Pathways Online Resource Directory
Social
Services
The
following directory includes
adoption,
child protection services and
support groups.
Adoption
Adoption through the Department of
Children and Families -
Children come into the care of Department of Children
and Families at different ages and under different
circumstances. Children who cannot safely return home
need permanency, and their goal is often changed to
adoption.
Adoption.com
- is committed to helping as many children as possible
find loving, permanent homes. They provide critical
information at the decision-making moment to women
facing crisis pregnancies. They assist adoptees and
birthparents to find birth families.
Adoption Institute
- provides leadership that improves adoption laws,
policies and practices - through sound research,
education and advocacy - in order to better the lives of
everyone touched by adoption.
Child Protection
Services
Department of Children and
Families, Coastal Office 781-682-0800
Massachusetts Child-at-Risk
Hotline 800-792-5200
24-hour statewide hotline that receives reports of suspected
abuse and neglect, provides information and guidance, and
responds with help in emergency situations.
National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD,
operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Childhelp's
programs and services also include residential treatment
services (villages); children’s advocacy centers;
therapeutic foster care; group homes; child abuse
prevention, education and training; and the National Day
of Hope, part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month
every April.
Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund
- enables more than 100 organizations statewide to prevent
child abuse and neglect by providing the most effective
programs for promoting good parenting and strong families.
Massachusetts Citizens for Children -
promotes healthy family development through community
awareness, education and action. Its current focus is to
prevent physical child abuse through the work of the
Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Center. It is the lead
agency for the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse
Prevention Partnership and staffs the Enough Abuse
Campaign, a statewide public engagement initiative to
educate and mobilize parents, professionals and
communities to prevent child sexual abuse.
Seach Institute - is a
leading innovator in discovering what children and
adolescents need to become caring, healthy and responsible
adults. Drawing on extensive research, Search Institute
brings solutions to pressing challenges in the lives of
young people and their communities. We use this knowledge to
motivate and equip everyone to do their part to help create
a world where all young people are valued.
Support Groups
Massachusetts Alliance for Teen
Pregnancy - family support and advocacy for
children with developmental disabilities.
Aspergers Association -
Group for Parents of School-age Children on the second
Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm at Shaw's Supermarket
Conference Room, Rte. 3A and Beechwood Street, Cohasset.
Parent Coordinator, Ann Reel
Autism Center of South Shore
- Information and referral services, social and recreational
opportunities, support groups for families, parent/educator
training, library of resources for families living with
autism.
The Balanced Mind Foundation -
guides families raising children with mood disorders to
the answers, support and stability they seek.
Domestic Violence Ended - offers individual
support, legal advocacy, on-going community support groups,
psycho-educational support groups, Quincy Court Outreach
Program (QCOP), and self-esteem groups. (24-hr Hotline
1-617-471-1234; Youth Hotline 1-617-773-4878;
1-888-314-3683)
Families for Depression Awareness - helps people
in caregiver roles and people with depressive disorders
understand the conditions, reduce stigma, and share issues.
Foundations Program -
monthly support group for parents with children who have
mental health problems. Contact group leader,
Sue Page
Thompson.
Gay/Lesbian Hotline
- anonymous and confidential phone lines that offer gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender adults and youths a
“safe place” to call for information, referrals, and
support. In addition to issues like coming out,
HIV/AIDS, safer sex and relationships, our trained
volunteers also address topics such as locating GLBT
groups and services in their local area.
South Shore Alliance of
Gay/Lesbian Youth (888)SSHAGLY - SSHAGLY is short for the
South Shore Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth. They
support youth from the age of 14-22 in the Norwell and
surrounding area who define as Gay, Lesbian, Bi,
Straight, Transgender, or Intersexed.
Good Grief - one of the
most complete collections of grief-support resources in one
location. Please check our website frequently as we are
continually adding and updating our bereavement information.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Support Group -
Contact group leader, Colleen Pritoni 781-641-0800
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
- is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to
the improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives
are affected by these diseases.
Parent Professional Advocacy League
(PAL) - the Statewide Organization of the Federation of
Families for Children's Mental Health. PAL provides support,
education, and advocacy around issues related to children's
mental health.
Parents Helping Parents -
Groups meet weekly in Braintree and Quincy. Parental Stress
Line 1-800-632-8188
