Academic Credit

Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12)

The mission of the Berkshire County Education Task Force (BCETF) has evolved in response to ongoing changes in education. In doing so, the BCETF has renamed itself to better reflect its new mission. We are now Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12). Our mission is to support Berkshire County school districts and educators by collaboratively offering solutions to short and long-term issues, in order to promote high quality public education, which all children deserve, regardless of background or circumstance.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
1 Fenn Street Suite 201
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-442-1521
[email protected]
www.berk12.org

Berkshire Harm Reduction

Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Berkshire Harm Reduction Program at Berkshire Medical Center provides several vital services to the community. Our services are provided at three convenient locations in the Berkshires and through our Harm Reduction Mobile Unit, which travels to locations throughout the region.

Pittsfield Location:
510 North Street, Suite 6-B2
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-447-2654

North Adams Location:
6 West Main Street
North Adams, MA 01247
413-398-5603

Great Barrington Location:
401 Stockbridge Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-854-9937

www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/programs-and-services/berkshire-harm-reduction

Berkshire Health Systems

Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) is the region’s leading provider of comprehensive healthcare services. With award-winning programs, nationally-recognized physicians, world-class technology and a sincere commitment to the community, BHS is delivering the kind of advanced healthcare most commonly found in large metropolitan centers. A private, not-for-profit organization, BHS serves the region through a network of affiliates which include Berkshire Medical Center, the BMC Hillcrest Campus, Fairview Hospital, Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association, BHS physician practices, and long-term care associate Berkshire Healthcare Systems. Each of these facilities is distinguished by the high quality of their programs and services, and by the credentials, skill and compassion of their physicians, nurses and caregivers. The mission of Berkshire Health Systems is to improve the health of all people in the Berkshires and surrounding communities, regardless of their ability to pay.

725 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-447-2000
www.berkshirehealthsystems.org

Berkshire Immigrant Center

The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to advocate for the rights of all immigrants by helping them navigate the complex U.S. immigration system with affordable legal services, local resources, and education.

Berkshire Immigrant Center provides its clients with tools to help them overcome financial and cultural barriers, with the goals of strengthening civic engagement and creating equal opportunity for all. Berkshire Immigrant Center supports changes to systems which are unjust to immigrants, and supports state and national immigration advocacy efforts.

The Center assists more than 700 individuals annually from more than 60 countries in several languages. Our Case Workers are accredited by the Department of Justice to represent clients with the US Citizen and Immigration Services and give legal advice to those seeking immigration benefits in the US and education on civil rights.

67 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-445-4881
www.berkshireic.org
[email protected]

Berkshire Overdose Addiction Prevention Collaborative

The mission of the Berkshire Overdose Addiction Prevention Collaborative (BOAPC) is to implement local policy, practice, systems, and/or environmental changes to prevent the misuse of opioids and to prevent and reduce deaths and poisonings associated with opioids. BOAPC implements local policy, practice, systems, and/or environmental changes to prevent the misuse and abuse of opioids and to prevent and reduce unintentional deaths and non-fatal hospital events associated with opioid poisonings throughout the 32 municipalities in Berkshire County. This program emphasizes the integration of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model into overall prevention systems, to ensure a consistent data-driven planning process focused on implementing effective and sustainable strategies and interventions.

413-442-1521 x37
boapc.org
[email protected]

Education Outreach

For 20+ years, Williams has partnered with our local educators to create hands-on programming that serve the needs of the children and their families in a host of Berkshire County schools in the areas of science, writing, mentoring, homework help and more. Currently, more than 350 students participate and serve in K-12 schools in paid and volunteer positions in Williamstown, Lanesborough, North Adams and Pittsfield. We welcome your involvement and ideas, and look forward to hearing from you! Please visit the Education Outreach section of our website for more information.

Opportunities in Africa

There are many options at Williams for experiential learning in Africa! Placement assistance and some funding are available for student fieldwork opportunities through Winter Study travel courses and independent studies (WSP99’s), summer policy research, teaching, and community development internships and spring break service projects in South Africa, Ghana, and other African countries. Visit here for more information or email Dr. Consolini at [email protected].

Timberlawn Elementary School

The mission of Timberlawn Elementary School is to teach and learn with purpose, passion, and perseverance. We will achieve our mission by working together to ensure that every Timberlawn Bulldog excels academically, socially and emotionally.  Students recite the Timberlawn Mission Statement at the beginning of each school day.

Timberlawn Elementary School is one of 38 elementary schools in the Jackson Public School District. It serves students in grades pre-K-5. Timberlawn is located in a low-income community. It is a Title 1 school; 97% of students live below the poverty line.  For more information on the school, please visit timberlawn.jpsms.org.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.williams.edu/opportunities/timberlawn-elementary-school

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Both a Winter Study course (ECON 22/POEC 22) pioneered by Professor Lucie Schmidt and a community service program (Purple Valley VITA) this initiative provides low-income taxpayers free filing assistance.  IRS-certified student volunteers, who train through the winter study course, help local clients retrieve over $250,000 annually in federal and state tax refunds. For more information, contact VITA program administrator and CLiA Director Paula Consolini at [email protected] and visit learning-in-action.williams.edu/courses-teaching/volunteer-income-tax-assistance-program.

Volunteers in Medicine

Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires provides access to free, comprehensive health care for those in the Berkshire region who are income-qualified and uninsured or under-insured. “We envision a society in which everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve good health.”

777 Main Street, Suite 4
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-528-4014
vimberkshires.org