Home Life

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Click here for the GFWC Home Life Community Service Program from the GFWC Club Manual.
Click here for the Home Life Information Please pages.
Click here for the Home Life Report Cover Sheet.

HOME LIFE

• Designed to inform members of issues that affect the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. 
• Provides resources and programs to identify and address needs, particularly those related to:

• the health and wellness of women, children, the disabled, and the elderly
• hunger
• housing and homelessness
• personal finances
• identity theft

Our own Massachusetts Junior Director’s focus area is Mental Health.  We will be highlighting this area by providing Junior clubs with project ideas and resources to help raise the consciousness of mental health issues, with an emphasis on those of women.  These will include, but not be limited to anxiety disorders, menopause, PMS & PMDD, post partum depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.

We look forward to working with all of you to bring various Home Life projects to your members as we strive to improve the everyday quality of life for all citizens.  We encourage you to contact your civic leaders, food pantries, churches/synagogues, senior centers, department of family youth services, local hospitals, homeless shelters, and other volunteer organizations to find out about the needs in your communities.  Your 2010-2012 GFWC Manual also contains “Partnerships” (organizations) as well as “Collaborations” (projects/programs) that will help you educate members and assist in meeting needs.  Due to the large number of organizations and projects listed in the Home Life section of the manual, we are only listing resources for Mental Health projects in our Information Please pages.

~~~  May is Mental Health Month ~~~

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness - Massachusetts   (www.NAMIMass.org)

400 West Cummings Park 
Suite 6650 Woburn MA 01801 

781-938-404 or 800-370-9085
Works to educate, support, and advocate for those with mental illnesses and their families.
Lists local affiliates and support groups, NAMI walks, volunteer opportunities, research.

• Postpartum Support Inc. of Massachusetts   (www.PostPartumMA.org)

866-472-1897
Works to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to     childbearing.  Provides confidential support and information as well as listings of local resources such as support groups and professionals.

• Advocates, Inc.   (www.AdvocatesInc.org)

One Clarks Hill, Suite 305
Framingham, MA 01702

508-628-6300
Serves the unique needs of elders, families and individuals with mental health challenges, chemical dependency, developmental and intellectual disabilities, autism-spectrum disorders, brain injuries and other life challenges.

• Families For Depression Awareness   (www.FamilyAware.org)

395 Totten Pond Road, Suite 404
Waltham, MA 02451
781-890-0220
Helps families recognize and cope with depressive disorders by providing education, support, and advocacy.

• E-Mental Health in Central Massachusetts (http://Library.UMassmEd.edu/ementalhealth/index.cfm)   
  

Lamar Soutter Library, UMASS Medical School, 55 Lake Ave N., Worcester, MA 01655
508-856-2511
Provides information on diseases, links to local agencies, and the latest mental health news.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

• National Mental Health Information Network   (www.MentalHealth.samhsa.gov)

• Healthy Minds   (www.HealthyMinds.org)

• American Psychiatric Association’s online resource for information on mental health concerns, including warning signs of mental disorders, treatment options, and preventative measures.

• Mental Health America   (www.NMHA.org)

• Live Your Life Well program – “10 Tools To Live Life Well” – (www.LiveyOurLifeWell.org)

• National Institute of Mental Health   (www.NIMH.nih.gov)

See the listing of national mental health partner organizations with links to their website