Caregiving/Support
Parent Professional Advocacy League (PPAL)
Parent/Professional Advocacy League is a statewide, grassroots family organization that advocates for improved access to mental health services for children, youth and their families. PPAL’s goals are to support families, nurture parent leaders and work for systems change. PPAL is the only Massachusetts organization whose work focuses solely on the interests of families whose children have mental health needs. Founded in 1991, PPAL continues to work on behalf of children, youth and families as a critical voice shaping policy and practice.
September 2023 PPAL PATHFINDER : PPAL's monthly newsletter can be found here.
Child Care Vouchers/DayCare
Child Care Vouchers:
Families that meet eligibility criteria can access Child Care Vouchers through the Child Care Resources Program through Seven Hills. Below are resources about Child Care Resources and tools to help determine eligibility:
To check your financial eligibility: MA State Sliding Fee Scale
To access parent fee calculator: Parent Fee Calculator
Families on SNAP can now get childcare vouchers! For parents involved in a SNAP Path to Work program: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/get-child-care-and-transportation-help
Head Start:
Head Start is a federal program that offers early education and care programs and services for low-income families. https://www.mass.gov/guides/head-start-early-head-start
Medway Head Start Program: Housed at Burke Memorial School and operated by South Middlesex Opportunities Council (SMOC).
Child Care Programs:
To search for a licensed child care provider in the region, use the state search tool:
https://childcare.mass.gov/findchildcare
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The purpose of this Commission is to be a resource to the Commonwealth on issues affecting grandparents raising grandchildren, and relatives, other than parents, raising kin.
The Commission shall have the following responsibilities:
Foster unity - Foster unity among grandparents raising grandchildren and community support organizations by promoting cooperation, sharing information, and encouraging collaboration and joint activities.
Serve - Serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups with regards to matters of unique interest and concern to grandparents raising grandchildren in the Commonwealth.
Programs - Assess program and practices in all state agencies as they affect grandparents raising grandchildren.
Advise - Advise executive and legislative bodies of the potential effect of proposed legislation on grandparents raising grandchildren.
Investigate - Investigate the merits of a state agency dedicated to grandparents’ issues and determine how the agency would be set up.
Identify - Identify issues that are faced by relatives, other than parents, raising kin.
Family Ties of Massachusetts
Family TIES of Massachusetts is a program that provides information and training for families of children with special health needs or disability and their professional partners. We are a primary source for information about Early Intervention (EI) and maintain a complete listing of EI programs in MA.
Driven and staffed by parents of children with special needs, we offer a unique type of emotional and practical support to families with similar life experiences.
Children with special health needs and their families will have access to information, support, and tools that will positively impact their quality of life and will have increased confidence in their ability to navigate systems of care.
Federation for Children with Special Needs
The Federation empowers families so that they have the information and resources they need for their children. We work with families with children from birth to adulthood, providing individual assistance, training, and leadership development and support. We focus on education, early intervention, health care, transitions, children in foster care and group homes, and building strong family engagement to support all children, especially those children with disabilities, those at risk, and those with economic, cultural or linguistic barriers.
Summer Resources for Families
PPAL 2024 Summer Family Fun Days (Free with Registration!)
Click below to see more information on summer resources in the community:
