Middlesex Partnerships for Youth Gets Significant Grant

MARLBOROUGH, MA—Middlesex Partnerships for Youth (MPY), a nonprofit organization that finds proactive solutions to serious social problems facing youth, was recently awarded a $100,000 Cummings Grant. MPY was one of the 100 local nonprofits selected to receive a grant from the “100k for 100 program”; a total of 597 applicants competed for this significant grant.

The mission of Middlesex Partnerships for Youth is to promote youth health and safety. According to the announcement, the organization provides training and resources, and collaborates with professionals from schools, public safety entities, community and governmental organizations, and other organizations which serve and protect youth. Currently, more than 90 entities are members of Middlesex Partnerships for Youth.

MPY focuses on student health and safety covering four dimensions: physical, social, emotional and academic. High quality conferences about safety and mental health topics are offered to school staff. In addition, MPY’s in-service program provides member school districts with workshops on topics such as Cyber Safety, Teen Dating Relationships, Substance Use and Bullying.

“MPY is extremely pleased that Marlborough Public Schools (MPS) has reached out to our organization to promote student health and safety,” said Executive Director Margie Daniels in a statement.

“Some of the most important social emotional issues the Marlborough Public Schools is focusing on are school anxiety, school avoidance/phobia and supporting students who have a trauma history," said Sharon Buckley, supervisor of counseling services for the district, in a statement." These issues and concerns are not exclusive of each other and often are accompanied by depression or substance use/abuse,”

Superintendent Maureen Greulich said, “MPY has identified critical social emotional needs among students and offers a wide variety of workshops and important supports that have helped our students and families. Our goal is to continue building our internal resources and working closely with MPY to meet the diverse needs of our school community.”

Photo (submitted) from left to right: The Savings Bank Branch Manager Mario Portillo, Wakefield School Resource Officer Michael Pietrantonio, Stoneham Police Chief James McIntyre, MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels, MPY President Tony Pierantozzi, MPY Prevention & Education Coordinator Camila Barrera, Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo.