KEY H -- SUPPORT

List of Agencies or Organizations followed by

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SUPPORT RESOURCES

H1 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS………..................978-263- 2728
H2 ALCOHOLIC SUPPORT, OTHER GROUPS.......978-287- 3520
H3 BIRTHRIGHT..................…………………….........978-897- 6825
H4 COCAINE HOTLINE........………………..............800-262- 2463
H5 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.…………….............978-348-2749
H6 COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS.....…………..........978-371- 0728
H7 MINUTEMAN AREA EARLY INTERVENTION.....978- 369-3524
H8 PARENTS HELPING PARENTS......……….........800-882- 1250
H9 AREA AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.…........877-655-4907
H10 NEW ENGLAND INDEX...........……………........781-642-0248
H11 SAMARITANS...................………………….........508- 875-4500
H12 MASS. OFFICE ON DISABILITIES………........800-322- 2020
H13 WIDOWED PERSONS SERVICE..…….............508-620- 8797
H14 PARENTAL STRESS HOTLINE..........………....800-632- 8188
H15 ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL..NAMI...800-370-9085
H16 FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.617- 624-5962
H17 MARLBORO ADDICTION REFERRAL CENTER....508-485- 4357
H18 SINGLE PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP..….........978-263- 5902
H19 NETWORK FOR WOMEN'S LIVES.........……...978-287-4089
H20 ROTARY CLUB OF ACTON................………….978-263-1960
H21 OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS................……….978-263- 5136
H22 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS..............………978-263- 4726
H23 TEEN CHALLENGE MINISTRY CENTER.........508-586-1494
H24 GREATER WORCESTER INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK.....508-755-6100
H25 ACTON/BOXBOROUGH UNITED WAY...............978-263-1777
H26 PALS, PERSONAL ADVOCACY & LIFETIME SUPPORT..781-647-0900

H27 For more support groups, see calendar in Beacon newpaper,
See lists in Middlesex News Extra,
Sunday Independent, MetroWest Weekend, etc.

KEY H - OTHER SUPPORT

H1 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Location: Various churches in the area.
Kind of resource and cost: No cost.
Services provided: Group care for alcohol problems.
Call at the following churches:. Acton Center Congregational, 978-263-2728; Al-anon on Weds. at 10 AM.
St. Eliz. Church, 978-263-4305: Thurs.& Sun. nights. West Acton Baptist 978-263-5902: Mon., Wed.& Sat. nights.
Family Groups Al anon on Thurs. nights. Call 781-843-5300. Women's AWOL - Fri. night.
AA Big Book Study Group (Women's AA)- Wed. Night.

H2 ALCOHOLICS SUPPORT, OTHER GROUPS. See below.
Location: Various.
Suggested contact: Call
Services provided: Other agency support for alcoholics.
Call 978-369-7715 for general information (Mental Health Asso.) Call
978-897-2211 for Maynard AA (on Main Street.)
(sponsored by Mental Health Assoc.)
Call at Emerson Hospital, Dr.Mark Shelford, LISW.
978-287-3520, for Alcohol Services see HOTLINES below:

ALCOHOL AND DRUG HOTLINE 1-800-327-5050 All hours, all days
Information and referral for substance abuse services, including crisis intervention
and counseling,referrals for inpatient/outpatient treatment, and where to go if uninsured.

H3 BIRTHRIGHT 978-897-6825 & 1-800-550-4900
Location: 14 Nason St. Room 202, Maynard, MA
Suggested contact: Call
Kind of resource and cost: Non-profit, free.
Services provided: Care of women with problem, Mon., Wed., and Thurs, 11 AM to 1 PM.
pregnancies. Free pregnancy tests, friendly support, shelter, homes, information and
referrals. All confidential. Times: Call

H4 COCAINE HOTLINE 1-800-662-4357
Location: Melrose 1-800-coc-aine
Kind of resource and cost: No-cost
Services provided: Counseling on drug problems.
U.S National Clearing House for alcohol and drug abuse.

H5 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NORTH CENTRAL MASS. 978-348-2749
Location: 1 Oak Hill Rd., Fitchburg, MA (North Central Mass.)
Suggested Contact: Megan Foley, Tel. 978-897-7444
e-mail meganfoley@fastdial.net
Kind of resource: A Christian ecumenical grass-roots organization building
houses with people in need, using volunteer labor and donated or at
cost materials and services to keep houses affordable.
Call to help build houses, or to see if you qualify for a low-cost home.
HABITAT

H6 COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS 978-371-0728
Location: Concord
Suggested contact: Jim and Betty Elgin
Kind of resource and cost: Self-help, no charge.
Services provided: Self-help for bereaved parents.

H7 MINUTEMAN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM 978-369-3524
Location: Community Agencies Bldg., Concord
Suggested contact: Call
Kind of resource and cost: Private, 3rd Party pay.
Services for families with children to age 3 with developmental delay.

H8 PARENTS HELPING PARENTS 1-800-882-1250
Support group network for parents feeling isolated, stressed or
looking for non physical way to discipline children. Free weekly confidential group is
meeting in Acton, Ayer and Marlboro. See H18.

