Youth & Families
Developmental Disabilities & Autism
Riverside Community Care provides vital support for children, youth, young adults, and families who have a loved one with autism or intellectual/developmental disabilities living at home. Offering resources like respite care, skill training, and advocacy education, our programs empower the individuals themselves and their families to engage actively in their communities.
Family Support Center
Expanding Opportunities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Our Family Support Center serves children and adults with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities who live with their families. Supports include respite care, recreational activities, adaptive equipment provision, skill training, and specialized staff support.
Family Support Center Location
“The Family Leadership Series gave me a framework within which I was able to find hope, plan, and advocate for my son’s future.”
– Stacy L. (Parent of Youth Served)
Family Leadership Program
Empowering Families Through Training, Leadership, and Community
The Family Leadership Program provides education, leadership skill development, and mentoring for parents/caregivers of children and adults eligible for DDS services living in the community. A key objective of the program is to share best practices and provide opportunities to support individuals and families to be fully included and engaged in all facets of community life. What sets this program apart is that all training and mentoring in family leadership is organized and provided by family members who have firsthand experience as caregivers for individuals with disabilities.
Riverside’s Family Leadership Program serves two regions: Metro and Northeast. Each region hosts an annual Family Leadership Series, consisting of multiple weekend sessions throughout the year. The Family Leadership Series is designed to:
- Offer information about “best practices” for people with disabilities
- Help families create a vision for their loved ones and a process to achieve their goals
- Develop family leaders who can advocate at the local and state levels to improve the lives of people with disabilities
Additional training activities and innovative leadership development opportunities are also offered, tailored to meet family-identified ideas and local/cultural/linguistic needs. We encourage people with family members of any age and disability eligible for services from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to participate in our programs – free of charge!
Family Leadership Program – DDS Regions and Activities
The Metro region supports families in the following DDS areas: Greater Boston, Charles River West, Middlesex West, and Newton/South Norfolk. We partner with MassFamilies, a statewide grassroots coalition that supports individuals and families. Sign up for the MassFamilies newsletter for more information.
The Northeast region supports families in the following DDS areas: Merrimack Valley, North Shore, Lowell, Central Middlesex, and Metro North. To learn more about the Northeast and Statewide Family Leadership Program, visit familyleadershipma.org and register for the following newsletter.
For news, updates, and more information, complete this contact form.
Not sure which regional program serves your community? Look up your city/town now!
Family Leadership Program Locations
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