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TCS Family Support (TCS) is a small family support program serving children with developmental disabilities who live at home with their families in the Cambridge and Somerville areas. These families all receive funds from the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) with which they can purchase services and supports tailored to their needs. TCS believes that families know best about what their child and family, as a whole, needs to be healthy and happy. Therefore, services are designed to strengthen and support the entire family. They provide flexible family support that is responsive to families’ needs as families define them. While the cornerstone of the program is to provide respite care in a family’s own home, families may work with TCS to arrange for such services as after-school programs, summer camps, recreation classes or community excursions.
Services Offered
It is the mission of TCS to provide families with an array of family support services.
- Respite Care: Highly trained and supervised TCS respite worker will go to a family’s home to care for a child while the parent/s have an evening out, attend a class, go grocery shopping or, as often is the case, go to work. Respite care is scheduled at the family’s request and much attention is given to the matching of a respite worker with a child and his or her parent(s). Respite services are tailored to the needs of each family: at regularly-scheduled times, on an as-needed basis, for special events or activities or to assist with an emergency or crisis.
- Enhancing a Child’s Development and Well-Being: TCS will assist families in choosing services, such as after-school programs, recreational or enrichment classes, social groups, out-of-home respite, summer camps or vacation programs.
- Behavioral Consultation
- Parent Training
- Service Coordination
- Educational Advocacy
TCS is committed to providing assistance to families in emergencies and is often able to do so with the invaluable assistance of its volunteer TCS Board of Directors, who help raise funds to help support the program.
Languages Offered
- English
- French
- Haitian Creole
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Eligibility Criteria
To receive services from TCS, children must meet DMR eligibility criteria and be referred by the Department. Typically, eligible children have a diagnosis of a developmental disability, which may include mental retardation, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, pervasive developmental disorder, autism or a substantial developmental delay. Our consumers range in age from three to 22, although when a child turns 18, DMR conducts an eligibility determination for adult services, and, if found eligible, TCS can continue to serve the family indefinitely. Children must be living at home with their family and reside in the Cambridge-Somerville area.
Fees
No fees are incurred by individuals. Alls fees are paid by DMR.
Referrals
All referrals must be made by the Department of Mental Retardation. Parties interested in TCS services can contact TCS directly (see below) to be referred to DMR or they can call DMR directly at 781.314.7513 to determine eligibility and request services.
For more information, please contact:
Heather Hall
Program Director
Main Office
5 Sacramento Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: 781.861.7328
Fax: 781.541.649
PLEASE NOTE: Do not include any client information when communicating via email. Email is for general inquiries only.
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