H9 AREA AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 1-877-655-4907
Location: Framingham, MA
Suggested contact: Kate Shippee 508-657-4357
Smoker's Quit Line 877-937-7848
Road to recovery 877-653-4907
Medical Information 800-227-2345 or 800 ACS-2345
Road to Recovery Program, Boston Office 617-556-7490
They also have a catalogue of prosthesese and wigs, etc. (See I6)

WELLNESS COMMUNITY OF GREATER BOSTON 617-332-1919
(a separate agency from American Cancer Society.)
1320 Centre Street Newton Center, MA
A place where all kinds of support groups are available for cancer
patients including Weekly support groups, Yoga, and Meditation.

KIDS COUNT TOO
(This is part of the American Cancer Society
but located at the Wellness Community.)
In Newton Center, Telephone 617-332-1919.
Support groups for children whose parents have cancer.
They meet at the same time and place as the parents have support groups.

H10 NEW ENGLAND INDEX 1-800-462-5015
EUNICE KENNEDY SCHRIBER CENTER
University of Mass. Medical School
200 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452
This line is answered by Information for Individuals with disabilities.
They do not give information by telephone requests.
They will answer mailed requests for information sent to:
Information for Individuals with Disabilities
P.O. Box 750119 Arlington Heights, MA 02475
For immediate assistance they recommend calling: 800 642-0249.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE 1-800-642-0249
Attention Becky Olsen
(Mass. Network of Information Providers, provides information specific to disabilites. SEE H12)
They supply information and referrals for adults and children
with disabilities. They are affiliated with thirty other agencies which serve disabled persons,
including Boston Center for Independent Living. (See H12 and I)

Early Intervention Services
Dept. of Public Health (See H16)
Telephone: 617-624-5969, Ron Bemham.

H11 SAMARITANS 1-508-875-4500
Location: Framingham
Suggested contact: Call
Dir. Alan Holmund tel. 508-872-1780
Kind of resource and cost: free, confidential, befriending
Supportive telephone contact for persons
who are suicidal or depressed, preserving the anonymity of the caller.

H12 MASS. OFFICE ON DISABILITIES 1-800-322-2020
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Referral
services for people with all kinds of disabilities.
Americans with Disabilities Act, Interpretation and enforcement.

Training Center for Community Access Monitors.
One office for Partners for Youth with Disabilities. Tel 617-556-4075
Web site: DISABILITY

NEW ENGLAND INDEX,
Shriver Center (see H10)
200 Tapelo Road Waltham, MA 02452
e-mail: info@shriver.org
NEI is the coordinator of MASS. NETWORK OF INFORMATION PROVIDERS-718-642-0248
See DISABILITY Web Site.

The Index provides databases for disability related programs and services in Massachusetts.
(Resource Data Base, Consultant Registry, Physician Registry, Dentist Registry.)
The also provide an online newsletter, locate local information specialists,
and will accept requests for information.

PARTNERS FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES 617-556-4075
New England Index (see above) 200 Trapelo Road
Waltham, MA 02452

H13 WIDOWED PERSONS SERVICES 508-620-8797
Volunteers willing to support newly widowed persons on a one-to-one basis

H14 PARENTAL STRESS HOTLINE 1-800-632-8188
All hours, all days. Support and referrals for parents with a child of any age,
as well as for other family members, care givers, friends, or relatives. (See I18)

H15 ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL 800-370-9085
NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) of Central Middlesex
serving families, friends, and people with mental illnesses.
namiedu@yahoo.com
Contact Michelle Harubi
MASSVISIONS
www.massvisions.org

CENTRAL MIDDLESEX NAMI
Support meetings, educational lecture series and newsletter.
NAMI also advocates for better treatment of persons with mental illnesses.
Meetings: First Thursday of the month at 2:30 PM in the West Concord Union Church, at
Pine and Main Streets. Contact: Marian Korbet 978-369-3073.
Meetings also the last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 to 9:30 at the First Congregational Church
25 Great Road (Rts. 4, 225 and 62) in Bedford, MA. (Contact Jane Puffer 781-275-0512.)
Twelve week free courses are provided for family members of school age through
college aged youth with mental illness, and for families of adults.

H16 FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 617-624-5962
Location: 1135 Tremont Street, Suite 420, Boston, MA 02120
Contact: Richard Robinson, Monday throught Friday 9AM to 5 PM
The Federation finds advocates for children, and gives free referral service and workshops on Parents Rights and Basic Rights.

PERINATEAL HEALTH CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH
MASS. DEPT. OF HEALTH
Provides services for children from birth to age three years and their families.
They provide help for children with physical disabilities, development delay,
or other problems. Interdisciplinary therapeutic teams include educators,
social workers, and nursing professionals.
Mass. Contact: Ron Benham 617-624-5062
Minuteman Area Contact: Alex Chatfield 978 369-3524
Community Agencies Bldg. 11 Ornac Road, Concord, MA
(In the Emerson Complex.)

H17 MARLBOROUGH ADDICTION REFERRAL CENTER 508-485-4357
Location: 110 Pleasant Street, Marlborough, MA
Contact: Ann Keane.
Service: Drop in Center for addicted persons who are in
treatment or not in treatment. Referrals by telephone.

