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Resources for Families

photo of a family, mom, dad, son and daughter, on vacation

This page lists resources for families, grouped by diagnosis. Resources for children and adolescents may be found on ourresources for children and adolescents page.

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Hurley at 508-856-8781 or Kelly.Hurley@umassmed.edu

Celia Brown at 508-856-8569 or Celia.Brown@umassmed.edu.

General resources/no diagnosis

Child and Family Forensic Center (CFFC): CFFC provides evaluation and consultation services to the courts when legal decisions affect the lives of children.
Worcester: 306 Belmont Street, Suite 140; 508-793-6917.
Communities of Care - Community Healthlink: Communities of Care welcomes all youth with complex emotional and behavior needs and their families to help them access community resources such as Caregiver Support Groups, Youth Groups, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and family fun activities.
Worcester: 275A Belmont Street; 508-856-5242.
Webster: 251 Main Street; 508-856-5760 or 800-980-1347.
Fitchburg: 356-B Broad Street, 508-856-1400 or 866-602-6955.
Community Healthlink Youth and Family Services: Community Healthlink provides counseling services, school-based services, intensive home-based services for DCF and DMH involved children, juvenile court clinic, victim services, Together for Kids, early intervention, residential services, CBHI (Mass Health) services including intensive care coordination and family support and training, Youth Mobile Crisis Team, therapeutic mentoring, and in-home therapy.
Leominster: 100 Erdman Way.
Worcester: 72 Jacques Avenue.
508-860-1260
Family Support Centers: The Family Support Centers are open to individuals with disabilities and their families who are seeking information, including referral, family trainings, and parent networking.
Fitchburg: Seven Hills Foundation, 1460 John Fitch Highway.
Worcester: Seven Hills Foundation, 799 West Boylston St; 888-474-4557.
Federation for Children with Special Needs: The Federation for Children with Special Needs provides support and training to families with school age children with special needs.
The Massachusetts Psychiatric Access Project: The Massachusetts Psychiatric Access Project (MCPAP) is a consult service to primary care physicians looking for help in understanding the mental health needs of their child and adolescent patients. MCPAP provides help with care coordination and evidenced based interventions when access to child psychiatry is not available. There is no charge for the services.
508-334-3240
Multicultural Family Support Center: The Multicultural Family Support Center is open to individuals with disabilities and their families who are seeking information including referral, family trainings, and networking.
Worcester: Centro Las Americas, 11 Sycamore Street; 508-798-1900.
info@centrolasamericas.org
NAMI of Massachusetts (National Alliance on Mental Illness): NAMI of Massachusetts is the Massachusetts branch of The National Alliance on Mental Illness, a national mental health advocacy organization.
Parent/Professional Advocacy League: The Parent/Professional Advocacy League is a statewide network of parents and professionals who advocate on behalf of children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. PAL provides workshops, trainings, and support groups.
Worcester: 51 Union Street, Suite 308; 508-767-9725.
Boston: 45 Bromfield Street, 10th Floor; 617-542-7860.
info@ppal.net

Asperger's Association of New England: AANE's mission is to foster awareness, respect, acceptance, and support for individuals with Asperger's and related disorders. AANE provides resource information, support groups and workshops.
Watertown: 85 Main Street, Suite 101; 617-393-3824.

Autism

Autism Parent Support Group Meetings: Autism Parent Support Group Meetings meet the second Tuesday of each month at UMass Medical School. Contact Kelly Hurley at 508-320-0314 for more information.
The Autism Resource Center of Central Massachusetts: The Autism Resource Center offers support groups for families to share suggestions, concerns, and resources. There are plenty of recreational and therapeutic programs available for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder as well as services to help their family members. Educational workshops are available for parents and professionals in the community through out the year in order to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families.

Autism Society of America

The Autism Society of America is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of all affected by autism through increasing public awareness, advocating for individuals, and providing information about treatment, education, research, and advocacy.Autism SpeaksAutism Speaks is a science and advocacy organization dedicated to funding research, increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, and advocating for individuals with autism and their families.Community Resources for People with AutismCommunity Resources for People with Autism provides support, information, and practical help for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families living in Western Massachusetts.

Bipolar disorder

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation: The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of families raising children and teens living with bipolar disorder and related conditions.
S.T.E.P. Up 4 Kids: S.T.E.P. Up 4 Kids (http://www.stepup4bpkids.com/) is committed to supporting children and teens with early-onset bipolar disorder, depression, and related spectrum disorders by providing reliable resources to parents, teachers, medical professionals, and counselors to be best equipped to advocate for children with these disorders.

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