{"id":184456,"date":"2024-10-23T10:50:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T14:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=184456"},"modified":"2024-10-23T10:51:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T14:51:54","slug":"massachusetts-down-syndrome-congress-and-eunies-buddies-collaboration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”184458″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]Aimed at Providing Information, Resources, and Support to New and Expectant Parents<\/strong><\/p>\n

BURLINGTON, MA & MIAMI, FL (September 16, 2024)<\/strong> \u2014 The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) and Best Buddies International, two powerful organizations with similar missions to provide essential services for individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), are proud to announce an important new collaboration.<\/p>\n

The MDSC\u2019s renowned National Parents First Call Center, which has developed best practices in providing critical one-on-one mentoring support for new and expectant parents who have recently received a Down syndrome diagnosis, has trained 33 organizations in 18 states. Now, it is collaborating with Best Buddies International\u2019s new Eunie\u2019s Buddies program. Eunie\u2019s Buddies will provide support and resources to new and expectant families as they navigate the journey of raising a child with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD).<\/p>\n

Eunie\u2019s Buddies \u2014 named affectionately in honor of Special Olympics\u2019 founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver \u2014 pairs experienced parents of a child with an IDD with new parents who are expecting, have just welcomed a baby, or are raising a child up to the age of five years old who has been recently diagnosed with an IDD.<\/p>\n

\u201cBest Buddies has a stellar reputation in the disability advocacy world for good reason, and they have been a valued programming partner with MDSC in Massachusetts for many years,\u201d<\/em> said Maureen Gallagher, MDSC Executive Director. \u201cNow, with this new collaboration, we are thrilled that MDSC\u2019s National Parents First Call Center\u2019s gold-standard best practices can benefit Eunie\u2019s Buddies. By working together, we can help many more families at a critical time in their journey here in Massachusetts,\u201d<\/em> Gallagher added.<\/p>\n

\"2024<\/p>\n

\u201cHistorically, Best Buddies has supported individuals with IDD, while Eunie\u2019s Buddies now focuses specifically on parents and caregivers, offering vital support and resources to help the entire family thrive throughout the different life stages,\u201d<\/em> said Cecilia Elizalde, Senior Director of Eunie\u2019s Buddies. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t be more excited about this innovative new chapter in our Best Buddies\u2014MDSC partnership. When it comes to providing one-on-one mentoring for new and expectant parents, MDSC\u2019s National Parents First Call Center is the gold-standard. That\u2019s why we are proud to have selected them to provide our staff with invaluable training, enabling us to implement proven best practices in engaging and supporting Eunie\u2019s Buddies\u2019 families.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In Massachusetts, where MDSC is headquartered and where the Parents First Call Program serves over 600 local new families annually, MDSC and Best Buddies MA\/RI will work closely together to provide a seamless experience for new and expectant families. These two organizations will ensure that all new and expectant families have a helping hand as they learn about the full potential of individuals with IDD and the many programs and resources available to help them on their journey.<\/p>\n

You can learn more about the MDSC\u2019s National First Call Center at mdsc.org\/npfcc<\/a> and Eunie\u2019s Buddies at bestbuddies.org\/family-support<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress National Parents First Call Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the past 30 years, MDSC\u2019s Parents First Call Program has provided new and expectant parents of a child with Down syndrome with access to experienced parent mentors who offer support and guidance on highly personal and sensitive questions. Upon receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis, parents are custom-paired with one of 40+ specially-trained PFC parents across the state who offer one-on-one support, up-to-date information, and guidance. The program offers customized advice and resources, including medical and early intervention services, and full access to MDSC\u2019s family support, education, and empowerment programs throughout the lifespan.<\/p>\n

The National Parents First Call Center was born from this model and serves as a comprehensive center for expectant parents, medical providers, and Down syndrome organization leaders. The Center includes three branches: the National Prenatal First Call Center, the First Call National Training Center, and Julia\u2019s Way, which supports breastfeeding babies with Down syndrome.<\/p>\n

About Best Buddies\u2019 Eunie\u2019s Buddies Program<\/h2>\n

Established in 1989, Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently. In 2024, Best Buddies launched its Family Support program, Eunie\u2019s Buddies, named in honor of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunie\u2019s Buddies pairs experienced parents of a child with IDD with new parents, offering encouragement, emotional support, and resources. The program aims to help families create a path for their children with IDD to have an education, gainful employment, and a fulfilled life.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two powerful organizations to provide essential services for families of individuals with IDD<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2080,"featured_media":184458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"state-single-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[490],"tags":[574],"class_list":["post-184456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-massachusetts-news","tag-massachusetts-news"],"yoast_head":"\nMassachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration - Best Buddies International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration - Best Buddies International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Two powerful organizations to provide essential services for families of individuals with IDD\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Best Buddies International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-23T14:50:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-23T14:51:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"356\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"leemosler\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"leemosler\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"leemosler\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/person\/e016e3c8c2cd3b7e04adf72b23efb560\"},\"headline\":\"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-23T14:50:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-23T14:51:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/\"},\"wordCount\":813,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Massachusetts News\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Massachusetts News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/\",\"name\":\"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration - Best Buddies International\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-23T14:50:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-23T14:51:54+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":356,\"caption\":\"2024 BBMARI MDSC and Eunies Buddies Families\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/\",\"name\":\"Best Buddies International\",\"description\":\"Best Buddies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Best Buddies International\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png\",\"width\":115,\"height\":113,\"caption\":\"Best Buddies International\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/person\/e016e3c8c2cd3b7e04adf72b23efb560\",\"name\":\"leemosler\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/author\/leemosler\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration - Best Buddies International","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration - Best Buddies International","og_description":"Two powerful organizations to provide essential services for families of individuals with IDD","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/","og_site_name":"Best Buddies International","article_published_time":"2024-10-23T14:50:46+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-10-23T14:51:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":356,"url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"leemosler","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"leemosler","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/"},"author":{"name":"leemosler","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/person\/e016e3c8c2cd3b7e04adf72b23efb560"},"headline":"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration","datePublished":"2024-10-23T14:50:46+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-23T14:51:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/"},"wordCount":813,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp","keywords":["Massachusetts News"],"articleSection":["Massachusetts News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/","name":"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration - Best Buddies International","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp","datePublished":"2024-10-23T14:50:46+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-23T14:51:54+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-BBMARI-MDSC-and-Eunies-Buddies-Families.webp","width":1200,"height":356,"caption":"2024 BBMARI MDSC and Eunies Buddies Families"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/mari\/mdsc-and-eunies-buddies\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Eunie\u2019s Buddies Collaboration"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/","name":"Best Buddies International","description":"Best Buddies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization","name":"Best Buddies International","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png","width":115,"height":113,"caption":"Best Buddies International"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/person\/e016e3c8c2cd3b7e04adf72b23efb560","name":"leemosler","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/author\/leemosler\/"}]}},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":true,"date":"2027-10-23 10:47:00","action":"delete","newStatus":"draft","terms":[0],"taxonomy":"category"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2080"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184456"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":184461,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184456\/revisions\/184461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}