Advocates & Family Continuity Affiliation Went Into Effect January 1

In full transparency, the following is a press release from Advocates submitted to SOURCE media for publication.

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FRAMINGHAM – The affiliation of Advocates and Family Continuity, two leading nonprofit human services organizations, officially took effect on January 1, 2023. The two agencies announced the intended affiliation in August 2022, citing their shared goal of increasing access to high-quality behavioral health care across eastern and central Massachusetts. Together, the two providers will provide services to more than 40,000 adults, children, and families annually.

Both agencies are known for providing individuals and families with high-quality behavioral health services, including outpatient counseling, peer supports and recovery coaching, and jail diversion, among other services. Advocates is headquartered in Framingham, and Family Continuity is headquartered in Lawrence. The organizations provide service throughout Eastern and Central Massachusetts.

“We are excited to officially commence our partnership with Family Continuity,” said Diane Gould, President and CEO of the two organizations. “This affiliation strengthens organizational sustainability while advancing health equity and justice. Working together, we can broaden and enhance our services to best meet the behavioral health needs of our communities.”

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Gould, who has led Advocates since 2013, assumed the Family Continuity lead role on January 1, upon the retirement of Family Continuity President and CEO Barbara Wilson. Wilson had served in the role for more than eight years. Wilson shares, “To reap the benefits of affiliation, we needed an agency with aligned values, known and trusted leadership, and an array of services that complemented Family Continuity’s. We found a match in Advocates, allowing us to form this
powerful partnership that will strengthen the communities we serve.”

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 conditions. With Advocates’ help, thousands of individuals and families living in Massachusetts are finding the supports they need to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives. For more information about Advocates, please visit www.advocates.org.

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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. For more information about Family Continuity, please visit www.familycontinuity.org.