Child, Adolescent & Family Services

The center offers at-risk youth in our programs and the community a place where they can access staff who understand their unique needs, socialize with other youth that share similar situations and be referred to educational and preventative programs. It is a warm, welcoming and safe place for youth to access educational and vocational training support, and have a little fun while learning skills towards job readiness and becoming positive community members.

Gandara After-School Program (GAP)

Provides after school services for up to 15 youths from Holyoke. Services include transportation from school, educational support services with a licensed teacher, recreational services and other activities such as exercise classes, bucket drumming programs and arts and crafts.

Admission Requirements: Boys and girls 8 - 13 involved with the DCF - Holyoke area office. Youth must be able to participate in and follow program expectations, and be residents of the City of Holyoke.

Referral: Closed- DCF only
Location: 306 Race Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
Contact: Korie Mix kmix@gandaracenter.org, 413-949-3295

Educational Support Program

Full-day alternative interim period education for youth ages 9-18 from our residential programs. Support from a certified teacher in Math and English with reading comprehension as a primary focus. Operates year-round from 9:30am-2:30pm.

Referral: Closed- Inter-agency Referral only
Location: 306 Race Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
Contact: Korie Mix kmix@gandaracenter.org, 413-949-3295

Computer Literacy and Vocational Training

A Computer Literacy Resource Coordinator identifies and develops opportunities to connect youth from both our residential programs and the community to computer literacy and job readiness support. Teaches resume building, research, how to create an email account, along with other basic computer skills taught through engaging audio and video projects to help close the digital divide in the community.

Community Walk-in Hours:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-3pm and 6-8pm
Location: 306 Race Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
Contact: Korie Mix kmix@gandaracenter.org, 413-949-3295

Artsong/Art Enrichment Program

A fine arts specialty program that uses art instruction and innovative concepts to empower disadvantaged youth through creativity. Inspires original artistic works, develops learning skills, and promotes art education and personal development. Participants benefit with hands on learning, self-expression, motivation and self-confidence while participating in a therapeutic environment.

Closed Referral: Offered to youth in our residential programs
Location: 306 Race Street Holyoke

Community Youth Hours coming soon!

STARR (Short Term Assessment Rapid Reunification)

This short-term (14 - 45 days), co-ed program provides shelter and assessment to youth who are being moved from one housing setting to another. Services include: comprehensive assessment, medication management, individual and family therapy, anger management and life skills group, educational support, sensory therapy, transportation, recreation and comprehensive case management using a trauma informed approach. Each STARR facility has a mix of respite and assessment beds.

Closed Referral: DCF only
Locations:

Maple STARR (age 12 - 18) - 353 Maple St, Springfield, MA;
Contact: Kristen Owens, kowens@gandaracenter.org, 413-452-4183

Holyoke STARR (age 12 - 18) - 27 Canby St., Holyoke, MA;
Contact: Luis Colon, lcolon@gandaracenter.org, 413-539-5874

Mooreland STARR (birth - 11 years) - 25-27 Moreland St, Springfield, MA;
Contact: Emilee Mercer, emercer@gandaracenter.org, 785-5851

Choices

Program provides educational and vocational support, life skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as family and individual therapy. Program specializes in working with boys ages 12-18 who have a history of sexual offenses. The program uses a trauma informed service approach. Staff to youth ratios are 1:3 (day/evening) and 1:6 (overnight).

Location: 82 Vermont St., Springfield, MA;
Contact: Ty Hart, thart@gandaracenter.org, 413-733-4187

Victory House

Program provides educational and vocational support, life skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as family and individual therapy for up to 12 youth ages 10-18. The program uses a trauma informed services approach. Staff to youth ratios are 1:3 (day/evening) and 1:6 (overnight).

Location: 107 Conway St., Greenfield, MA;
Contact: Richard LeGare Program Director, rlegare@gandaracenter.org. 413-774-2303

Transitions Group Home

Program focuses on helping boys ages 14-20 develop skills for living on their own. It provides them with information on many community resources. The program uses cognitive behavioral therapy and can provide individual or family therapy for youth not receiving these services in the community. The program utilizes a trauma informed services approach. Staff to youth ratios are 1:4 (day/evening) and 1:6 (overnight).

