them in developing and enhancing their parenting and advocacy skills.

Services Offered
  •  Individual Stabilization
  • Traditional Psycho-Social groups
  • Expressive Therapy Modalities
  • Treatment Planning
  • Case Management
  • Behavior Management
  • Family Treatment
  • Family Advocacy

Languages Spoken
Services are provided in the following languages:
  • English
  • Spanish

Eligibility Criteria
Clients in the Family After School Program are residents of Cambridge and Somerville, live at home or in a long term guardianship placement and attend school in their communities. Clients must be referred by DSS, DMH or MHSPY.

Client Fees
No fees are paid by families in this program.

Referrals
Referrals can be made by phone by any of the following sources:

  • Cambridge Department of Social Services
  • Metro Boston Department of Mental Health
  • Mental Health Services Program for Youth

To make a referral or for more information, please contact:

Maribeth Arena, LICSW
Program Director
Main Office
5 Sacramento Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: 617.354.0022
Fax: 617.547.4356
Email: marena@gcinc.org

This program is located at 1680A Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, which is within two blocks of The Guidance Center’s Main Office.

PLEASE NOTE: Do not include any client information when communicating via email. Email is for general inquiries only.

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