Ascentria Care Alliance

Tomorrow is National Adoption Day! National Adoption Day is an annual tradition across the country to raise awareness of the more than 113,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States. In Massachusetts, there are approximately 2,000 children waiting for a permanent adoptive family to be identified for them. Each year, hundreds of adoptions are finalized in Massachusetts. To learn more about adoption from foster care during this special month, visit https://lnkd.in/gSFbEK2 #AscentriaFosterCare #FosterCareFriday #NationalAdoptionDay

Ascentria was proud to sponsor and attend this year’s Moving Together Conversations conference, hosted by the inspiring Jean Hakuzimana and NH SONGA. This important event supports New Hampshire’s immigrant workforce, and we are honored to contribute to its mission. A special thank you to our own Amy Moore and Shirin Ashoury, who delivered compelling presentations on Learning from Best Practices and Examining the Challenges of Hiring and Retaining an Immigrant Workforce. Their insights offered valuable strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces. This statewide conference brings together professionals from various industries to: > Explore barriers facing local immigrant communities >Understand the challenges New Americans face when entering the workforce >Develop solutions to build more inclusive workplaces With New Hampshire’s immigrant workforce contributing $154 million annually, their impact on our state’s economy is undeniable. Events like this provide critical opportunities to connect, learn, and create pathways for success. Let’s keep the conversation going! How can we continue to support immigrant workforce inclusion in New Hampshire? #DiversityAndInclusion #WorkforceDevelopment #ImmigrantWorkforce

Ascentria team members Gary O'Neil, chief social innovation officer, and Jason Matthews, director of workforce solutions, were honored to share how Ascentria is tackling today's labor market challenges at the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network conference a few weeks ago. Their workshop explored how Ascentria's PeopleFirst Pathways program is addressing labor challenges by implementing a two-prong approach: Dedicating ourselves to the well-being and success of our employees, and leveraging Pathfinders to help clients and employers mitigate workforce challenges and achieve success. Attendees heard real-life examples of the power of investing in a nonprofit workforce from a range of backgrounds and learned how to advocate for this approach in their own work environments. A diverse and well-supported workforce can have a lasting impact on nonprofit organizations. Great job Gary and Jason! You can learn more about the PeopleFirst Pathways program at ascentria.org

In honor of National Adoption Month, Ascentria Foster Care invites you to listen to the stories below from young people with lived experience in adoption from foster care and learn about the importance of youth voice in adoption. You might just be inspired to start an adoption and foster care journey of your own… #AscentriaFosterCare #NationalAdoptionMonth https://lnkd.in/gGidQgHR

As a health and human services nonprofit, we are dedicated to supporting everyone who seeks assistance through our programs, empowering them to become valued members of our communities. While the path ahead under the new administration brings uncertainty, we remain hopeful in our mission to strengthen communities by fostering resilience in the people we serve. The recent election has sparked diverse responses, reflecting both concerns and optimism. While we recognize that policy shifts may impact aspects of our work, especially in areas like immigration, we are steadfast in our mission and prepared to navigate these changes thoughtfully. As always, we are closely monitoring developments and advocating for policies that protect all vulnerable populations and enhance our ability to serve. For our organization and others like us, it most certainly will mean an increased strain on resources and a heightened need to advocate for justice, protection, and basic human rights especially as it relates to our work with immigrants. Yet, we are inspired to continue our work, building on our 150+?year history, knowing that the strength, talents, and contributions of immigrant families are vital to thriving, inclusive communities. This is bolstered by the impact immigrants have on our economy, including how critically important immigrants are in helping to reduce US workforce shortages – including our own organization. A significant reduction in immigration may negatively impact businesses and our economy and deepen the workforce crisis.? For our organization, this moment presents both challenges and opportunities to advocate with renewed purpose. We are grateful for our compassionate, diverse staff who work tirelessly to support families in need, and we will continue to champion their invaluable contributions. At Ascentria, our commitment remains unwavering: To advocate for fair and compassionate policies, to uplift individuals and families, and to honor the dignity of all who seek a better life. We invite you to join us in this crucial moment to work toward a future that emphasizes unity, compassion, and shared humanity for all we serve.

Ascentria has been serving others for 153 years. Our mission has always been to help uplift those in need, to elevate voices, and to advocate for those who deserve better. Over those years, we’ve seen wars, economic depressions, pandemics, and transformative social change. Yet, our mission remained: to treat everyone with respect, love, and care, regardless of who they are or where they come from. We work alongside those who may look different, practice different faiths (or none at all), and hold different political views. Most importantly, our work is living proof that, regardless of what the headlines say or who holds political power, we can come together to make a difference. We will keep doing this work for as long as there is a need. Together. Together, we will continue to make this world better—one person, one interaction, one day at a time. Your vote today is an opportunity to express what matters most to you and inspire others to engage in meaningful dialogue about our shared future. So let’s make our voices count! Vote and help shape the future you envision.

Change Is Coming. Vote Tomorrow. Your vote is your voice—powerful and essential! Each of us has unique reasons for participating in the electoral process, whether it’s a specific issue that resonates deeply with you, a candidate whose vision aligns with your beliefs, or a strong desire to influence change in our community. Every perspective matters and contributes to the larger conversation. Find your polling place here: https://lnkd.in/g5_NeD5

November is National Adoption Month! The Children's Bureau's National Adoption Month campaign seeks to increase awareness of adoption, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the U.S. foster care system, and emphasize the value of lifelong connections.?Ascentria Foster Care is proud to be a part of the adoptive journeys of our foster families, and in the last year, the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program and Intensive Foster Care program had the honor of being a part of the finalized adoptions for two children. To learn more about National Adoption Month and ways that you can get involved, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gfVQDSR7 #FosterCareFriday #AscentriaFosterCare #NationalAdoptionMonth

Laura Watkins is the leader of the Westborough-Southborough Neighborhood Support Team, a group of Ascentria #volunteers who welcome new arrivals. Alongside Ascentria’s Services for New Americans staff, Laura and her team work to provide a welcoming environment to newcomers by helping them navigate and thrive in their new communities. “Most people, upon first arriving here, are terrified,” says Laura. “When we come to them and show them that someone is there to help, it really is a relief.” Volunteering can be as simple as joining a team that greets families with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee, donating and delivering toys to refugee children, or organizing donated clothing. Laura and her team go above and beyond to ensure all new arrivals are given the opportunity to succeed.?The team even offers English Language classes to new arrivals on a weekly basis! Working continuously, she ensures new arrivals feel welcome. Laura says she has never been a part of something so divine and encourages anyone with the availability to involve themselves. “When you see a family arrive confused, scared, and with no ability to communicate, then later go to ‘Hi Laura, how are you?’, it almost makes me cry,” said Laura. Please join us in thanking Laura and her team of volunteers for their dedication to new arrivals!

Fostering doesn’t have to be scary and can be a very rewarding experience, so please consider joining us for Ascentria Foster Care’s Webinar Wednesday. Our next webinar is coming up next Wednesday, October 30th at 6pm on Zoom. This info session will highlight our unique Refugee and Immigrant Foster Care programs, serving unaccompanied youth from around the world. To learn more or register, visit our event page below. We hope to see you there! Register to join our free info session and learn more: https://lnkd.in/gQYkzKz6 #AscentriaFosterCare #FosterCareFriday