RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Note: This page is constantly being updated with new resources. Check back to see what else we have for you!
National Crisis Lifeline:
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
(in English and Español)
- Call: 988
- Text: 988
- Chat Online
MA Behavioral Health Help Line:
Community Behavioral Health Centers are closely connected to the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line. The Behavioral Health Help Line is a 24/7 clinical hotline staffed by trained behavioral health providers who offer clinical assessment, treatment referrals, and crisis triage services. When appropriate, Help Line staff directly connect callers with their nearest CBHC and perform a warm handoff.
The Help Line is available in more than 200 languages, 24/7, 365 days a year
Call or Text: (833) 733-2445
Webchat: masshelpline.com
Community Behavioral Health Centers:
Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC) serve as an entry point for timely, high-quality and evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders and substance use disorders in 25 locations throughout Massachusetts. Services include:
- Same-day evaluation and access to treatment, with timely follow-up appointments
- Evening and weekend hours
- Behavioral health urgent care
- Evidence-based treatment including clinical services and peer support services
- 24/7 community-based locations for crisis intervention and mobile crisis teams
- Crisis stabilization beds
- These centers serve all ages and all communities across the Commonwealth
Western MA locations include:
- Chicopee – Center for Human Development
1109 Granby Rd.
Chicopee, MA 01020
(833) 243-8255
- Greenfield – Clinical Support Options
1 Arch Place
Greenfield, MA 01301
(800) 562-0112
- Northampton – Clinical Support Options
8 Atwood Drive
Northampton, MA 01060
(800) 562-0112
- Springfield – Behavioral Health Network
417 Liberty Street
Springfield, MA 01104
(800) 437-5922
- Pittsfield – The Brien Center
334 Fenn Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(800) 252-0227
Crisis Services in Western Massachusetts:
Crisis services in Franklin, Hampshire and the North Quabbin area are provided by Clinical and Support Options (CSO):
- Franklin County: (413) 774-5411
- Hampshire County: (413) 586-5555
- North Quabbin: (978) 249-3141
Crisis services in Hampden County are provided by Behavioral Health Network (BHN):
- Springfield Area: (413) 733-6661
- Westfield Area: (413) 568-6386
Crisis services in Berkshire County are provided by the Brien Center:
- (413) 499-0412
Parents Helping Parents Parental Stress Line:
- Phone support: 1-800-632-8188
- Website: parentshelpingparents.org
State Agencies:
- Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (scroll down to see “Apply for DMH Services): www.Mass.gov/dmh
- Massachusetts Department of Children & Families: www.Mass.gov/dcf
- Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services: www.Mass.gov/dds
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health: www.Mass.gov/dph
- Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance: www.dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov
- Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate: www.Mass.gov/childadvocate
- Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: www.doe/mass.edu
- Massachusetts Department of Youth Services: www.Mass.gov/dys
- Massachusetts Mass Health (apply online): www.Mass.gov/MassHealth
Special Education:
- The Federation for Children with Special Needs: Informing, Educating, and Empowering Families: www.fcsn
- Massachusetts Advocates for Children: www.massadvocates.org
- Special Needs Advocacy Network, Inc.: www.spanmass.org
- Wrightslaw: www.wrightslaw.com
- Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – Special Education: www.doe.mass.edu/sped
- Special Education Advisory Councils (SEPAC) in Massachusetts: www.spedchildmass.com
- Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts: www.clcm.org
- Family Education: www.familyeducation.com
Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA):
- For general BSEA information: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-special-education-appeals
- To learn about BSEA mediation: https://www.mass.gov/mediation-at-the-bsea
- To learn about hearings at the BSEA: https://www.mass.gov/due-process-hearings
Children’s Mental Health:
- Parent Professional Advocacy League, “The Massachusetts Family Voice for Children’s Mental Health”: www.PPAL.net
- National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health: www.ffcmh.org
- National Institute of Mental Health: www.nimh.nih.gov
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: www.aacap.org
- Children’s Mental Health Network: www.cmhnetwork.org
- Understood for All Inc.: www.Understood.org
- Families for Depression Awareness: www.familyaware.org
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: www.chadd.org
- The Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety: www.worrywisekids.org
- Child Mind Institute: www.childmind.org
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: www.nctsn.org
- ACES Connection: www.acesconnection.com
- Joining Forces for Children: www.joiningforcesforchildren.org
- Eating Disorder Hope: www.eatingdisorderhope.com
- Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Suicide: www.masspreventssuicide.org
- Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center: www.pacer.org
Substance Use:
- Partnership to End Addiction: www.drugfree.org
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.org
- Act for Youth: www.actforyouth.net
- Learn to Cope: www.Learn2Cope.org
- The Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline: www.helplinema.org
- Youth and Young Adult Substance Use Directory (MA Bureau of Substance Abuse Services): www.files.hria.org
- Gabor Mate’, M.D.: www.drgabormate.com
Anti-Racism, Anti Oppression and Social Justice:
- Center for Racial Justice in Education: www.centerracialjustice.org
- Embrace Race: www.embracerace.org
- Social Justice & Anti-Racism Resources (via the Consortium): https://wmtcinfo.org/social-justice-anti-racism-resources/
COVID-19:
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health: www.mass.gov/covid19
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
- American Academy of Pediatrics: www.healthychildren.org
Last updated July 19, 2022.