H18 SINGLE PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP 978 263-5902
Location: West Acton Baptist Church, 592 Mass. Ave. Acton, MA 01720
Kind of resource: Offer free emotionally supportive environment; Child care is provided.
Meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday month. 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

PARENTS HELPING PARENTS 800-882-1250
Stress Line and Meetings. To attend the meetings
leave your phone number and someone will call you. The
Meeting place is not given over the phone. There is
currently a meeting in Ayer on Tuesday Evening, 7 to 8:30 PM

H19 NETWORK FOR WOMEN'S LIVES 978-287-4089
P.O.Box 276, Concord, MA 01742
MISSION: The Network for Women’s Lives, serving Central Middlesex County, raises awareness
about Domestic Violence by offering education, information, and resources for victims
and those who care. Volunteer based, formed in 1992, aims to educate the community about
domestic violence in collaboration with other Central Middlesex resources.

KEY PROJECTS: Support Groups for Women with Controlling Partners.
Twelve-week programs to help women achieve safety
and self-care, understand the more insidious and coercive
behaviors of the abuser, and examine how the control
affects their lives. Held in a safe environment with other women
in similar situations, the sessions are led by
trained social workers who have been working in the field of
domestic violence for over eight years. For more
information, call 978/287-4089. All conversations are confidential.
The Network for Women’s Lives underwrites the cost
of the sessions and babysitting services as necessary.

Rachel’s Boxes. Wooden boxes located throughout the
community (e.g., libraries, schools, faith communities)
containing general information on domestic violence and related
issues as well as information to help victims
keep safe (e.g., safety planning, support resources and hotlines).
The Rachel’s Box Committee determines new box locations
and information requirements and coordinates the volunteers who keep the boxes filled.

DV Hotline Post-Its. Easy-to-conceal list of local DV Hotlines
for victims and those who care and a visible
reminder that domestic violence and control are not acceptable.
Post-It Card is usually placed in restroom stalls
where a victim is alone and more likely to feel safe taking
the information when the time for action is right. The DV Hotline
Post-Its Committee identifies locations and coordinators and keeps them supplied with post-it pads.

The Safety Net. Quarterly newsletter sent to members
and placed in Rachel’s Boxes. The Newsletter Committee determines
newsletter content, publishes the newsletter and distributes it via mail, Rachel’s Box committee.

Clergy Symposium
Practical guidance and discussion for clergy
counseling affected members of their faith communities
and dealing with domestic violence as a religious issue.
The Symposium Committee determines agenda, speakers,
publicity, and local arrangements and runs the symposium.

Walk for Women’s Lives. Major annual fundraiser for area shelters,
rape counseling centers, and domestic violence organizations.
The Walk Committee organizes and runs the walk and related fundraising raffle.

BATTERED WOMEN'S SUPPORT COMMITTEE 1-800-899-4000
A national telephone referral system.

SAFE LINK 877 785-2020
Hot line for victims of domestic violence, women or men. provide options:
shelter, counseling, legal help and referrals.

GROUP FOR WOMEN WITH CONTROLLING PARTNERS. 978-369-2208
Contacts: Carol Lambert 978-369-0259 and Hadley Fisk 978-369-2208
Provides a 12-week course of education and support.
Individual therapy is available. Health insurance is accepted.
Located in the Concord Area. Address not given to maintain safety of participants.

H20 ROTARY CLUB OF ACTON, MA 978-263-1960
LOCATION; Acton, MA
Contact: Geoffrey Kerr
Services provided: DARE, Scholarships, International Exchanges, etc.
Web-site: ROTARY

H24 GREATER WORCESTER INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK 1-508-798-6732
Location: 114 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608
Contact: Joanne Marhuska, Tel. 508-890-1200 ext. 326
Services: Organization works with churches to provide temporary shelter
for homeless families and groups of families. Church buildings are the shelters
and one week is the usual time of stay. People of church give help.
This is a national interfaith organization with headquarters in Summit, NJ.
Web site:HOSPITALITY

H26 PALS, PERSONAL ADVOCACY & LIFETIME SUPPORT 1-781-647-0900
P.O.Box 550234, North Waltham, MA 02455
Contact: Judi Kotanchik, Tel. 978-263-9381, e-mail judik@speakseasy.net
PALS purpose is to assist parents, guardians and others to plan safe, secure and happy futures
for persons with disabilities. Our foremost goal is to help families establish personal
support networks for their loved ones. This is a non-profit organization.
e-mail: pals.inc@verizon.net

H27 See lists of Support Groups in:

1. Middlesex News Extra (Weekends.)
2. Beacon Newspaper,. See calendar (Thursday)
3. Action Unlimited (Mon.) for news releases, info.
4. ACTON GUIDE--local telephone book.
5. Verizon Telephone Book--Help Lines
Numbers,(Marlboro Concord, Acton)
6. Verizon Local Community Directories--Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, and Stow.
7. Local libraries--updated resource files.
8. Emerson Hospital listings.
9. Family Resource Guide. 978-287-0221
10. The Internet.

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