COVID-19 and

Health Information

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Parent Support Program


Parent Support Program

What is the Parent Support Program?

The Home for Little Wanderers’ Parent Support Program offers both structured and open-ended groups and workshops for parents who are caring for children with behavioral and mental health needs. Our programming is flexible and new groups are added to respond to the needs of the community. All of our services are FREE. Examples groups include:

      • Parenting Journey

      • grandparents raising grandchildren

      • Raising children with Behavioral and Mental Health needs

      • Navigating the Special Education system


Who Do We Serve?

The Home’s Parent Support Program serves any caregivers of children in Suffolk County. It is a free service that is funded by the Department of Mental Health and is open to any parent who is caring for a child with behavioral and mental needs. This program also focuses on supporting underserved communities throughout Suffolk County. Our diverse staff is working to specifically offer programs for families that feel marginalized.

Our primary service area includes:

All neighborhoods of Boston

Brookline

Cambridge

Somerville

Chelsea

Revere

Winthrop

Our Staff Parent Support Specialists

Parent Support Specialists lead our groups and are also available for one-on-one support. They are employees who are both professionally trained and have lived experience. They are available to help caregivers navigate the mental and behavioral health support system. From helping caregiver access appropriate services through public schools to advocating for children to receive the appropriate referrals to specialist, Parent Support Specialists are available to caregivers whenever they need additional guidance.

Education Advocate

An Education Advocate is available to help caregivers navigate the complex special education system. They offer individual consults with families and hosts workshops and parent support groups that focus on areas such as Individual Education Plans (IEPs), 504s and special education testing.


The City is continuing to monitor the coronavirus outbreak. Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses and are generally spread through respiratory secretions (droplets from coughs and sneezes) of an infected person to another person. Symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu as are preventative measures. The City is diligently monitoring the spread of coronavirus and will continue to support efforts to educate the public about the virus and promote prevention.

It is important to understand, however, that as of March 4, 2020, the CDC has advised that anyone returning to the United States from countries or places with a level 3 alert (currently China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy) should stay home and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the US. Anyone returning to the United States from countries or places with a level 2 alert (currently only Japan) should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the US.

This includes:

  • Taking your temperature with a thermometer twice a day and watching for a fever. A fever is a temperature 100.4°F/38°C or higher.

  • Watch for other symptoms including a cough, trouble breathing, shortness of breath.

If you have traveled to one of these areas and experience a fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher) or any other symptoms, call your health care provider immediately. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.

Seasonal Flu

The flu season is currently upon us and has not yet peaked. The flu virus can be transmitted from person-to-person in your home, community, or schools if people infected with the virus come in close contact with other people. Symptoms of the flu include:

  • Fever (100.4° F or greater using an oral thermometer)

  • Cough

  • Sore throat

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headaches

  • Fatigue (tiredness)

  • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea

Any employee experiencing flu-like symptoms should stay home utilizing sick leave until they are free of fever and any other flu-like symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor if they are staying home sick with flu-like symptoms, as the City will be monitoring the incidents of flu throughout the organization. Employees who develop or exhibit flu-like symptoms or other illness while at work will be directed to go home. Please go to www.bphc.org for more information on flu-like symptoms.

  • In order to prevent the spread of flu and cold:

  • Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

  • Avoid touching your eyes and face.

  • Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.

  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.

  • Stay home when feeling sick.

  • Get a flu shot.