Location: 198 Fort Pleasant St, Springfield, MA 01108
Contact: Adrian Calixto; acalixto@gandaracenter.org, 413-846-0426

Shine

Provides transitional housing and outreach services for up to 8 homeless, unaccompanied, young adults ages 18 - 24 , who meet the HUD definition of homelessness. The goal is to provide them with a safe place to live and to help them develop life skills to live independently. Support services include: on site case advocacy, skill building that supports community connections, access to educational and employment opportunities, housing, economic and health stability. Youth may stay in the program for up to 24 months.

Location: 364-366 Main St., Indian Orchard (Springfield), MA, 01105
Contact: Pam Cook, pcook@gandaracenter.org 413-543-2460

Admission Requirements: Youth may self-refer, or be referred by a school, provider or family/community member. They must meet the HUD definition of homeless; be between the ages of 18 - 24; be willing to participate in structured program; be willing to enroll in school, job readiness, or employment. Priority will be given to Springfield residents or individuals enrolled in Springfield schools or with ties to Springfield.

Alternative Options Detention Center

This is a 12-bed, 24/7 staff-secure, boys detention program that provides for the educational, health and mental health needs of boys who are waiting for their next court appearance.

Closed Referral: DYS only
Location: 45 Lower Westfield Rd., Holyoke, MA 01040
Contact: Mary Gustofson, mgustofson@gandaracenter.org, 413-561-1500

Next Step

This is a co-ed, 10-bed program for youth ages 16 – 22. It provides young adults with a safe place to live and focuses on developing skills necessary to move toward independence. Case management is provided.

Closed Referral: DCF or DMH
Location: 762 Belmont Ave., Springfield, MA 01108
Contact: Henry Jones, hjones@gandaracenter.org, 413-351-7670.

Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) - Specialized Community Service Agency (S-CSA)

Gandara Center specializes in providing a variety of bilingual, bicultural services to youth with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and their families using a wraparound approach. Services focus on developing skills and natural community supports to reduce crises and the need for hospitalization.

Admission Requirements: Youth must be under 21 years of age, be enrolled in MassHealth Common or Standard, and meet diagnosis and guidelines for serious emotional disturbance. Youth being discharged from a hospital/residential facility may be enrolled within 180 days of discharge.

Intensive Care Coordination (ICC)

ICC takes on the responsibility of coordinating all necessary medical services for youth with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and makes sure the service plans are based on the individual patient’s medical and cultural needs and situations. The ICC coordinator brings together the patient, the patient’s family and all caregivers who will help set goals and develop an Individual Care Plan (ICP) and a risk management/safety plan.

Admission Requirements: Participant must receive help from several providers and state systems, or be enrolled in special education; must need someone to coordinate the care from the different caregivers; and the caregivers must agree to voluntarily participate in coordinated care. Check with intake for exclusions.

Family Support and Training

Family Support and Training – This structured, one-on-one relationship is focused on helping parents/caregivers of youth with SED address the youth’s emotional and behavioral needs. The service is provided in the youth’s residence (home, foster or therapeutic foster home, or other community settings) and is based on the youth’s treatment plan. The program assists parents/caregivers in navigating youth care systems such as DCF, education, mental health, juvenile justice, etc. It helps them find parent and self-help groups, and training, coaching and support programs for parents/caregivers. It also helps them identify formal and community resources like after-school programs, food assistance, summer camps, etc.

Admission Requirements: Youth must be referred by ICC, In-Home Therapy, or an outpatient provider, or working with a provider or ICC Care Planning Team (CPT), have a CANS clinical condition that warrants services. See above for further eligibility and restrictions.

