Epilepsy Foundation New England Inc

Programs: Community education: efne provides workshops and educational conferences for families, caregivers, first responders, employers, and the community at large; approximately 2,000 people receive training each year. Our matty project is designed to teach young children about epilepsy. Our community outreach training programs assist preschool teachers, school nurses, emts, law enforcement, and all school personnel learn about epilepsy and raise awareness. Education conferences: 250 constituents served. Awareness events in more than a dozen cities. Art therapy: two 8-week art therapy sessions for 30 people. Young leaders networks meet monthly in 3 states, serving about 85 young people ages 15-25.

resource and support center & advocacy:- helpdesk: 1,800 help desk calls per year. - support groups: 16 recurring in-person and phone/online support groups. - physician outreach to efne: "inbox" - 181+ (requests from medical teams to reach out to patients, info on programs, sudep families, education, and support group). - neuro grand rounds or epilepsy rounds: md (neurology, neurosurgery) rn, residents/fellows; tufts and uri - approximately 90 attendees sudep outreach: outreach to 53 families with emotional support, referrals to national resources, local bereavement support, efne efforts to honor loved ones. - intern program: 8 college interns participated in resource and support projects over the summer and fall of 2017 (outreach, education, neuroscience, awareness, pharmacy and patient assistance, art therapy). - linking with resources in community to support families - monthly information sessions: first information session in october, offered in partnership with caregiver homes to provide resources to families caring for loved ones at home; upcoming workshops: education: navigating iep, 504c, housing resources, transportation resources, respite provider resources/pca, patient assistance programs for rx, first aid for family members (parents, grandparents, babysitters), service animals - training volunteer support group facilitation leaders: 2 training sessions held (march 2017 and september 2017); 27 participants total (24 in person, 3 remote). - training efne staff to provide mental health skills support workshops: 4 efne staff members completed uplift training through emory university to be able to provide remote mental health skills (mindfulness, meditation, cbt) support groups. Not a treatment paradigm, uplift can be applied as a mental health skills workshop to assist patients with epilepsy and comorbid depression, anxiety. The groups will be co-facilitated by one efne staff member and a person living with epilepsy. - spring 2017 pilot phone coaching program: 43 participants total. - advocacy: efne is committed to protecting the rights of people with epilepsy and ensuring that they have access to needed treatments and services. We do this by helping individuals and also by advocating with our elected officials, community leaders, and policymakers through our paid director of advocacy and public policy, through volunteers, and through social media and e-mail marketing.

funding support & donation center:fund epilepsy foundation of new england's mission of supporting epilepsy research and advocacy through collecting gently used clothing and housewares to be resold. Efne works to showcase advances and raise money for research, in partnership with epilepsy foundation of america's epilepsy innovation institute. This includes showcasing research in our communication and holding events to engage health care providers, clients, and donors in understanding research in epilepsy.

other program services:- financial aid & scholarships:financial aid: approximately 30 awards of $50-$1,000 in assistance per year to families in financial crisis - $15,000 per year. Scholarships: awards to 23 students pursing higher education, including 6 awards of $2,500. - walks for epilepsy:six epilepsy walks and runs per year are important opportunities to bring together people with epilepsy and their loved ones, showing support of each other, building connections, and raising awareness. More than 2,000 people walk with us across 4 states. - camp:- sleepaway family camps for 13 families in maine in july and 10 families in massachusetts in august. A)two 4-day therapeutic horseback riding camps for 15 children each. B)kids camp for 18 children in maine and 16 in massachusetts c)young adult retreat for15 people ages 18-30. D)adult retreat for 10 adults. - employment services:efne's career navigator offers quarterly hands-on educational programming, designed to remove barriers to employment and improve long term employment outcomes for people with epilepsy. Over 50 clients are served via 1:1 coaching, small group coaching, job referral, and job placement. - volunteer engagement:more than 300 volunteers per year work with the foundation to provide camp, job coaching, support for our walks, community education, client outreach, and general office support.