What's New?

FCBC is merging withThink:Kids!!!

Be sure to sign up for email at:
www.thinkkids.org
to continue to receive notices!

Parents, join us for a one-day training:
Think Differently: A New Approach for Parenting the Child with
Behavioral Challenges
June 5th, in Boston!
Click here for information and
registration form.

Calling all Clinicians and Educators:
A Summer Intensive Training in Boston
Tier 1:
Tier 2:
For more information:
email: info@thinkkids.org
or call: (617) 643-6030

We have exciting news to share…

FCBC is merging with Think:Kids!

A letter from the Founding Director of FCBC:

Our non-profit organization, FCBC (Foundation for Children with Behavioral Challenges) is thrilled to announce that we are joining forces with Think:Kids in the Department of Psychiatry of the non-profit Massachusetts General Hospital. Think:Kids is under the direction of Dr. Stuart Ablon (Co-Founder and formerly Co-Director of the Center for Collaborative Problem Solving).

Think:Kids and FCBC share a common mission: to dramatically improve society’s understanding and treatment of kids with behavioral challenges. While Think:Kids has primarily focused on providing training in the approach described in the widely acclaimed book, Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach, FCBC has emphasized providing support to caregivers. Together, we will be able to offer both the training and the support that will allow us to achieve our mutual goal.

We are very proud of our growth over the past nine years! FCBC began in February of 2000 as a grass-roots support group called ‘Baskets’ in Andover, Massachusetts. In 2001, the group expanded to become P.T.E.K. (Parents and Teachers of Explosive Kids), a web-based organization with about nine local support group chapters primarily across North America and an extensive website with online support. Soon after we began offering an Annual P.T.E.K.Conference. In December of 2005, P.T.E.K. incorporated and was granted non-profit status as FCBC, The Foundation for Children with Behavioral Challenges. Since that time we have grown tremendously. We now have more than 15 support group chapters around North America and beyond, and an expanded website with an interactive message board where more than 4,100 members read and post messages. In addition, we have hosted annual conferences that have drawn more than 300 attendees.

What will this mean for you?

With the recent unanimous approval of the Board of Directors, FCBC will soon dissolve as a separate entity and merge with Think:Kids. All available FCBC funds will be transferred to Think:Kids and allocated specifically for support initiatives. Our current Board of Directors will have the opportunity to serve on a Think:Kids Advisory Board. In my new position as Director of Outreach and Support for Think:Kids, I will focus on expanding support services, including promoting the development of many more in-person support groups, providing training and supervision to support group leaders, and establishing an online social community. The latter will build upon the capabilities of our current FCBC message board, provide support to families in more remote areas, help strengthen connections made at local support group meetings and provide additional opportunities for parents to get involved.

How can I learn more about Think:Kids?

We recommend that you take a moment to visit the Think:Kids web site: www.thinkkids.org. Be sure to sign up for the Think:Kids e-Newsletter by Clicking here, to stay abreast of training and support initiatives.

How can I help support the efforts of Think:Kids?

Changing conventional wisdom about who challenging kids are and how we can help them succeed requires a grassroots effort. There are many ways you can help: refer people to the Think:Kids website, pass on books and DVDs that describe the approach, host a book group or an informative social gathering, share some of our new “parenting cards” (which will soon be available through local support group chapter leaders), explore other opportunities to get involved such as considering starting a group in your area, volunteer or make a tax-free donation to Think:Kids by contacting Kim Molino at kmolino@thinkkids.org or 617-643-6031. You can also make a credit card donation to Think:Kids via the Massachusetts General Hospital website. Click here. In the “Gift Information” section, please be sure to select “Other” and specify “Think:Kids” so we can ensure that your gift to MGH is designated to Think:Kids.

I am interested in learning more about starting a support group, where can I get more information?

As part of the transition process, we will be focusing our efforts during the next few months on reviewing and revising our programs for recruiting, training and supporting group leaders. Send an email to bedelstein@thinkkids.org to learn more.

We look forward to working with Think:Kids, building upon our successes as we strive to meet the needs of the growing number of caregivers and professionals seeking support to bring about better understanding and help for kids with behavioral challenges.

Sincerely,

Beth Edelstein, OTL

Founding Director, FCBC

The Foundation for Children with Behavioral Challenges

What's New

In the coming months we will gradually move the information found at our FCBC website to the Think:Kids website, as follows:

• INFORMATION about the revolutionary, evidence-based approach, described in the widely acclaimed book, Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach, can now be found at the Think:Kids website. Click on: www.thinkkids.org and select Parents, Educators or Clinicians for information specific to your needs.

• RESOURCES and our FCBC MESSAGE BOARD can still be found here for the time being at our FCBC website. Click on the RESOURCES tab to access our revised Caregiver Handout (Download PDF), books and links that might be helpful, and to locate FCBC support group chapters in your area. Click on the MESSAGE BOARD tab for a special place to network with other parents and teachers to gain support and share resources.

We are thrilled to announce the following training programs being offered by Think:Kids and the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, this summer:

• A One-Day Parent Training, Friday June 5^th, at the Richard B. Simches Research Center, in Boston. Click here for information and to download a copy of the registration form.

• Three-Day Intensive Training Workshops for Clinicians and Educators, at the Liberty Hotel, in Boston.

Tier 1: July 15^th-17^th http://www.mghcme.org/events/details/?eventid=241
Tier 2: August 12^th-14^th http://www.mghcme.org/events/details/?eventid=240

For more information, email: info@thinkkids.org or call: (617) 643-6030.