Posted by Paula Kavolius on Mon, Dec 28, 2009 @ 10:39 AM
WALPOLE -
Paula Kavolius opened up her new Easton home to the public last Wednesday, but this isn’t a normal house – the Walpole native, rather, opened up the doors to her House of Possibilities.
Kavolius founded the House of Possibilities (HOPe) in 2003 to provide relief for caretakers of significantly challenged children and young adults by offering educational and athletic programs.
The House of Possibilities moved from a small office in a downtown Walpole building this summer to the sprawling 18,000 square foot facility on Stonehill College. Although she says she’ll never move from Walpole as a resident, this relocation is something she won’t look back on.
The house was completed in late June – the first of its kind on a college campus – with the opening in July.
Things were hectic then for Kavolius, she said, because construction has been delayed parents were more interested in getting kids into the home than in pomp and circumstance.
“I literary just threw together a grand opening just to open the doors,” Kavolius chuckled.
For her and for the parents of the special needs individuals she serves, Wednesday’s open house -- where the public could tour the home and meet staffers and volunteers – was the more important event.
“The grand opening was more like, ‘the doors are open,’” she said. “This was more like, ‘come see us.’”
Volunteers and a staff of four use the new home to host weekend special needs children ages 8-22 and offer weekday programs for adults over 22.
“It’s been sort of gangbusters,” Kavolius said, explaining the amount of children served has swelled to around 40 each weekend from five when the house first opened.
The day offerings are utilized regularly by four adults, said Kavolius, but they hope to serve up to 25 sometime in the near future.
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Posted by Paula Kavolius on Fri, Dec 18, 2009 @ 01:16 PM
With cutbacks in state
aid for many mental health services the opening of a new respite care
facility in Easton is welcome news for many families who are caring for
special needs children and young adults.
The Yawkey House of Possibilities is officially
open at Stonehill College, giving parents and caregivers an opportunity
to drop off their special needs child and use their free time to run
errands or just relax.
According to Executive Director Paula Kavolius of Walpole there is
nothing in the country like the new facility that is located on a
college campus and offers individualized programs for these children.
Kavolius said students from Stonehill College would be volunteering
their time at Yawkey House while outings to various locations on the
campus will also be planned for program participants.
“It was a collaborative effort with Stonehill College,” Kavolius
said. “They reached out to help us. We’re really the first of its kind
on a college campus in the United States.”
Open Monday through Friday for youth and young adults over the age
of 22 with special needs, Yawkey House offers care from 8 a.m. until
4:30 p.m. Transportation will be included. The integrated work and
community inclusion program will strive to help participants gain
greater independence.
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