Berkshire Benchmarks Releases State of the County Update

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Benchmarks data team recently released a State of the County Update for 2023. 
 
This brief report builds on the Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County Report published in May 2022 and highlights notable changes in regional indicators over the past year. The berkshirebenchmarks.org website has also been updated to reflect the most current available data. 
 
The purpose of the Benchmarks initiative and report is to highlight the region's successes and challenges.
 
The 2022 Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County report provided a comprehensive overview of our region's performance across eight sectors: Economy, Education, Environment, Government, Health, Housing, Social Environment, and Transportation.  
 
In the future, the Berkshire Benchmarks team will continue to monitor these and other indicators to aid with the regional understanding of changes in these sectors and whether the work happening throughout the region is having the intended impact. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks is a collaborative initiative managed through Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). Our sources are publicly available data, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, various Massachusetts data sets, and periodic surveys of Berkshire County residents. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks aims to work with the community to understand priorities and help inform the region on how we are doing and if we are improving. Berkshire Benchmarks enhances the region's access to quality data and analysis. 

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18 Degrees Event Celebrates Reunified Families

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For many families involved with the Department of Children and Families, the first feeling is often fear of their child being removed from the home.
 
In reality, its goal is the opposite.
 
Last week, families, attorneys, social workers, and agency staff gathered at the 18 Degrees Family Resource Center to honor four families who overcame obstacles, such as addiction, successfully navigated the system, and were ultimately reunited with their children.
 
According to the event flyer, since 2010, the child welfare community has recognized June as Family Unification Month, formerly Family Reunification Month, to honor families working to strengthen and reunify their families, as well as the advocates who support them and help prevent family separation.
 
Speaking at the podium, some parents reflected on the negative perceptions they once had of DCF – views that changed as they confronted their struggles, persevered, and worked with the agency to access support and become better parents.
 
The setting of the celebration reflected the theme of new beginnings, as the name 18 Degrees symbolizes the height of the sun on a new day, which is filled with new opportunities and possibilities, said Stephanie Steed, 18 Degrees president and CEO. 
 
"It is where the change from darkness to light happens, and all those things are just really symbolic and really a part of everyone's process," she said. 
 
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