Carson Center Receives Grant

WESTFIELD — The United Charitable Foundation recently awarded the Carson Center for Human Services $6,720 to support its Center for Children and Youth program in fielding a series of Parenting Education Groups.

“In these challenging times when youth are exposed to violence through media at all levels, resulting in more symptoms of anxiety and depression in children, our experience is that through offering parents education, support, and effective strategies, we can have a major, positive impact on keeping children safe, happy, and in their families,” said Linda Reis, program director at the Center for Children and Youth.

The Carson Center’s executive director, Kathleen Damon, added, “The United Bank Foundation’s assistance will enable us to offer valuable prevention services to parents in the community without creating financial barriers. Their grant will fund three parenting groups, one each for the parents of pre-school, latency-age, and teenage youth so that an interested parent or guardian can attend regardless of their ability to pay. Successful outcomes with parents will result in improved parent/child relationships and prevent more serious or violent future problems. We greatly appreciate the foundation’s contribution because it also supports the greater well-being of the community at large.”

Founded in 1963 as a child guidance clinic in Westfield, the Carson Center for Human Services is now a full service outpatient and emergency mental health, substance abuse, and rehabilitation service agency, having expanded to include adult outpatient, emergency, 24-hour crisis stabilization/respite services, and traumatic brain injury programs during the decades since.