| 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
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 5th,
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 15th-17th http://www.mghcme.org/events/details/?eventid=241
Tier 2: August 12th-14th
http://www.mghcme.org/events/details/?eventid=240
For
more information, email: info@thinkkids.org
or call: (617)
643-6030.
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