Commissioner Visits Berkshire County Arc's Family Support Center

07:42AM / Wednesday, June 24, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Sarah Peterson, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, brought a team to Berkshire County Arc's Family Support Center on Friday, June 12, to learn about its approach to providing services.

Noting the Center's ability to provide activities to hundreds of families with limited resources, she talked about the need for the Centers across the state to share best practices and promote their strategies for supporting families.

"It is so great and encouraging to see so much going on here," Commissioner Peterson told the group after BCArc's presentation.

"The Family Support Program has always been dear to me, and I am so proud of how our team has developed it," said Maryann Hyatt, President & CEO, who described to the Commissioner how she started the Center years ago in the Berkshires.

BCArc's Family Support Center offers a variety of services throughout central and southern Berkshire County that includes:

Information and referrals to a range of resources in Western Mass; a library for families to browse on a range of topics; trained advocates, who consult with family members, attend school meetings and review Individualized Education Plans (IEP); family networking and training events; and social and recreational opportunities that include the Buddy Walk, Sprout Film Festival, Spring Break Camp, and community dances.

Also in attendance who participated in the conversation were Anthony Keane, DDS Central West Regional Director; and Melissa Guyer, DDS Berkshire Area Director.

Sonja Haecker, BCArc's Chief Operating Officer, noted the private grants BCArc pursues to supplement their Family Support programs; the Commissioner praised those efforts.

Lasheika Moody, Director of Family Support & Advocacy, also presented at the event.

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Free Vaccinations Available Throughout Berkshire County

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
10:30AM / Saturday, October 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fall season is also the flu season, which means vaccine clinics are now available.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative will provide public vaccination clinics in Berkshire communities this fall, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. There are about 49 clinics.

The collaborative began during COVID-19 to help vaccinate people across Berkshire County. Berkshire Health Systems started the Get Vaccinated Berkshires website and still manages it. The group works with the Pittsfield Public Health Department, Community Health Programs, and the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative.

"The majority of people will always get the flu [vaccine] because, as I said, if you've ever gotten the flu, you will always get a flu vaccine because it's so bad. And just so you know, the flu is already in Berkshire County. It's an early season this year," said Leslie Drager, who is the senior public health nurse at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Drager said last year they issued 2,705 vaccines, with more than 1,100 of them being for COVID-19 and more than 1,500 being flu. In total, they were able to vaccinate 1,669 people in Central and North County, in addition to Pittsfield.

Drager also said she will be carrying three types of COVID vaccines this year, which is in high demand.

"We have a high demand of COVID vaccine, which is awesome," she said. "So we're doing a lot of COVID vaccines. Also, I provide Pfizer, and this year I have Moderna and the Novavax, which I think is real important to get out there because the Novavax, a lot of people want, people with long COVID. So I'm carrying all three vaccines this year, which I normally only carry the Pfizer."

Public health departments also can help people access other vaccines such as for measles or meningitis when they cannot get them through a pediatrician, she added.

Using the website, people are able to get vaccines even if they are homebound by filling out a form.

All public Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative clinics are free of charge, but registrants are asked to provide insurance information, when available, in order to defray costs. The clinics are open to anyone 6 months of age or older, the age group recommended to receive an annual flu vaccine and the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

"I always encourage everybody to wear a short sleeve shirt because it makes it a heck of a lot easier to get at," Drager said. "And children, we do carry the nasal flu, the live virus of nasal flu for kids that are afraid to get needles."

Registration is highly recommended for the clinics. Walk-ins may be accepted depending on the number of vaccine doses available at each clinic, with preference given to those who are registered.

"It's really important. I'm really encouraging vaccinations for the schools, because not only you know if the kids are vaccinated and the teachers are vaccinated, the schools won't have the flu go wild right through it," Drager said. "And of course, the best way to prevent infections: washing your hands. So don't touch your face, and wash your hands."

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