Greater Boston Area Community Resource Guide

1 Greater Boston Area Community Resource Guide Last Updated: May 2011. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Access to Health Care 4. Health Insurance 4. Prescription Drugs 5. Clothing 6. Complex Care 8. Culturally-Specific Organizations 10. Education 14. Adult Basic Education/ESOL/GED 14. College/Higher Education 14. Elementary and Secondary Education 15. Job Training 16. Food 17. Fuel/Utility 19. Furniture 21. Housing 23. Homelessness 25. Income Security 26. Employment 26. Cash Assistance 27. Legal and Immigration 28. Mental Health & Substance Abuse 31. Parenting Support 33. Recreation 35. Safety and Injury Prevention 35. Transportation 37. Violence 38. NOTE: Eligibility requirements for services and programs vary by agency and may require referrals. Some Community Resource agencies in this Guide provide these referrals please call or search online for eligibility criteria.

2 For more Massachusetts and Children's Hospital Boston -specific resources, please see the following websites: Children's Hospital Boston : MassResources: This Resource Guide is produced by the Resource Specialist Group in the Children's Hospital Boston 's Department of Social Work and the Center for Families. The goal of this Guide is to improve the access of families to local Community resources. We welcome your feedback on this Guide . Please be in touch via email at with suggestions. ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. HEALTH INSURANCE. Children's Hospital Boston Patient Finance 1 (617) 355-7201. Assists Children's Hospital Boston patient families with applications for state- based insurance programs and estimates for children who are underinsured. Health Care For All Consumer Health HelpLine 1 (800) 272-4232. Free Massachusetts helpline for general insurance questions, help finding low-cost health programs and assistance applying for health coverage.

3 MassHealth 1 (800) 841-2900. 1 (800) 497-4648 (TTY). Public health insurance program for low to moderate income Massachusetts residents. Must submit an application. Call for information on the following programs: Commonwealth Care For uninsured MA residents who don't qualify for MassHealth. Commonwealth Choice For uninsured MA residents whose incomes are too high for Commonwealth Care. Health Safety Net For MA residents who are not eligible for health insurance or cannot afford to pay for it. 4 ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. MassMedline Patient Assistance Program MA College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). MCPHS Visitor Center 25 Foster Street Worcester, MA 01608. 1 (866) 633-1617. 1 (508) 373-0031. A program for MA residents that provides information and referrals to free, low- cost, or discounted medication programs.

4 Eligibility requirements for assistance programs varies. Also provides prescription drug therapy counseling and Case Management program that works with health care professionals to answer billing, prior authorization and prescription insurance questions. Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). 1 (888) 477-2669. Helps patients without prescription drug coverage or cannot afford it to get free or discounted medications by connecting them to drug assistance programs. Must submit application. Eligibility for assistance programs varies. ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE 5. CLOTHING. Boomerangs 716 Centre Street 1870 Centre St Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 West Roxbury, MA 02132. 1 (617) 524-5120 1 (617) 323-0262. Resale store for clothing, electronics and furniture. Children's Clothing Exchange Roosevelt Towers Housing Complex 391 Evereteze Way Cambridge, MA 02141.

5 1 (617) 576-0039. Clothing exchange for homeless and transitioning families. Children's Orchard 807 Boylston Street Brookline, MA 02467. 1 (800) 999-KIDS. 1 (617) 277-3006. Resale and retail store for new and used children's clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, books and accessories. Call for more locations. 6 CLOTHING. Dress for Success The Family Justice Center 989 Commonwealth Avenue Boston , MA 02215. 1 (617) 779-2177. Provides professional attire/clothing to low-income and/or disadvantaged women. Employment retention program helps women prepare for job interviews and transition into the workforce, as well as provide outfits for a professional wardrobe. Women must have a job interview scheduled before accessing services. Referral needed for services have a hospital staff member contact the organization on behalf of the client first.

6 Goodwill Morgan Memorial Boston Outlet Store 1010 Harrison Avenue Boston , MA 02119. 1 (617) 541-1225. Low cost new and used clothing and household items. Programs also include business attire to obtain and retain employment. Little Fox Shop Located on the main floor of the Fox Library 175 Mass Ave Arlington, MA 02474. 1 (781) 316-3157. Non-profit resale shop with an array of children's toys, books, games, clothes, infant equipment and maternity wear. CLOTHING 7. COMPLEX CARE. Easter Seals 89 South Street, 1st Floor Boston , MA 02111. 1 (617) 226-2640. Provides services for children and adults with disabilities or special needs. Services include obtaining assistive technology devices, referrals, employment opportunities, speech, physical and occupational therapy and a summer camp for children. Federation for Children with Special Needs 1135 Tremont Street, Suite 420.

7 Boston , MA 02120. 1 (617) 236-7210. 1 (800) 331-0688 (MA). Programs provide information, referrals, support groups and parent-to-parent matching to families who have children with special health care needs or disabilities. MA Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF). 1 (800) 882-1435. 1 (617) 624-5992 (TTY). A reimbursement program that provides assistance to families with children who have excessive medical expenses, special health care needs and disabilities. Must submit an application. MA Department of Developmental Services 500 Harrison Avenue Boston , MA 02118. 1 (617) 727-5608. 1 (617) 624-7783 (TTY). The DDS provides comprehensive system of specialized services to adults with intellectual disabilities and children with developmental disabilities. Services include day support, employment support, residential support, family support, respite and transportation.

8 8 COMPLEX CARE. MA Department of Public Health Information Line 250 Washington Street Boston , MA 02108. 1 (866) 627-7968. 1 (617) 624-6000. 1 (617) 624-6001 (TTY). Has information on health insurance, infectious disease reporting, emergency medical services, employment and many programs addressing other health issues. MA Rehabilitation Commission Administrative Offices 27 Wormwood Street Boston , MA 02210-1616. 1 (800) 245-6543. 1 (617) 204-3600. The MRC provides comprehensive services to people with disabilities including employment and advocacy. MRC serves people with all types of disabilities except those who are blind. Individuals with visual disabilities are served through the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB). Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Boston Office 48 Boylston Street Boston MA 02116.

9 1 (617) 727-5550. 1 (800) 392-6450. 1 (800) 392-6556 (TTY). Provides vocational rehabilitation, independent living social services, assistive technology for the blind, orientation and mobility services, consumer assistance and more. COMPLEX CARE 9. CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS. Asian American Civic Association 87 Tyler Street, 5th Floor Boston , MA 02111. 1 (617) 426-9492. TTY: 1 (617) 426-9157. Fax: 1 (617) 482-2316. The Asian American Civic Association (AACA), formerly the Chinese American Civic Association, has been serving the immigrant Community since 1967. Since its inception, AACA has evolved into a comprehensive non-profit agency which addresses the educational, workforce development and social service needs of immigrants of all ethnicities and economically disadvantaged residents of the Greater Boston area.

10 Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center Inc. Mailing: 885 Washington Street, Boston , MA 02111. Site: 38 Ash Street, Boston , MA 02111. 1 (617) 635-5129. Fax: 1 (617) 292-6599. BCNC strives to provide the support and resources needed for participants to integrate into American society, while preserving the Community 's rich culture. The organization's family-centered approach underlies all its work and encompasses eight programs that serve infants, toddlers and preschoolers; school- aged children and youth; parents and grandparents; new immigrants; and those who are born here. Citywide Boston Hispanic Center (Part of ABCD). 178 Tremont Street, 2nd Floor Boston , MA 02111. 1 (617) 348-6565. Provides a wide-array of social services and supports including: fuel assistance, tax assistance, career development counseling, emergency food pantry assistance, violence preventing training and workshops for seniors.