YouthVoice

A group of adolescents/young adults provide their thoughts and ideas on the residential and behavioral health system designed to help youth and family services. Meetings held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 120 Maple Street, Springfield, MA. For more information contact: oirizarry@gandaracenter.org, 413.846.0445, Ext. 449.

Therapeutic Mentoring

Therapeutic Mentoring – Mentors develop structured, one-to-one, supportive relationship with youth to address daily living, social, and communication needs. The support is based on the behavioral health treatment plan developed by the provider in partnership with the family and youth, or on the Individual Care Plan (ICP) for youth with ICC. Support is provided at the youth’s residence or other community setting such as school, child care centers, respite, or a culturally/linguistically appropriate community setting. Services include: training, coaching and supporting the youth in age-appropriate behaviors, interpersonal communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution and in relating appropriately to other youth and adults in recreational and social activities. Youth learn to navigate various social situations, learn new skills and make functional progress. The mentor offers supervision of these interactions and engages the youth in discussions about strategies for effective handling of peer interactions. Exclusions: Youth who display behavior that may pose an imminent risk to harm self or others, or who require a more intensive service beyond community-based intervention.

Springfield/Holyoke
Location: 120 Maple St, Springfield, MA and 255 High St. Holyoke, MA
Springfield/Holyoke Intake: 413-322-7380 Ext. 330

Boston
95 Berkley St., Boston, MA
Boston Intake: 857-366-7040 Ext. 514

Brockton
142 Crescent St., Brockton MA
Southeast/Brockton/Taunton/New Bedford/Fall River Intake: 508-232-6670 Ext. 525

Taunton/New Bedford/Fall River
39 Taunton Green, Taunton, MA Intake: 508-232-6670 Ext. 525

In-Home Behavioral Services

Services are delivered by one or more professional and paraprofessional staff who offer a combination of medically necessary Behavior Management Therapy and Behavior Management Monitoring. This program is used when less intensive behavioral interventions do not reduce/eliminate a youth’s problem behavior(s) or do not increase/maintain desirable behavior(s).

Admission Requirements: when clinical evaluation suggests that the youth's clinical condition, level of functioning, and intensity of need require a specific structure and positive behavioral supports to successfully support a youth in the home and community.

Springfield/Holyoke
Location: 120 Maple St, Springfield, ma and 255 High St. Holyoke, MA
Springfield/Holyoke Intake: 413-846-0445-7380 Ext. 483

Boston/ Dorchester
Location: 75 Christopher St., Dorchester MA
Intake: Boston/Dorchester 413-846-0445 Ext. 483

Taunton/New Bedford/Fall River
Location: 39 Taunton Green, Taunton, MA
Taunton/New Bedford/Fall River Intake: 508-232-6670 Ext. 525

Behavior Management Therapy

This service is designed to treat challenging behaviors that interfere with the youth's successful functioning. Services include behavioral assessment (including observing the youth’s behavior and predictors of behaviors, and identifying motivators), and development of a highly specific behavior treatment plan and risk management/safety plan; supervision and coordination of interventions; and training others who work with the individual to address specific behavioral objectives or performance goals.

Behavior Management Monitoring: This service includes implementing the behavior treatment plan, monitoring the youth’s behavior, reinforcing use of the plan by parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver(s), and reporting the youth's progress to the behavior management therapist. Phone contact and consultation may be provided as part of the intervention.

In-Home Therapy Services

Designed to increase the family's ability to support the healthy functioning of a youth within the family, home, and community. The In-Home Therapy team is made up of practitioner(s), family, and youth. Together they develop a treatment plan to address issues specific to the youth and family. Intervention techniques are designed to help in the following ways: solve problems, set limits, manage risk, communicate, build skills to strengthen the family, and improve ways of interacting with others. In addition, the practitioner helps the family identify and use community resources and develop a support system to maintain progress. Services are provided in the youth's natural settings.

Admissions Requirements: CANS assessment to determine the service needed; outpatient services alone will not meet the youth’s or family's clinical needs; caregivers' voluntarily agree to participate and guardian gives consent.

