Grow Associates, an organization that connects individuals of all abilities with opportunities, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and The Arc of the South Shore, a family-oriented, community-based nonprofit providing information, referrals, and community programs for individuals with disabilities, recently announced the launch of its new Caregiver Appreciation & Respite (CARE) Initiative.
Through this collaboration between Grow Associates and The Arc of the South Shore, CARE offers no-cost, person-centered respite services and support to family caregivers of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD), including autism. This comprehensive weekend respite program includes transportation, caregiver support groups, peer-to-peer mentoring, skill development, community outings, and engaging activities like Sensational Story Time Yoga, Exploring Animation, and How to Prepare a Meal.
Made possible from a $317,958 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ (EOHHS) Respite Innovations Grant Program, CARE is a day program that will be offered nearly every other weekend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through February 2025. Sessions can be signed up for individually or for a full cycle of 10 sessions. CARE will enroll up to 30 individuals per session, ages 18+.
CARE takes place at Grow Associates’ 50,000-square-foot facility, located at 68 Mazzeo Drive in Randolph. Free transportation to and from the program may be available depending upon location.
“Through our comprehensive respite services, individualized skill development, and engaging activities and outings, we’re excited to partner with Grow and offer the best weekend respite program for individuals with I/DD and their caregivers,” said Abigail Parrilla, CEO of The Arc of the South Shore.
“It’s so important for caregivers to take care of themselves too, and our new CARE initiative allows for just that,” added Scott Pralinsky, executive director of Grow Associates. “We are so excited to partner with The Arc of the South Shore, and are incredibly grateful to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services for this vital funding.”
For more information, please visit https://aaapx7spbvs56goo.mylandingpages.co/care-respite-initiative-randolph-ma or email CARE@grow-associates.org.
About Grow Associates
Grow Associates, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) organization connecting people of all abilities with opportunities since 1973. Grow provides a wide range of services including day habilitation, community-based day supports, vocational training and integrated employment services. Grow serves nearly 250 individuals ranging in age from 18-82 from over 24 surrounding communities and employs more than 50 part-time and full-time human service professionals.
As a leading community health and human services organization in Massachusetts, Grow Associates is licensed, certified, and accredited by a range of agencies and organizations, guaranteeing the highest quality of services to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Grow Associates is located at 68 Mazzeo Drive, Randolph, MA. For more information, please call 781-961-6700 or visit www.grow-associates.org.
About The Arc of the South Shore, Inc.
The Arc of the South Shore (The Arc) was founded in 1951 when a group of individuals created a school for children with disabilities. Then, in 1967, The Arc was deeded property at Webb State Park in Weymouth; the space gave the agency a permanent home and the opportunity to expand. By the end of the 1980s, The Arc became a multi-service agency. Today, The Arc is a family-oriented, community-based non-profit providing information, referrals, and community programs for individuals with disabilities.
These services include an Autism Resource Center, early intervention program, community supports, employment services, day supports and habilitation programs, in-home care, and residential services. All of their programs are based on their six core values of people first, community, transparency, self-determination, diversity, and respect. The Arc serves participants from communities throughout the South Shore, including Abington, Milton, Quincy, Randolph, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, and Norwell. Through their 72-year history, they have helped more than 100,000 people.
