Ascentria Care Alliance

A heartfelt thank you to Governor Maura Healey, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, and Airbnb for making it possible for 40 young people in Ascentria's programs to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Norway and Iraq. Many of these young people come from immigrant backgrounds and have deep connections to countries and cultures represented on the world stage. The chance to attend a World Cup match in person is something they never imagined they would experience. Thank you for creating an opportunity that will spark joy and remind these young people that they are part of something bigger. We are so excited for them, and we know this will be a day they will never forget!

Ascentria Immigrant Legal Assistance Program is deeply grateful to the Greater Worcester Community Foundation for its generous $150,000 grant as part of the Foundation's 50th anniversary investment in Worcester County. This support will help us retain dedicated staff who assist individuals and families with critical immigration documentation and legal services, while also helping cover filing fees that can otherwise be significant barriers to stability and opportunity. At a time when demand for immigration legal services remains high, this investment strengthens our ability to serve our community with compassion and expertise. Thank you to Greater Worcester Community Foundation and its donors for their commitment to creating equitable opportunities for all who call Worcester County home.

Being a foster parent can seem like a daunting commitment. While fostering has challenges, this Foster Care Month, we want you to know that foster parents are never in it alone. Foster parents receive a variety of ongoing supports such as training, visits, access to a 24/7 emergency line, and so much more. Ascentria is committed to partnering with foster parents so that youth have the best chance of adjusting, growing and succeeding in their new environment. You are there for the youth - we are there for you! Find out how you can partner with us as a foster parent at https://lnkd.in/gSQSqmhy #NationalFosterCareMonth #AscentriaFosterCare

New and improved gardens are taking shape at Goddard/Homestead Hall! Volunteers from Ascentria spent two days helping build new raised garden beds and compost bins for residents. Connecting with nature is so important for the physical, cognitive, and social wellbeing of our community, and these accessible raised beds allow more folks to get involved. We can’t wait to see what we can grow together!

It is National Foster Care Month and there is no better time to learn about Ascentria's unique foster care programs! That's why we are hosting back-to-back info sessions next week! Join us on Monday, May 25th at 6 pm on Zoom for our Refugee & Immigrant Foster Care Info Session in English. On Tuesday, May 26th at 6 pm on Zoom, Únete a nuestra Sesión informativa sobre cuidado de crianza para refugiados e inmigrantes en español. If you have been thinking about becoming a foster parent, this is a great place to get started and take the first step! Please visit the registration links below to learn more. Multiple dates are available as these info sessions continue on the last Monday and Tuesday of every month! English Info Session: https://lnkd.in/etThhk2b Spanish Info Session: https://lnkd.in/ewSu55mr #NationalFosterCareMonth #FosterCareFriday #AscentriaFosterCare

Ascentria President and CEO Angela Bovill, MBA, FACHE has spent her career working across the broader human services landscape, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing older adults, families and aging services providers today. This week on Varsity's Roundtable, Angela joins a thoughtful conversation about the realities older adults face today, from loneliness and isolation to changing expectations around aging, independence and emotional well-being. We’ll also explore where senior living communities are making meaningful progress, where there is still room to grow, and what “successful aging” really looks like in today’s world. To join this week’s Roundtable and get updates about future gatherings, submit your name and email address at https://bit.ly/3X2jR5i.

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers from Granite United Way and JSI for spending their Day of Caring with Ascentria! Together, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to support our Therapeutic Family Connections program, helping refresh and organize a welcoming space where families can work toward important milestones on their reunification journey. From deep cleaning carpets, furniture, and walls to sorting donations, assembling furniture, and painting a beautiful sun mural, this hands-on effort helped create a brighter, more welcoming environment for the children and families we serve. We know the families visiting this space are going to love the warmth and joy the mural brings. We are so grateful for this partnership and for everyone who dedicated their time, energy, and generosity to make a meaningful difference. Special thanks to JSI for also donating furniture for the space!

Some of our most vulnerable populations are under attack under new Federal Medicaid Fraud Enforcement initiatives. Vice President JD Vance announced that the federal government is withholding approximately $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements from California, threatening that additional states could face similar withholdings. What does that mean for seniors? Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a six-month moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies while federal investigators review potential fraud concerns in those sectors. This could mean delays in essential services. Senator Julian Cyr filed Amendment #464 Nursing Facility Workforce Investments. #Amendment464 would fund critical resident care costs, providing the funding needed in FY 2027 to increase wages for nursing facility staff and hire new staff to meet the growing consumer demand for nursing facility care. 📣 Call your State Senator and urge them to co-sponsor and support Amendment #464. 👀 Look Up Your Senator: https://lnkd.in/eaUVmta #SeniorCare #NursingHomes #AssistedLiving #Medicare #Medicaid #CMS Julian Cyr

This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating the strength, love, and resilience of the young mothers at Florence House, part of Ascentria’s Young Parent Living Program. ❤️ Every day, our team sees moms working hard to build brighter futures for themselves and their children. At Florence House, they find more than a place to stay. As Program Manager Amaireny shares, “Florence House is a home that works on families.” It’s a place where young mothers can access support, learn new skills, care for their children, and begin imagining what comes next. “What I want most is for the mothers here to feel happy. I want them to have someone to talk to. I want them to smile at their babies.” This Mother’s Day, you can help make that possible. Your support helps young moms feel safe, supported, and ready to build a future for themselves and their children. Make your gift in honor of mothers at Florence House and across Ascentria today. https://lnkd.in/gNR3uEQT

When Esther talks about her daughter, you can hear the pride in her voice. She describes her as kind and friendly, the kind of child who wants to help other people. And when Esther talks about the future she is building, it is clear that her daughter is at the heart of it. “I’m not just doing it for me,” Esther said. “Just for her, like for [us] both to have a very stable life.” Esther is 22 years old. This year, after three years at Florence House, she will graduate from the program and begin her next chapter. The circumstances that first brought Esther and her daughter to Florence House were painful. She arrived as a young mother with very little support and so much to learn. “At the beginning I don’t have experience as being a mother,” she shared. “I don’t have family for support me.” She also remembers how unfamiliar daily life could feel at first: “I was just 18 years old with a daughter and I didn’t know how to cook.” At Florence House, Esther found people who helped her move forward. She learned how to navigate appointments, care for her daughter, build routines, and prepare for the life ahead of her. She found encouragement when she needed it and guidance when the next step felt overwhelming. Over time, she began to see Florence House not just as a place to stay, but as a place that helped her grow. “It’s not like just a place to live,” she said. “They help us grow as a person.” That growth is visible in Esther today. She is known at Florence House for her kindness and for the way she looks out for others. When another mom is feeling overwhelmed, Esther is often someone who can offer encouragement because she understands those moments herself. She reminds other mothers to pause, to keep going, and to trust that hard moments can pass. After three years in the house, Esther has become a leader in the community that once helped her. She volunteers regularly at the local food pantry, obtained her driver’s license, and excelled in her ESOL classes! Now, she is looking forward. She hopes to take CNA classes and find a stable job. She wants to keep building a good life for her daughter. And she speaks about the future with a confidence that was hard to imagine when she first arrived. This is what your support makes possible. This Mother’s Day, will you make a gift to support mothers like Esther at Florence House and across Ascentria programs? Donate today: https://lnkd.in/gNR3uEQT