Holyoke/Springfield
Location: 120 Maple St, Springfield, ma and 255 High St. Holyoke, MA
Springfield Intake: 413-846-0445 Ext. 460
Holyoke Intake – 413-322-7380 Ext. 330

Fitchburg
Location: 507 Electric Ave., Taunton, MA
Intake- 978-503-7520 Ext. 296

Boston
95 Berkley St., Boston, MA
Boston Intake: 857-366-7040 Ext. 514

Brockton
142 Crescent St., Brockton MA
Intake – 508-232-6670 Ext. 525

Taunton/New Bedford/Fall River
39 Taunton Green, Taunton, MA
Intake – 508-232-6670 Ext. 525

(RSVP) Responsive Support for Violence Program

RSVP works in partnership with the YWCA to provide direct intervention and related services for African American and Latino youth who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Services include safety planning, counseling and/or 6 month follow up flexible services to assist young people with vocational and educational goals using a positive youth development model.

Admission Requirement: Youth must be between the ages of 13 and 24, live in Springfield or be placed in a residential program in Springfield.

Referral: Open
Location: 120 Maple St, Suite #305, Springfield MA 01103
Contact: Sara Moriarty, 413 733-1015, Fax: 413 788-0929, smoriarty@gandaracenter.org

Hampden Continuum

Large array of wraparound, 24/7 access services for families with youth ages 5-18 who are at risk of hospitalization, residential or foster care placement due to safety concerns. Collaborative family-driven and youth-guided treatment delivery approach.  Help to identify and remove obstacles to community based living for youth with complex mental health and behavioral challenges. Each family is assigned a team of clinical case managers, family partners, peer and therapeutic mentors and behavioral specialists to develop a flexible individualized treatment plan that includes rehabilitation, support and supervision services that vary in intensity based upon the individual needs of the youth and family.  Access to out-of-home residential services also provided varying in level of intensity and lengths of stay in the event that a youth requires greater structure, safety or more intensive clinical supports with continued staff support regardless of setting.

Closed: DCF, DMH only
Contact:  Ned Whitman 413-650-5550 x401

Springfield Family Support Center

Gandara has partnered with the Springfield Family Support Program to provide a number of resources for families in the Springfield community all in one convenient location. Help with navigating through housing, education, courts and legal systems as well as health insurance, EBT and behavioral health services. If a specific need cannot be met at the center, trained staff will point the family in the right direction to obtain the services they need elsewhere.

Referral: Open; drop-in platform, no appointment necessary.
Location: 18 Gaucher St. Springfield, MA
Contact: Cindy Stovall cstovall@gandaracenter.org, 413-733-7699

Comprehensive Model

Provides services to families with children who are either at risk for out-of-home placement or are returning from out-of home placement.  The model has two major parts:  1) basic services for stabilization or reunification; 2) specialized services, including substance abuse treatment readiness and prevention and trauma-focused services. Services are based on two visits per week from the specialized provider. The clinical parent aide will provide additional visits and wraparound services. The family will receive 24-hour emergency coverage. If needed, the family stabilization team will be available during evening and weekend hours for home visits.

A family-centered assessment of family needs and strengths will help form a team that includes a clinician and a clinical case parent aide, who may also act as a mentor. The team will work on connecting the family to community resources for child safety and welfare issues. They will also work on school advocacy, law enforcement and court related needs, as well as behavioral and medical health needs. Clients will be taught to use public transportation and may also be transported by the Clinical Parent Aide (C/PA), as appropriate.

Crianza Model

Parenting specialists help parents with their parenting skills to improve the child’s safety in the home. The program will cover many topics including good ways to discipline children and how to set schedules. Attention will be given to issues, including cultural issues that the Latino, Cape Verdean and Portuguese populations face. Parents will be taught how to find and use community resources. They also will be taught how to use public transportation and may also be transported by the Clinical Parent Aide (C/PA), as appropriate.

