Thom Child & Family Services Celebrates its 85th Anniversary on October 26th   

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Natick, October 2006 - On October 26th, with more than 300 Thom staff and friends present, Thom Child & Family Services Celebrated its 85th anniversary at Wachusett Mountain Lodge in Princeton, MA. It was an afternoon filled with entertainment, relaxation and appreciations.

Thom Child & Family Services, founded in 1921 by Dr. Douglas A.Thom (1887-1951), is among the oldest agencies in the United States, providing continuous allied health, guidance, education and assistance to very young children and their families. From its roots in the settlement house movement of the early 20th Century, in the City of Boston, Thom Child & Family Services has expanded to serve 7,000 infants and toddlers from 146 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. The agency now employs over 500 staff members.

Although ideas about the root causes of and interventions for developmental, health and social emotional problems of early childhood have changed over 85 years, Dr. Thom is still remembered as a pioneer child/family interventioist, whose mission was, in many ways, similar to ours today. Thom Child & Family Services is proud of both its long heritage and of the work being accomplished today by dedicated, skilled and multi-disciplinary staff who work in Thom programs across the state.

Staff members at Thom programs throughout Massachusetts work with children, birth to three years old, their families and caregivers to help them overcome early developmental difficulties. As Dr. Jack Shonkoff, head of Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child was recently quoted in the Boston Globe as saying, “Age 3 is [too] late. Early education should start at birth.” At Thom, staff work tirelessly in partnership and collaboration with families to promote the healthy development of infants and toddlers during those critical first years, before the child’s third birthday. Thom Child & Family Services believes and research has shown that this early intervention, within the family and community context, is the most effective and cost efficient way to build the foundation for future success in school and in life.

It takes commitment and resilience, to stay mission-focused on connecting with families who are in the midst of grappling with overwhelming concerns about their children or their family’s health, well-being or safety for over 85 years. At Thom, we believe that it also takes an ability to laugh at life’s absurdities and to embrace the joy of working with children and their families every day. Highlighting this belief, Thom’s anniversary celebration included the keynote address by Emmy Award winning humorist, Loretta LaRoche on the topic of, Humor in the Workplace. Loretta is an international stress management consultant whose wit and irreverent humor, has, for over 30 years raised the humor potential of those she touches. She is a member of faculty at the Mind/Body Medical Institute in Boston. She writes a weekly newspaper column called, 'Get a Life'. She is a contributing writer for Diane Magazine (Rodale Press) and Loretta is also featured as a stress management expert on LLuminari.com, a community wellness website. Her special brand of optimistic psychology has an incontestable positive effect on the health of all that are exposed to her. She is also a well-recognized TV personality on PBS and best selling author. Thom Child & Family Services was delighted that she agreed to be our featured speaker on this special day.

In addition to Ms. LaRoche, those in attendance were treated to a rendition of an Early Intervention Theme Song, written and sung by Thom Westfield Infant Toddler Services staff member, Marion Dunk, accompanied by the entire Thom Westfield Infant Toddler Services staff, welcoming words by Board President Phyllis Fazzio, and recognition of staff and programs by Executive Director, Peter Woodbury and Director of Program Services, Wilma Ronco. Prizes were also awarded to Thom staff members who participated in the Thom Scavenger Hunt and Agency Trivia game.

For more information on how you can get better acquainted with Thom Child & Family Services, visit our website, www.thomchild.org. If you would like to make a donation in support of our work with young children and families, please contact Gretchen Rowe , Director of Development. All gifts are tax deductible.