Information Spotlight

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*This resource sheet has taken language directly from program websites and this MA Office of the Child Advocate Resource Guide

Looking to for support or have resources to share? Contact Ellen and Kim here

Mass 2-1-1 Helpline

• an information and referral line that provides free, confidential information to individuals and families seeking

• child and elder care,

• emergency food and shelter,

• substance abuse treatment, and

• educational and vocational assistance

• Call 2-1-1 from any phone in Massachusetts and speak with an information and referral specialist 24/7.

• Translation services for 140+ languages

Family Resource Centers (FRCs)

• How can FRCs help families? FRCs offer community-based services in Massachusetts. Note: FRC staff are mandated reporters.

• FRCS are set up to support families when they need help. Centers reflect the cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds of families in the communities served. When you arrive at a center, trained staff will greet you and ask some questions to help you obtain the support you need. After this brief meeting, you will be referred to experts who work either on site at the center or at another location where you will receive assistance. Some of the ways FRCs help families:

• Bring people together for friendship and mutual support

• Strengthen parenting skills

• Respond to family crises

• Link families to services and opportunities

• Help children develop social and emotional skills

• Observe and respond to early warning signs of child abuse and neglect

• Value and support parents

• FRC Programs and Services | Family Resource Centers - Massachusetts

• Career - Find help looking for employment, exploring career options, and discovering which jobs are a good fit for your skills.

• Child Care - Find help in identifying child care options in your community.

• Civic Engagement - Want to get involved? We may know of opportunities.

• Early Childhood - Find out how to develop positive parenting skills that will improve your child’s growth and development.

• Education - Learn about opportunities for youth who need services not available at traditional schools, and for adults who want to obtain General Education Diplomas (GED).

• English as a Second Language - Habla usted Inglés? Aprende a hablar Inglés ahora!

• Family Support - Obtain direct assistance or referrals to groups that promote family unity and successful life skills so everyone in your family reaches their full potential.

• Financial - Learn how to manage your budget, save for your future, repair your credit, and obtain assistance to pay for your certain home housing expenses.

• Housing - If you are homeless or are in danger of losing your house or apartment, find out how to meet your temporary and/or long term housing needs.

• Legal - We work with local juvenile courts to identify services for youth.

• LGBTQ - If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer, and need specialty counseling services, help is available.

• Medical - We can help identify potential medical services.

• Mental Health - Find relief for depression, anxiety, anger management, behavioral issues, eating disorders, substance abuse, and other health concerns. Services are available for individuals of all ages as well as for families. Let us help you make the connection.

• Peer Support - Some of our clients turn into peer support leaders.

• School Services - We have staff that can help you work with schools to ensure your child is receiving the support and resources they need. Some centers also provide homework assistance.

• Special Education - Looking for a resource? Ask us.

• Substance Use - Gain your independence from substance use with individual and peer support programs in outpatient and/or residential settings.

• Where are FRCs located and doI have to go to the one in my neighborhood?

• Locations | Family Resource Centers - Massachusetts

• You can go to any location. Some services may be available for families living in the FRC service area.

• Who runs Family Resource Centers? FRCs are supported by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Caregiver Resources in Massachusetts (and beyond) from *Any Care Counts Massachusetts

This website helps connect families to resources across a number of areas. The information is similar to what we share from this MA Office of the Child Advocate Resource Guide.

There resources encompass caregiving for loved ones of all ages. It also offers information/support related to the challenges of caregiving.

Find resources here.

This might include regular support for food or when school is not in session

• Project Bread

• This is a free and confidential service for Massachusetts residents. The hotline provides assistance in understanding where and how to access food support. Project Bread’s counselors are ready to assist callers in 180 languages. They can help you access local food resources and federal nutrition programs. They can tell you if you qualify for SNAP - a.k.a. money for groceries - and help you apply, where you can find free meals for your kids, and many other local food programs.

• You can call/text the hotline number (1-800-645-8333) or you can live chat Get Help Directory | Project Bread

• About Free School Meals in Massachusetts | Project Bread

• Summer Eats is a totally free-of-charge program that provides free meals to all kids and teens, ages 18 and under, at locations all across Massachusetts during the summer months. Find locations here

• Find your local food pantry - different ways to search

• Need Food? | The Greater Boston Food Bank

• Massachusetts Food Pantries

• Find Food - WhyHunger

Summer Eats is a totally free-of-charge program that provides free meals to all kids and teens, ages 18 and under, at locations all across Massachusetts during the summer months.

This might include finding housing, emergency rent, security deposits, utilities

• Housing Assistance for Massachusetts Residents This website provides an overview of the housing, home repair and home energy help programs available to homeowners, renters and landlords.

• Department of Housing and Community Development: This state agency provides affordable housing options, financial assistance, and other support to Massachusetts communities.

• Emergency Assistance: speak with a Homeless Coordinator call (866) 584-0653 or here for a list of Emergency Housing Assistance Programs-

• Apply for RAFT (emergency help for housing costs) | Mass.gov The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program provides short-term emergency funding to help you with eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies.

• The Massachusetts’ home energy assistance program (HEAP) is a free resource to help eligible households pay a portion of winter heating bills. Apply for home heating and energy assistance | Mass.gov

• Housing Consumer Education Centers: Housing Consumer Education Centers offer answers to a wide range of questions about all types of housing problems. Tenants, Landlords, Prospective Buyers, and Homeowners can access information designed to maximize housing stability, strengthen investments, and minimize disputes.

• Find your local center: here

• Community Action Agencies Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are private, non-profit human service and advocacy organizations. CAAs help low-income Americans escape poverty and achieve economic security. Through programs such as Head Start, job training, housing, food banks, energy assistance, and financial education, CAAs tailor their services to meet the needs of the individuals and communities they serve.

• Housing Programs - MASSCAP Your local Community Action Agency offers many of the following supports related to Housing:

• Help with Eviction Notices

• Rent or Mortgage Assistance

• Assistance with Housing Searches

• Help with Move-in Costs

• Mediation in Landlord/Tenant Disputes

• Help with Subsidized Housing, Including Application Issues

• HECM Counseling

• Foreclosure Counseling

• Energy Programs - MASSCAP Fuel Assistance services help eligible individuals pay for heating their house or apartment during the heating season (between November 1st and April 30th of each year). Energy conservation services help with home improvements that improve efficiency and lower household heating costs.

• Your local Community Action Agency offers many of the following energy services:

• Assistance with fuel bills – Visit heatinghelpMA.org for more information.

• Discounts on utility bills

• Heating System Repair and Replacement

• Weatherization

• Appliance Management Program

• Advocacy and Support

• City Life / Vida Urbana City Life is promoting tenant rights and preventing housing displacement. Are you fighting to stay in your home? They offer weekly meetings, where you can speak with an organizer and lawyer, and meet others that are fighting the same battles.

• Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund is available to any Massachusetts resident who, because of temporary financial difficulty, cannot meet a month's energy expense and is not eligible for state or federal energy assistance. Income must fall between 60 and 80 percent of the state's median income levels. More information here.