Gardner Family Resource Center

08/28/2025

Welcome to CSO's Gardner Family Resource Center (FRC)!

The FRC is here to support caregivers and families with children (0-18) throughout Greater Gardner.

All our offerings are FREE:
✅ Family activities & playgroups
✅ Parent support & workshops
✅ Youth programs & community connections

📍 Located in Gardner, MA
💲 Always free of charge
🌟 Open to all families and caregivers

Each month, we share our calendar of events—check back often and join us!

08/27/2025

🌟 Families in the are getting better connected to the behavioral health services and basic needs supports in their region! 🌟

Earlier this month, the CSO Family Resource Center hosted its annual Resource Fair, bringing together the region's community partners.

From tasty food and fun yard games to comfort animals 🐕 and even a few farmyard friends 🫏, the GB FRC made it fun to learn about local resources.

👉 Learn more about the GB FRC and upcoming events on our page: https://www.facebook.com/greatbarringtonFRC

08/04/2025

🎨✨ Get Creative at Art Hour! ✨🎨
Looking for something fun, FREE, and family-friendly? Join us for Art Hour at the Gardner Family Resource Center! 💚

👩‍🎨 Every other week, families come together in our welcoming space to create, express, and enjoy quality time through art. From painting to crafting, there’s always something new.

🪨☀️ Last time, we painted rocks with cheerful messages and summery scenes — perfect for spreading joy around town!

📅 Want to join in the fun? Check out our monthly calendar of free family events right here:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/gardnerFRC/posts/pfbid02nh9suPuzJUzq9Yb6CRf2S8pkNRmd2fVdcXXYvzC26qwtXcfNm5Z5pDv4Wt5EeZT5l

🖌️ All ages welcome — no experience needed, just bring your creativity and smiles!

07/31/2025

There are SO MANY good things for families to do this week with the Family Resource Center.

They're all *FREE* to any family with children.

Check out the calendar to see what looks fun, informative, or supportive to you!

06/27/2025

Each month, the Family Resource Center offers free activities, groups, and activities for families with children.

Here's the calendar for July. Hope to see you soon!

06/27/2025

Local families from the Greater area got colorful today during last month's Family Tie Dye Event.

We have fun, creative and social family events for *FREE* each month. Be sure to check out our calendar and come have some fun with us!

See this month's calendar:
https://www.facebook.com/gardnerFRC/posts/pfbid0KpAC5mzKHDwJRSTX5n5DC8hoEDpSWfNrfVmYjT2Ya9TUyuxZ5DHMru8MCdfrQHLCl

06/27/2025

As Pride Month winds down, our CCS/Respite team in Greenfield snapped this photo yesterday outside our Federal St. location.

It served as a reminder to all that CSO's community-based emergency services program is proud to offer 24/7/365 mobile and walk-in access to crisis intervention services.

Hampshire County (Northampton): 413.586.5555

Franklin County (Greenfield): 413.774.5411

N. Quabbin (Athol): 978.249.3141

Northern Worcester County (Gardner): 978.488.8888

06/26/2025

The US Senate is expected to vote soon on a budget reconciliation bill that includes provisions affecting Medicaid and mental health services.

The Senate's reconciliation bill is expected to include more substantial cuts to Medicaid than the House-passed bill.

Tell your friends — especially those in "swing" states — to contact their Senators in opposition to the proposed Medicare changes.

The proposed cuts along with additional so-called "work requirements" would result in fewer Medicaid enrollments, increased disenrollments, fewer covered services, and reduce overall access to both physical/medical and behavioral health care.

All questions and comments regarding public policy issues, legislation, or requests for personal assistance should be directed to the senators from your state. Please be aware that as a matter of professional courtesy, many senators will acknowledge, but not respond to, a message from another senato...

06/25/2025

The US Senate is deciding whether to approve massive cuts to Medicaid as part of its budget reconciliation.

Call and email Senators today to ask them to consider the real-life impacts of limiting access and enrollment:

➡ 21% of the US population is currently enrolled in Medicaid.

➡ 1 in 3 adult Medicaid enrollees suffered a mental illness in 2024.

➡ 7.2% of Medicaid enrollees were diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD) in 2024 alone.

➡ Medicaid is the largest payer of US behavioral health services.

Let your Senator know you value Medicaid coverage and access to medical and behavioral health care.

06/03/2025

Grateful for all our community partners, families, and colleagues who came out to 'The Bridge' Amherst Family Resource Center for its 10th Anniversary Celebration (Amherst FRC) 🎈🎉.

Special to thanks to Mindy Domb, State Representative, who read a proclamation from the Legislature, honoring our FRC and the work it has done in offering free supports to any local family with children.

Thanks, too, to the Amherst Police Department (Official) and UMass Amherst Police Dept. for bringing their dogs Auggie and Alec.

05/30/2025

Goooooing up!

Our new elevator makes find the Gardner FRC soooooo much easier.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁! 205 School Street, Suite 302, Gardner MA.

05/30/2025

Our June calendar of events!

All Family Resource Center activities are totally *FREE* to any family in the area with children (ages 0-18). No intakes, qualifiers, or need for insurance.

Come visit us to find the family supports (or FUN!) you need.

05/28/2025

Each month, our locations offer free supports, activities, and support groups for families.

In the , families are served by the Great Barrington Family Resource Center

In , it's the Gardner Family Resource Center.

In , our Amherst Family Resource Center is your go-to stop.

Follow their pages today to learn about their events and offerings!

➡ https://www.facebook.com/greatbarringtonFRC

➡ https://www.facebook.com/gardnerFRC

➡ https://www.facebook.com/amherstFRC

Send a message to learn more

05/27/2025

Thanks to all who helped make the 23rd Annual Mental Health & Wellness Fair a success last week.

Together, we're helping to end the stigma associated with behavioral health challenges, and we're supporting a more trauma-informed community.

GREENFIELD — The region’s behavioral health and wellness resources were on display last week as part of the 23rd Mental Health & Wellness Fair at Energy Park.

05/23/2025

The 23rd Annual Mental Health & Wellness Fair helped bring together the community.

The theme, "Kindness Is the Path to " resonated, as community partners and citizens alike learned about the local and resources available for themselves and for their friends and neighbors.

Thanks to all the many organizations to helped make this Clubhouse program possible.

Congratulations to the Green River House of and the Quabbin House of .

05/22/2025

Our Athol outpatient team was proud to join North Quabbin Community Coalition and others at the Munch n Move event earlier this week.

05/07/2025

Did you know that half of all people who will have a mental health condition start showing signs by the time they turn 14?

Today is , and Mental Health America has created a page of youth mental health resources: https://mhanational.org/youth-mental-health/

05/04/2025

CSO's Director of Community Education Chase Giroux, LMHC, along with trainer David Kieval, PsyD, BCBA, facilitated a Vicarious Trauma training for the Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan's office this week.

If you have a group or organization is interested in learning more about mental wellness or vicarious trauma, send an inquiry email to CSO's Director of Community Education Chase Giroux, LMHC, at CGiroux@csoinc.org.

05/01/2025

Family participants at CSO's Family Resource Centers in Amherst, Gardner, and Great Barrington will have access to free toiletries, thanks to a generous donation from Hope & Comfort (including toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, soap bars, toothbrushes, laundry sheets, and menstrual pads).

If you're a family with children (ages 0 to 18) in the Southern Berkshires, Great Gardner, or Hampshire County areas and would like to learn more about our FRC offerings and supports, visit CSO's Locations page and call the numbers listed:
https://www.csoinc.org/locations