Made Alive

Resources / By state / Massachusetts

Pregnancy & family help in Massachusetts

108 organizations in Massachusetts offering help with pregnancy, housing, food, childcare, adoption and more. We checked each one before listing it, but hours and services change, so please call ahead.

Adoption

Free / Subsidized Childcare

  • ABCD Head Start & Children's Services

    Head Start and early-education centers across Boston neighborhoods, from Action for Boston Community Development.

  • SMOC Child Care & Head Start

    Free Head Start preschool and child care for eligible families in and around Framingham. Enrollment: (508) 820-8380 or 1-800-779-4853.

  • South Shore Community Action Council — Head Start & Early Head Start

    Head Start and Early Head Start early-education centers on the South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands, plus fuel assistance and food distribution.

  • Child Care Financial Assistance

    Statewide

    State help paying for child care for eligible working or studying families. Apply online or through Mass 211.

Churches / Baby Closets

Clothing / Supplies

Domestic Violence

  • Jane Doe Inc. (MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence)

    Statewide

    Statewide coalition with a directory of local domestic-violence and sexual-assault programs. The number is the SafeLink 24/7 hotline; JDI office (617) 248-0922.

  • SafeLink domestic violence hotline

    Statewide

    Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 domestic violence hotline, run by Casa Myrna.

Employment

Potential Financial Assistance

  • Catholic Charities Boston

    Basic needs and emergency assistance, food pantries, child care and family services across the Archdiocese of Boston.

  • Catholic Charities Worcester County

    Basic needs help, including a clothing closet, food pantry, case management and emergency assistance. Offices in Worcester, Athol, Leominster and Southbridge.

  • Mass 211

    Statewide

    Dial 2-1-1 to be connected with local help for housing, food, utilities, child care and more.

  • The Salvation Army — Massachusetts

    Statewide

    Emergency financial help, food and seasonal assistance through local corps across Massachusetts. Find the nearest location on the website.

Food Programs

Health Assistance

  • Charles River Community Health

    Community health center in Brighton and Waltham ((781) 693-3800) offering primary care, pediatrics and women's health.

  • Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center

    Community health center offering primary care, women's health and pediatrics regardless of ability to pay.

  • MetroWest Free Medical Program

    Free medical care for uninsured and underinsured adults, including women's health clinics, by appointment.

  • MassHealth

    Statewide

    Massachusetts’ public health coverage, including care during pregnancy.

Housing Assistance & Shelters

Infant & Baby Equipment

  • Branches Family Resource Center

    Free diapers, wipes, maternity and baby clothing and baby items, plus parenting programs. (Phone shared with the Brattleboro, VT office.)

Mental Health & Postpartum Assistance

Parenting Classes

Pregnancy Centers

Special Needs Assistance

  • Easterseals Massachusetts

    Statewide

    Disability services statewide, including therapy, assistive technology, recreation, and employment and transition programs.

  • Family TIES of Massachusetts

    Statewide

    Parent-to-parent support and the statewide directory of Early Intervention programs for children with special needs.

  • Federation for Children with Special Needs

    Statewide

    Parent center helping families of children with special needs with special education, health care navigation and advocacy. Toll-free (800) 331-0688.

  • The Arc of Massachusetts

    Statewide

    Support and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, with local chapters across the state.

Support for Fathers

  • Children's Trust Massachusetts

    Statewide

    Statewide parenting support, including Healthy Families home visiting, parenting groups and the Nurturing Fathers program.

  • DCF Fatherhood Engagement (Nurturing Fathers)

    Statewide

    State resources for dads, including the free 13-week Nurturing Fathers parenting program, open to all fathers statewide.

  • Massachusetts Family Resource Centers

    Statewide

    Free parenting groups, family support and referrals at local centers in every region of the state. Find your nearest center on the website.

Transportation

  • Family Promise North Shore Boston

    Helps families facing homelessness regain housing, including transportation and financial help through its diversion program.

  • Helping Our Women

    Free rides to medical appointments, plus financial and food assistance, for registered women on the Outer Cape (Eastham to Provincetown) with serious health conditions.

  • MassHealth rides to medical appointments

    Statewide

    Eligible MassHealth members can get rides to covered appointments. Your provider submits the request (a PT-1).

Looking for more? Nationwide hotlines and programs that also serve Massachusetts are in the full directory search. Know an organization that belongs here? Tell us about it.