About Us

The Fall River Deaconess Home was founded in the spring of 1893 to offer under privileged women a safe and nurturing environment. Since its inception, the Deaconess Home has instilled the value of community to young women and has provided for them education, recreation, vocational training and a place to call home. Medical, psycho-social and psychiatric services were added in 1941 and in the 1960s, Deaconess opened its first site for Group Home services. Today, the Deaconess Home is a vibrant, dynamic agency, which provides cutting edge, comprehensive treatment services to youth and families in need and remains true to founding principles. Our transparent and predictable behavior support system is designed to maintain the safety of the resident and employees, reduce the need for crisis intervention and strengthen the residents’ interpersonal and daily living skills. For almost 130 years, the Fall River Deaconess Home has utilized the philosophy and practice of structure, consistency and safety to support young women and families.

At the Fall River Deaconess Home, comprehensive treatment services are provided to young women, ages 11-22, and their families.  Qualified personnel deliver Family Support and Stabilization; Residential Treatment; and Group Living services directly to youth and families. Services include community-based family preservation, specialized clinical treatment, comprehensive healthcare, psychiatric consultation, academic instruction, vocational preparation and a therapeutic and engaging program activity schedule. The Fall River Deaconess Home impacts youth by promoting optimal physical, nutritional, behavioral and developmental health.

The Deaconess Home serves racially, ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse youth, ages 11 to 22, and their families. The youth whom Deaconess serve may have a combination of psychiatric, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties including aggressive, self-injurious or high risk behaviors. Some specific issues faced by the youth in care include, but are not limited to; disrupted adoption; trauma; physical or sexual abuse; substance use; acting-out behaviors; mild-moderate cognitive disabilities; as well as personality and character disorders.

Our goal at the Fall River Deaconess Home is to develop in each young woman the social and academic skills necessary to engage fully and freely in the traditional life systems of family, community, school, and work.

Officers:
Laurette A. Shabshelowitz,  President
Kathleen Driscoll, 1^st Vice President
Karin E. Wood, 2^nd Vice President
Jack C. Carey, Treasurer
Bonnie Mello, Assistant Treasurer
Frances L. Tyrrell, Secretary