Every year Pernet Family Health Service hosts medical students and graduate nursing students from UMass Medical School for two weeks for their Population Health Clerkship.
This year was a great success where they learned about Pernet’s work with families and conducted an outreach project for Early Intervention with a promotional letter to area physicians.  Thank you UMass for this great collaboration.

Check out Youth Group's trip to Worcester Earn-A-Bike! The shop managers gave us a tour of the community bicycle shop and taught us about bike maintenance.  We look forward to returning and volunteering with them later this week!

Youth group spent last Thursday evening carving pumpkins, roasting pumpkin seeds, and drinking hot apple cider with cinnamon!

Dear Friends,
 
As we move into fall and the weather gets colder, we are excited to report that Pernet had an impactful and sun-filled summer. The following are some updates we would like to share from the families we serve to you and your family.
 
Early Intervention
Early Intervention is providing services for a young child with a hearing impairment.  This child
recently turned 1 year of age and is meeting all of her developmental milestones, making lots of sounds and demonstrating great social skills. Her development has been aided by a combination of receiving specialty services provided for deaf and hearing impaired children, hearing aids, coupled with support from family and EI staff members. Moreover,  we are excited to announce, Pernet’s EI Program was in the top five programs in the state for the highest Battelle fidelity scores in  the MA EI State Systemic Improvement Plan.  This assessment is used to gauge each child’s situation and provide them with best care possible.
 
Family and Community Development
140 of our clients were able to join us in our family strengthening Summer Outings. Our families created positive memories together through participating in a variety of activities, including touring Southwick's Zoo and venturing out to see the exhibits and grounds at the EcoTarium of Worcester.
 
Family Support Services
There have been many successes throughout the Family Support Program this summer. One father achieved a major personal goal with the help of Parent Aide staff. This father had not seen his children in six months after separating from his wife.  Father’s Support staff were able to make arrangements with the children’s mother to have the children see their father for weekly supervised visits that aided in reconnecting their family.
 
 
Please continue to keep Pernet in mind this fall. Many families continue to have tough times, and difficulty finding all the goods and services they need.  The contributions of kind-hearted donors such as you brings much needed support to the families we serve.
 
Thank you for your ongoing support,
 
The Pernet Staff
 

​Pernet’s Youth Group went to Purgatory Chasm State Reservation for the first fieldtrip of the school year! We had a wonderful time climbing rocks and enjoyed the change in season!