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On a beautiful Island like Martha’s Vineyard where so many seek pleasure, rest and rejuvenation, it is hard to imagine that residents struggle with the same problems of living experienced in other rural communities. In reality, the year-round population of 16,000 is one of the poorest in the Commonwealth and has one of the highest incidences of mental health and substance abuse. With a seasonal economy and a high cost of living, the Vineyard can be a very difficult place to live for those without the emotional, financial, or social resources available to help them cope with personal, health, and family problems.
In 1961, a group of Vineyarders with a deep concern for the mental health and stability of Island families founded Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, the largest human service provider on the island. Over the subsequent years, the boards and staff of the agency have developed and provided the diversity of services necessary to assist the Island’s families weather many storms and deal with the day-to-day challenges of life.
Today, with the active involvement of the people we serve, over 6,000 people are served each year. Reflecting the diversity of the Vineyard community, our clients are both impoverished and affluent and include families and individuals of all ages, races and ethnicities. A community-based organization, Community Services employs nearly 100 staff and scores of volunteers who provide services through five core programs:
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CONNECT to end violence •
Early Childhood Programs•
Disability Services•
Island Counseling Center•
The Thrift ShopLocated across from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in Oak Bluffs, the agency delivers many of the program services at other locations including the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Emergency Room, Dukes County House of Correction, the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and other schools, senior centers, employer sites, to name a few. The Thrift Shop and the Daybreak Clubhouse are located in Vineyard Haven.