CORONAVIRUS 2019 BRIEFING

Here at Martin Luther King Family Services, Inc, (MLKFS) the health and wellness of our community is always our highest priority. In response to the unprecedented public health crisis caused by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and following the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and local/state governments, we have taken the following steps:

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"Once a member of our family, always a member of our family."

For more than 30 years we have served more than 300 families a year with an array of educational, cultural, and basic needs supports.  We depend on your support for our continued programming.

Here is a sampling of what we offer:

Family Stabilization Services Family Skill Building (FSB) Program
This program offers support to families in keeping their children safely at home and in the community by advocating for the well-being and rights of all children. Parents are provided with opportunities to develop and improve parenting skills and learn money management and incoming maximizing skills. 

DEEC School Age Child Care Program: King's Kids After School Program DCF Enhanced After School Program 
Up to 130 children utilize the MLKFS youth center after school and participate in quality programming with the goal of helping them to become academically sound and nurturing their critical thinking skills. Students are offered homework help, character building, sports and fitness, literacy retention and cultural experiences. Case management is available for students eligible for supportive services. 

Night Spot Program
Empowers youth ages 13-22 to be critical thinkers and community builders while preparing them for life in high school, college, and beyond and encouraging a drug-free future. Offers advocacy services for court-involved youth. Pickup basketball is offered free of charge to youth ages 14-26 living in the Mason Square area. Gender specific youth development groups focusing on prevention and early intervention. 

Clemente College Courses
Up to 30 non-traditional students take courses in the humanities taught by professors from local colleges and universities in order to explore the possibility of entering college. Students can earn up to 6 credits from Bard College. Tuition is free and students receive books, supplies, bus tokens and child care stipends.

Read more about our partnership with Clemente College here.

Emergency Food Pantry
Provides emergency food services for individuals and families experiencing food shortage and screens individuals for SNAP benefit eligibility. The program relies on donations from grocery vendors and makes purchases from the Food Bank of Western MA. The MLK Emergency Food Pantry is staffed by a program director and is dependent on over 20 weekly volunteers.

Read more about our Emergency Food Pantry Program here. 

Read more about The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts here.

Mason Square Health Task Force
Coalition driven effort to address the health disparities that exist among the residents of Mason Square and beyond. Engages community residents and professionals to work shoulder to shoulder in developing and implementing prevention and early intervention strategies for good health and has a youth arm that focuses on the issue of tobacco addiction amongst youth. 

Historically Black College Tour Youth Culture & Education Organization
MLKFS works in conjunction with the YCEO, an all-volunteer organization, to facilitate workshops which focus on college admissions process, scholarships, and career pathways leading to an annual tour of Histrionically Black Colleges and Universities. The tour takes over 5-7 days during the Spring Break for Springfield Public Schools. The tour is supported by fees, grants and donations. 

Read more about our 2019 College Tour here. 

Visit the program pages at the top menu for contacts and programs details.

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