Above: SYFS announced its completed relocated from the southside to downtown, and is promoting a survey on youth substance abuse. (images edited from logos and Google maps and flyer)
Southborough Youth & Family Services recently moved into their new (but very old) home. The Town agency is also promoting another substance abuse survey that they are asking parents/caregivers of school aged children in Southborough to complete.
SYFS’ New Digs
This past summer, the agency announced that they were in the process of relocating to the Flagg School building at 25 Common Street.
The historic building was renovated by the Town to accommodate SYFS’ office, including allowing privacy for clients. On Friday, they announced that the move was completed.
The building shares a parking lot with the Town House, Pilgrim Church, and tot lot playground.
Built in 1859 (11 years before the Town House), it is the oldest building owned by the Town. The old school house was relocated to the downtown property in 1894. You can read more about it’s history here.
For anyone not familiar with what they might want/need SYFS’ services for, below is more info on the agency, from their website:
Southborough Youth and Family Services (SYFS) is a department of the Town of Southborough and a human service resource for the community. Our mission is to provide compassionate and equitable behavioral health and social services to Southborough residents of all ages.
Overview of SYFS Services
Mental Health Support Services
To learn about these services, click here.
In the event of a mental health emergency, call 988. Click here to learn more about additional mental health support.
For a more detailed overview of our mental health support model, please click here.Need-Based Services
To learn about these services, click here.Prevention Programs
To learn about these services, click here.REQUEST OUR SERVICES:
To request services, click here.
SYFS had been located in the historic South Union Building at 21 Highland Street. That now leaves Southborough Recreation as the only department in the building.
The Select Board’s established goals for this year included advancing “redevelopment opportunities” for the property.
Substance Abuse Survey for Parents & Caregivers
On Facebook this month, SYFS has been asking:
Southborough parents and caregivers, could you spare 6 minutes to help us make our community safer? All it would take is giving your personal opinion on youth substance use in this anonymous survey. Thank you in advance for your help!
The promoted survey is being conducted by the Central MetroWest Substance Awareness & Prevention Collaborative. Southborough is a member of the collaborative, along with Northborough, Marlborough, Westborough, Hudson, Ashland, and Natick.
One of the survey’s first questions appears to clarify the age of referenced youth is school aged. (It asks for parents to clarify which school districts their children are currently students in and offers regional choices ranging from elementary through high school. There is an option for “other” but not for “none” or not applicable.)
To participate in the survey, click here.