Family Stabilization Model

This model targets Latino families, but Cape Verdean and Portuguese-speaking families will also be served. The program is for families who are at risk of having their children taken out of their home because of neglect and/or abuse. The intervention includes many services including: clinical assessment and treatment planning; counseling services; case management; advocacy; and concrete supports, which will be provided on an as-needed basis, within the limits of the program.

The standard intervention includes three weekly home visitations or wraparound services provided within the community. The service will be provided by a team that includes a Master's level clinician and a clinical parent aide.

Nuestra Familia Model

This model targets parents who face two issues: child behavior problems and family dysfunction, such as parental depression or conflict between partners. The program is designed for Latino, Cape Verdean and Portuguese parents and families who need help in developing and improving ways to nurture their children and provide structure and discipline. A Bachelor’s level bilingual family support specialist works with a clinical parent aide to develop and use treatment plans to address the psychological and social needs of the family. Program modules include practice sessions to improve skills in many areas including parenting, mood management, coping with stress, partner support, and anger management. Working as a team, the providers can focus on an individual, if needed, without neglecting the family. Recent and new immigrant and refugee families are often under great stress from cultural and language differences. These stresses include, parental isolation, not understanding the way social services work in a new country, differences in the rate of cultural acceptance between parent and child, and cultural differences in parenting practices.

The goals of the Nuestra Familia program are to do the following:

• Promote the independence and health of families by improving parents' knowledge, skills and confidence.
• Promote the development of non-violent, protective and nurturing environments for children.
• Promote the development, growth, health and social competencies of young children.
• Reduce the incidence of child abuse, mental illness, behavioral problems, delinquency and homelessness.
• Enhance the competence, resourcefulness and self-sufficiency of parents in raising their preadolescent children.

Raices Model

The goal of the program is to protect children from their substance abusing/using parents, caretakers or siblings.  Services are targeted to the Latino, Cape Verdean and Portuguese communities. The program uses a psychological, educational and parenting approach to help families understand the many ways substance use/abuse hurts users and their families: it hurts their emotional, educational and vocational well being; their peer relationships; their ability to parent effectively; their economic stability; and their children's safety.  Services are provided by two clinicians with experience and training in substance abuse counseling. The team includes one Master's level clinician and one Certified Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor (CADAC).

The home based intervention counseling provides guidance and support to all participants in the families.  The program also provides language and culturally appropriate referrals to community resources such as outpatient substance abuse treatment, detoxification services, mental health counseling, family therapy, 12-step programs and residential substance abuse programs, as needed.  Also, while keeping the family together, the Raices team provides substance abuse assessments and screenings; risk assessments for the non-substance abusing family members; family centered treatment readiness counseling; prevention and education counseling; and substance abuse counseling.

The program is offered at times that best suites the family's schedule including early morning, early evening and when needed on weekends. Other supports include transportation to programs such as utilization review meetings, translations, referrals to community health and social services, or orientation to family-centered resources such as recreation, after-school programming and summer activities.

Insurance: MassHealth or Medicaid
Closed Referral: These services are contracted directly with DCF in the Southeastern part of the state
Contact: 508-232-6670 Ext. 525

Intensive Foster Care

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Gandara Center's foster care program has been placing youth in temporary, safe, therapeutic home environments for over 30 years. We provide intensive case management, transportation and recreational opportunities for youth. There is 24 hour on-call support for families.

Location: 1236 Main Street Holyoke, MA
Contact: Nicole Coughlin; ncoughlin@gandaracenter.org, 413-736-2359
Closed Referral: Ages birth to 18 who are enrolled in DCF and DMH services

Become a Foster Parent

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Do you have love to share? Would you like to open your home to a child who has experienced abuse and or neglect and is looking for a safe, temporary, therapeutic home? If you meet all of the following requirements please contact us for more information. You will receive support through specialized case managers and services in addition to 24-hour on call support. You will earn $1,400 monthly (tax-free) per child to help provide basic food and shelter needs, supervision, support and safety. At Gandara we believe there are no unwanted children, just unfound families.

Requirements:
Must be at least 21 years of age
Possess a high school degree, G.E.D. or equivalent
Submit to and pass a CORI (Criminal Offenses Record Investigation)
Reliable income to meet current basic household needs and expenses
Own, have available at all times, and be licensed to operate a motor vehicle
Provide references
Pass a home assessment
Be physically and mentally capable of providing adequate care and response to a foster youth
Contact: Nicole Coughlin; ncoughlin@gandaracenter.org, 413-736-2359

N.O.E.L. (Navigating, Outreach, Education, Linkages)

A community-based prevention and early detection program offering free outreach, education and cancer screenings, specifically colo-rectal, cervical and breast, to underserved and hard-to-reach populations.

Location: 476 Appleton Street Holyoke, MA
Admission and eligibility: All services are open to men and women between 40-64 years of age who are residents in Springfield communities. Education and outreach open to public who are residents in Springfield and surrounding communities.
Contact: Tai Guzman tguzman@gandaracenter.org 413-788-4649

PREP (teen pregnancy prevention)

Program uses evidence based programs including:  Cuidate and Making Proud Choices and includes additional life skills/positive youth development curricula to help under-resourced minority youth with multiple high risk factors for teen pregnancy. It will work with youth groups in several targeted Springfield Schools, the YWCA, and youth involved in DCF, DYS, DMH or CBHI services in the greater Springfield/Holyoke region.

Closed Referral but interested individual/groups may call for more information: 413-285-4988.

Tobacco Free Community Partners

TFCP supports the smoke free efforts of Springfield and surrounding communities both in the home and in the workplace. The TFCP increases public knowledge of smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in MA, maintaining Mass Health utilization rates, working to eliminate the sale of over the counter tobacco to youth, promoting the Ex-Smokers Hall of Fame project and supporting smoke free housing efforts in Springfield and surrounding areas. The TFCP provides smoking related materials and education to professional health care providers about the negative effects of second hand smoke and fosters relationships with the community and other human service agencies to ensure support for those who wish to live smoke free lives.  MassHealth covers all FDA-approved medicines and counseling to help you quit smoking. Other public health insurance plans in Massachusetts, including Commonwealth Care and Medicare, also cover counseling support and many FDA-approved medicines. Contact your insurance provider or physician for more information.

For information or to get involved call: 413 733-1015.

Stop Access: adolescent substance abuse prevention

Stop Access Springfield works to reduce substance abuse in the Mason Square, South End and Forest Park communities. The Coalition works to create positive vital communities and implement city wide strategies that highlight substance abuse prevention and move it to a priority status in Springfield. The Coalition focuses on collection of underage drinking and other data, community capacity building, public health planning to reduce and prevent substance abuse and implementation of these strategies.

A project of the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, the federal DHHS and SAMHSA; Stop Access is coordinated by the Gandara Center.

The Stop Access Coalition invites the participation of all interested residents and organizations of the city of Springfield. For information or to get involved call: 413-733-9024.

Prevention Needs Assessment Survey

STOP ACCESS SPRINGFIELD conducts a Prevention Needs Assessment Survey every 2 years that helps us plan prevention and intervention programs to combat alcohol and other drug use and violence in our schools and communities. The survey also helps us judge the effectiveness of our current prevention and intervention efforts.

Survey questions can be emailed to Anna Cruz at acruz@gandaracenter.org.
Prevention Needs Assessment Survey Results for Springfield 8th graders (PDF download)

Project Health: Case Management for People with HIV/AIDS

Medical case management for HIV positive clients in the Springfield area.  Staff are fluent in Spanish and their strength is in working with Spanish speaking clients, although services are open to everyone. Clients of any age may receive services. Case management assists clients to access medical, mental health and substance abuse services and to maintain a positive lifestyle despite being HIV+ or having AIDS.

Eligibility: Must be HIV positive or living with AIDS. Open Referral: community service agency or self-referred.
Location: 85 St. George Road Springfield, MA 413-732-2120
Contact: Neida Rodriguez nrodriguez@gandaracenter.org