Family and Community Supports, Education, Employment/Unemployment, Financial Assistance Resources

On this page you can find resources related to:

• Education
• Emergency Child Care
• Employment and Unemployment
• Financial Assistance
• Neighborhood-Specific and Mutual Aid Groups
• Pregnancy and Parenting Supports
• Senior Services and Supports

These resources are updated regularly, so please check back frequently.

Education

• Boston Public Schools
• Main page for information for students, laptops, remote learning and food resources.
• For students who need Chromebooks, go to this section of the BPS page.
• Listing of Comprehensive Educational Websites for Parents and Students (K-12)
• Mass Advocates for Children

Employment

• Newmarket Business Association
  • Must be 18-40 years old; Living in, or originally from, Roxbury, Dorchester or Mattapan; Affiliated with one of its community-based partner organizations (listed on its registration form)
• Mass Hire Boston, list of companies hiring during COVID-19
• Link to Current Employment Opportunities List (Printable flyer)

Financial Assistance

• Cash assistance
• DTA online, or call 877-382-2363
• Office of Housing Stability, City of Boston
  • If your income has been affected by COVID-19 and you’re worried about paying your rent, email housingstability@boston.gov or call 617-635-4200
  • Rental Relief Fund, currently closed 5/11, please check website for updates as new assistance will be released

Neighborhood-Specific Resources and Mutual Aid Groups

• Mutual Aid Group - Jamaica Plain and Roxbury (fill out a request form to be matched with resources)
• Dorchester Community Cares (fill out a request form to be matched with resources)
• Neighborhood Aid Network (links to neighborhood-based groups in Boston and other cities/towns in Massachusetts)
• Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Community Resources
• Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park and West Roxbury
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Nesterly and The City of Boston) service to match volunteers with seniors and others who need errands, food deliveries and support

Pregnancy and Parenting Support

• Diaper bank
• Lannie’s Neighborhood, for Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan families with children 3 and under who qualify)
• Application Form
• Lactation Support
• Breastfeeding and COVID-19 Guidance
• Childbirth Education Classes (Online)
• Resilient Birth
• Online Activities for Young Children and Families
• Parental Stress Hotline
• 1-800-632-8188
• Virtual Support Groups on Zoom, twice daily
• MSPCC COVID-19 Resources for Families
• MSPCC has collected resources for families to understand how to talk to children about the COVID-19 pandemic as well as resources to have fun, learn, and stay busy while practicing social distancing.
• Massachusetts Resource Guide for Parents and Other Caregivers: Caring for Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
• Child Advocacy Center
• Child Abuse Prevention During COVID-19
• Child Care Resources

Senior Services and Supports

• Ethos
  • Support and Meals for Seniors in Boston
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Nesterly and The City of Boston)
  • Service to match volunteers with seniors and others who need errands, food deliveries and support
• Alzheimer’s Buddies
  • Pairs college students with individuals living with dementia for weekly visits to improve care and quality of life. Participants must be residents of an affiliated assisted living or skilled nursing facility.
• Alzheimer’s Association
  • Non-profit organization focused on providing community education, support groups, and research for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. They have a wealth of online resources and offer a 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900. Specifically, offers tips for dementia caregivers specific to challenges caused by the pandemic.
• Caregiver Support Groups
  
  • Community meetings offering a space for caregivers to connect for exchange of mutual support and resources. Traditionally held in person, and many offerings on-line. Check out these links to explore what’s local to you: The Family Caregiver Handbook; Massachusetts General Hospital Palliative Care & Geriatric Medicine; Community Resource Finder.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  
  • The CDC’s guidelines for older adults, including coping and stress relief, symptom recognition, and how to develop a care plan.
• Boston ElderINFO
  
  • Offering information and referral to Boston elders and their caregivers on various resources that might meet individual needs. Phone: 617-292-6211
• Boston’s Age Strong Commission
  
  • For persons age 55 and above with the mission with promoting and creating meaningful programs, resources, and connections for adults to lead healthy and productive lives in Boston. Phone: 617-635-4366 Email: agestrong@boston.gov
• Carroll Center for the Blind
  
  • Serving all stages and ages with vision loss. For older adults, they offer assessment and linkage to services and/or adaptive technology to promote independence.
• Elder Service Organizations
  
  • Regionally based non-profits offering as an entry point for services for older and/or disabled adults. They are also known at Aging Service Access Points or Area Agency on Aging. Services can include: Information & Referral, Meals on Wheels, Home Care, PCA Services, Caregiver Respite Services, and Options Counseling.
• Executive Office of Elder Affairs 
  
  • The State office promoting independence, empowerment, and well-being for older people, individuals with disabilities, and their families. Their focus is advocating for on a state level and work in tandem with many of the State’s local programming. They also support the Elder Abuse Hotline at: 800-922-2275, Toll Free Connect to Local Elder Service Agency: (800) 243-4636.
• Friendly Visitor Programs
  
  • Programs that link a vetted volunteer with an older adult. Often offered through local Elder Service organizations. In Boston, also offered through Friendship Works (Friendship Works' phone number: 617-482-1510).
• Geriatric Care Managers
  
  • A professional geriatric care manager is usually a licensed registered nurse or social worker who specializes in geriatrics. The geriatric care manager will work with you and your family to identify needs and find ways to meet them. This may include a onetime consultation or on-going connection as one plans for current and future care. There maybe a fee for this service, sometimes insurance will cover the cost. Resource links: Springwell; Caring.com
• Jewish Family & Children’s Services Boston
  
  • Their mission focuses on serving vulnerable populations across the life span. For older adults, supports include independent living supports, Dementia Education programming, Care Management services, Information & Referral, Guardianship education, Parkinson’s Disease Support, Suicide Prevention education & training, and Holocaust survivor supportive services. (Phone number: 781-647-JFCS (5327))
• Legal Assistance
  • Establishing a relationship with an attorney who specializes in Elder Law can be a valuable member of your team. An Elder Law can assist you with various aspects of estate and long-term care planning. They are also helpful with establishing advance directives (health care proxy, living will, durable power of attorney) and certain aspects related to financial considerations. Elders maybe eligible for subsidized legal assistance through these resources or Senior Legal Helpline (800) 342-5297.
• Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  • Empowers individuals to continue to lead full lives whether new vision loss or since youth. Offering various services including vision rehabilitation, access technology, training, volunteer help, counseling, and peer support services. Learn more or make a referral on the website, by phone (888-613-2777), or email: mabvi@mabcommunity.org
• Memory Cafés
  • A community-based offering for people with dementia and their caregivers to come together to socialize and engage in an activity. These programs are typically free. Each location will have its own culture and activities may vary from session to session.
• Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
  • Program through MassHealth and Medicare to provide a wide range of medical, social, recreational and wellness services to eligible participants. The goal of PACE is to support people’s goal to age in their home. Eligibility requirements include age 55+, meet skilled nursing facility level of care, and certain income guidelines to name a few.
• Savvy Caregiver Program
  • A 6-session evidence based dementia caregiver training program. Generally free. (Phone number: 978-946-1211)

Unemployment

• Cash assistance for restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, and personal service workers who typically rely on tips for salary
• MassUndocuFund
• Funds for undocumented workers (more details forthcoming next week)
• NDWA Coronavirus Care Fund for home care workers, nannies and house cleaners who are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic