In honor of National Mentoring Month, we celebrate the countless contributions and lifelong positive impact our mentors have on area youth. These powerful relationships have the ability to improve academic, social, and economic prospects and make youth more likely to have safer, healthier, and more prosperous lives. Mentor Reflections Seeing Life Through Fresh Eyes My own children are adults now. [...]
Author Archives: Sarah Frederick
18 Degrees Expands Youth Programming
18 Degrees, Family Services for Western MA, is offering additional programs for young people in the Berkshires. These programs are designed to guide young people to the resources, skills, and support to help them reach their goals. All of our youth programs aim to ignite young people’s creativity, support their ambitions, discover opportunities, and break [...]
18 Degrees to Participate in Early Childhood Support Pilot Program
18 Degrees has been selected to participate in the Department of Early Education and Care’s (DEEC) pilot program, Early Childhood Support Organization Initiative. The goal of the pilot is to develop strategies that accelerate continuous improvement in teaching, curriculum, and leadership skills to assure children are receiving the highest levels of quality early education. The [...]
The Kids Are Not Alright
Want to join the conversation?Be part of our coming together for our young people.Email info@18degreesma.org or call 413-448-8281 ext. 236 By: Erin Sullivan, Vice President of Community and Donor Relations As an adult, it is hard to go a day without talking or thinking about COVID-19. It has consumed our lives, changed our routines, and created [...]
Staff Spotlight, December 2021: Tina O’Brien & Diane Simpson
By: John Cadiz, Director of Human Resources 2021 brought a fair share of transition within our finance team, as we filled the Director of Finance and Senior Accountant positions. Thanks to the steady hands of our payroll specialist and bookkeeper, Diane Simpson, and accounting clerk, Tina O’Brien, everything remained on track with our daily fiscal operations. These two are very deserving of our Staff Spotlight for their [...]
Staff Spotlight, November 2021: Rachel Slack
By: Alison Mengel, Director of Permanency Rachel Slack joined the Adoption Management Systems program in July of 2021 and proved to be a perfect match since her arrival. Creating a permanency plan requires her to work with many people and within multiple systems. Throughout the process, Rachel is responsive, cooperative, and keeps the well-being of [...]
Staff Spotlight, October 2021: Sharon Collins Newton
By: Gina Blake, Vice President for Programs Sharon started with Parents as Teachers (PAT) in 2012 and became the supervisor in 2017. Her passion for helping families, coupled with her supportive leadership style and deep understanding of this evidence-based program, has helped her continue to grow PAT to meet the needs of the families we [...]
Staff Spotlight, September 2021: Tyeesha Keele
By: Elise Weller, Director of Childcare Services Early Childhood programs are about providing foundations for our children, then growing, building, and supporting them as they develop. We first met Tyeesha when she enrolled her daughter in our infant program at Redfield in 2016. We saw this young woman was filled with compassion, dedication, and an [...]
2021-2022 Young Women’s Advisory Council Applications Available
Calling young women, ages 16-24 from Springfield, MA, interested in strategizing efforts to encourage a safe, healthy, and economically prosperous community with gender and racial equity. Join us for the 2021-2022 Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC), where you will investigate barriers, explore solutions, and make recommendations for change in your community. Throughout the year, you [...]
Staff Spotlight, August 2021: Tony Anderton
By: Paula McDermott, Human Resources Administrator Tony Anderton is our go-to person for just about everything. Yes, he did come with the building! He became the Manager of Building and Grounds in October 1992 when the agency moved into the then-new building where we are today. Tony’s knowledge of the buildings, programs, and history of [...]
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