Community Care Sessions: Where Parents Help Parents Navigate Substance Use

The Great Barrington Family Resource Center is proud to host Community Care Sessions, facilitated by Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) and the Southern Berkshire Rural Health Network (SBRHN).
These sessions offer a supportive, peer-to-peer space where parents can connect, share experiences, and learn how to help children and friends make difficult decisions about substance use.
A trained facilitator will guide parents through a pro-social, preventive approach to supporting youth and engaging in serious conversations about substance use without no judgment.
📅 Session Dates:
• Tuesday, October 6th
• Tuesday, November 10th
• Tuesday, December 1st
• Tuesday, February 2nd
• Tuesday, March 2nd
• Tuesday, April 6th
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Great Barrington Family Resource Center
141 West Ave., Great Barrington
Questions or want more information? Contact Laura Rodriguez at [email protected].
Come connect with other parents and build tools for supporting the young people in your life!

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𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗚𝗕 𝗙𝗥𝗖
The Great Barrington Family Resource Center (FRC) is a program of nonprofit community behavioral health agency Clinical & Support Options (csoinc.org).
It is open weekdays to provide free multi-cultural parenting and kid-friendly programs, mental health needs assessment, job/housing referrals, and school-focused help for families whose children range in age from birth to 18 years without any need for insurance.
Massachusetts Family Resource Centers (frcma.org) have been operating since 2015, with FRCs in each of the state’s 14 counties.
The Great Barrington FRC primarily serves Southern Berkshire County, but would welcome any nearby family looking for support, referrals or community.
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𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗖
Family Resource Centers, like the one in Great Barrington, are designed to be accessible solutions for families seeking health, safety, educational and employment services.
CSO’s team at the GB FRC are trained and ready to help local families with a broad range of concerns, including:
• 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 — Find help looking for employment, exploring career options, and discovering which jobs are a good fit.
• 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 — Attend parenting groups with onsite child care.
• 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 — Develop positive parenting skills that will improve a child’s growth and development. Participate in playgroups and activities.
• 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Get study support for adult GED testing.
• 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 — Obtain direct assistance or referrals to groups that promote family unity and successful life skills.
• 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 — Attend workshops and consultations to manage a budget, save for the future, or repair credit.
• 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 — Navigate the system to find ways of meeting housing needs.
• 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 — Get help working with local juvenile courts to identify services for youth.
• 𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗤 — Join supportive, social networking groups for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer teens and families.
• 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 — Identify potential medical services.
• 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 — Engage in an atmosphere of support and wellness, with clinical referrals available.
• 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 — Connect and learn from other parents/guardians, grandparents, and youth.
• 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 & 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱 — Ensure children receive the support and resources they need with homework, school plans, and more.
• 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 — Access local support groups. Connect with outpatient and/or residential treatment programs.
The 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗥𝗖 is located at 𝟭𝟰𝟭 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘃𝗲. It is open for walk-ins and by appointment each weekday. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟰𝟭𝟯-𝟱𝟮𝟴-𝟬𝟮𝟵𝟴.