Carson Center for Human Services: Under 5 Thrive

WARE, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - If you're looking for greater health and well-being in everyday life, the Carson Center for Human Services might just be for you.

Jac Patrissi Administrative Director of Home-based Services and Domestic Violence Advocacy and Paula Kularski Under Five Thrive Coordinator joined us with more.

About Under 5 Thrive:

Under Five Thrive (U5T) supports young people ages 16-29, who are pregnant or parenting at least one child under five as they seek to obtain their GEDs at the Ware Adult Learning Center (WALC). The program is modeled after national and regional initiatives designed to break the cycle of poverty by offering a variety of services to families in need during the most critical years of child development. The VHS service model offers intensive, hands-on supports and activities to strengthen families and promote continuing access to further education or training even beyond the GED.

The program also features Express!, an innovative arts and humanities program for participants, guiding them through comprehensive spoken poetry, performance training, and, pending anticipated funding, dance movement and filmmaking projects. Through Express!, creatively engaged participants learn organizational, problem-solving, and verbal skills with direct application to the marketplace, family functioning and academic success. Finally, U5T supports the young children of our participants in reaching their developmental milestones through use of Dr. Brazelton's Touchpoint approach throughout our childcare and parent support programs.

Funding provided in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Housing and Community Development, Massachusetts CDBG Program.