The Coalition is dedicated to identifying, creating and coordinating qualify family support services for Southwick residents raising children.

Description:
The Southwick Family Support Coalition is primarily a resource and referral agency helping families connect with services they need whether in the community or out. Aside from offering our own food pantry and drop-in playgroup, we assist families in applying for fuel assistance and transitional assistance. We also find parent support groups for those in need & refer families to specialized services such as counseling, drug rehabilitation, rental assistance etc.
The Coalition at large membership is comprised of human service providers, school personnel, police, town officials, clergy, members of civic organizations and parents interested in helping families. Aside from the assistance mentioned above, the Coalition also implements various programs as needs in the community change. For instance, we support giving programs (food & gifts) during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, organize fun family outings such as bus trips to museums to alleviate some of the stress our families talk about and provide a opportunity to do something fun as a family, ball games etc. and provide camp scholarships for children during the summer months. We offer Red Cross babysitting programs, driver's education scholarships and much more.
Our Coalition staff is small with a part-time administrative assistant, full-time program coordinator, part-time director, part-time food pantry coordinator and a part-time playgroup facilitator.

History:
The Southwick Family Support Coalition was created approximately 11 years ago by people in Southwick who recognized a void in local services for residents of the town. At that time, there weren't any services provided directly in Southwick, and so residents had to travel to Westfield or surrounding communities to get the services they needed. The group applied for Coalition status under a MA. Dept. of Social Services Community Connections program and was awarded a multi-year contract to carry out the services listed above. The Coalition has been in existence every since.

Contact people:

Debbie Oppermann, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Kristin Smith, Coordinator, (phone), (email) Chris Swords, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (413) 569-3456

Address:

454 College Highway Southwick, MA 01077 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.southwickma.org

Directions:

The Coalition is located near the center of town in the lower level of the Town Offices Building. College Highway is also Route 10/202.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: None,   Walk distance (in minutes): NA   Nearest Bus Stop: Westfield, NA minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

What is the type of the agency?
	Government Organization (City, Town, School, etc)
Does the agency conduct CORI checks?
	Yes