Advocates & Family Continuity To Affiliate

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FRAMINGHAM – Advocates and Family Continuity, two leading nonprofit human services providers, announcedthey have entered into an affiliation agreement that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. 

By affiliating, the agencies seek to build long-term sustainability, promote stronger communities, further increase access to care and advance social, racial, economic, and health justice.

Both agencies are known for providing individuals and families with high-quality behavioral health services, including outpatient clinics, peer supports and recovery coaching, and jail diversion among other services. 

Together, the organizations will serve 40,000 children and adults across Eastern and Central Mass., from the Merrimack Valley down through MetroWest and Worcester County and over to Cape Cod.

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“We are excited to partner with Family Continuity, a well-known and highly respected human services provider,” said Diane Gould, President and CEO of Advocates.  “This affiliation brings together two mission-driven agencies to broaden the scope of services for the individuals, children and families we support while advancing health equity.  The partnership will allow us to share best practices in meeting the behavioral health and substance use treatment needs of our communities.”

“Our industry is changing in ways that require organizations like Family Continuity to affiliate with other local organizations so as to continue to be successful, grow and remain innovative in order to meet the needs of the communities that we support,” said Barbara Wilson, President and CEO of Family Continuity.  “It is vitally important that we affiliate with an agency whose values are aligned with ours, whose leadership we know and trust, and whose services and geography support our goal of strategic growth.  We have found that in Advocates.”

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Wilson has planned her retirement for the end of 2022, and Gould will serve in a dual role leading Advocates and Family Continuity starting in 2023.

By entering an affiliation agreement, Family Continuity will become a subsidiary of Advocates, and will retain its name and identity, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, programs, staff and contracts.  The boards of directors of both organizations unanimously approved the affiliation.

Advocates provides a broad range of services for people facing life challenges such as addiction, aging, autism, brain injury, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and mental health challenges.  With Advocates’ help, more than 30,000 individuals and families living in Massachusetts are finding the supports they need to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives. 

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Founded as a community-based service provider, Family Continuity’s mission is to inspire individuals and families to achieve overall wellness through counseling, support, education and making connections to community.  Family Continuity provides Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative services; community, school, medical integration and home-based services; a Family Resource Center; outpatient behavioral health services; and addiction recovery and care coordination services to approximately 10,000 individuals and families annually in Central, Northeastern and Southeastern Massachusetts.