Citizens' Guide to State Services:
Children

Office of the Child Advocate

Department of Children and Families
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
1 Ashburton Place, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-979-8374
Complaint Line: 617-979-8360
Toll Free: 1-866-790-3690
Fax: 617-979-8379
E-mail: childadvocate@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-the-child-advocate

The goal of the Child Advocate Office is to ensure each child involved with welfare, juvenile justice, or a state service agency receives the services in a timely and respectful manner.

Department of Children and Families (DCF)

Executive Office of Health and Human Services
600 Washington Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617-748-2000
Baby Safe Haven Info/Resources:Phone: 1-866-814-SAFE (7233)
24/7 Child-At-Risk Hotline:Phone: 1-800-792-5200
DCF Ombudsman Office:Phone: 617-748-2444
Email: DCFCommissioner@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/orgs/Massachusetts-department-of-children-families

The Department of Children and Families was created by the Legislature in 1978 to be responsible for the enforcement and supervision of the laws regarding the reporting, investigating, evaluation, and management of alleged child abuse cases, serious physical or emotional injuries, neglect, or addictions at birth.

This office serves Boston and the metropolitan area. To report cases outside of this area during normal business hours, call the local office. On weekends and after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, call the toll free "Child-At-Risk" hotline. Call, or visit their website for a listing of regional offices.

Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC)

3815 Washington Street, Suite 2
Boston, MA 02130
Phone: 617-983-5800
Parents Helping Parents Line: 1-800-632-8188
www.mspcc.org/

This is a private, non-profit agency providing social work services to children and families in Massachusetts in which neglect or abuse is a major problem. Preventive and protective programs are offered through their regional offices across the Commonwealth, which may be reached by calling the main office or visiting their website.

Adoption Agency Licensing

Department of Early Education and Care
51 Sleeper Street
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-988-6600
Fax: 617-988-2451
www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-early-education-and-care

Adoption, foster care , and group care services all share the fact that the children who receive these services are in care for 24 hours a day. Generically, this is termed residential care. The Department of Early Education and Care is responsible to license the service provider for this type of care. This responsibility means licensing the program actually delivering the care to the child. At other times, it means licensing the agency which makes the arrangement to place a child in custody of another person. These programs are called placement agencies.

Adoption in Massachusetts is only allowed through a placement agency/adoption agency licensed by EEC. No private adoptions are permitted (international adoptions are not regulated). Those interested in adopting a child who is waiting for a family, please call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (see below).

Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc. (MARE)

19 Needhamn Street, Suite 206
Newton, MA 02461
Phone: 617-964-6273
Toll free: 1-800-882-1176
www.mareinc.org

The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange is a private, non-profit office which serves all of Massachusetts and works with any licensed adoption agency in the state. It is a coordinating service for all 36 Massachusetts adoption agencies. The exchange does not place children directly but a central registry puts waiting adoptive parents in touch with children waiting for adoption.

Child Passenger Safety Program

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
19 Needhamn Street, Suite 206
Newton, MA 02461
Phone: 617-727-7775
Toll Free: 1-877-392-5956
www.mass.gov/car-seat-safety

All passengers in vehicles must wear seat belts. Violators must pay a $25.00 fine if a driver is stopped for a motor vehicle infraction and an officer finds that any passenger is not wearing a seat belt. Under the combined safety and emissions inspection regulations, safety belts are required for motor vehicles where such safety belts were installed as original equipment. In addition:

• Each passenger over 16 years of age not properly fastened in will be fined individually
• Children five years of age or under must be protected with an approved child passenger restraint such as an infant, toddler, convertible, or booster seat until they reach 80 lbs
• Under the Child Passenger Safety Law, M.G.L. ch. 90, s. 7AA, passengers who are under age eight years old must be fastened and secured by a child passenger restraint, (child or booster seat as appropriate) unless such passenger measures more than 57 inches in height. The child passenger restraint shall be properly fastened and secured according to manufacturer's instruction
• Unless required to be secured by a child passenger restraint device such as a child or booster seat, all children less than 13 years of age shall wear a seat belt adjusted and fastened according to manufacturer's instructions

Injury and Prevention Control Program

Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-994-9846
www.mass.gov/orgs/injury-prevention-and-control-program

Massachusetts/R.I. Regional Poison Control Center
Toll Free: 1-800-222-1222

The goals of the Injury Control and Prevention Program (IPCP) are to promote reduction in the incidence of residential, recreational, school, traffic, and intentional injuries among Massachusetts residents, and to improve emergency medical services for children.

Services include:

• Program development
• Training
• Health education
• Technical assistance
• Data analysis and reporting
• Coalition building and public information efforts for health professionals, state and community agencies, educators, law enforcement officers and others

The IPCP provides injury data and related technical assistance, conducts periodic analysis and reporting of fatal and nonfatal injury data, and evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of injury control programs and materials.

The Massachusetts Poison Control Center, a public-private partnership, located at the Boston Children's Hospital, operates a statewide, toll-free, twenty-four hour a day phone line for poisoning emergencies and poison information. The Center is linked to the AT&T Language Line providing access to interpreters in over 100 languages.

Child Care Resources (and licensing)

Department of Early Education and Care
51 Sleeper Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-988-6600
MA Child Care Resource and Referral Programs: 1-800-345-0131 (within Massachusetts only)
www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-early-education-and-care

The Department of Early Education and Care provides information and referrals on child care services to a variety of child care centers or family day care homes. This office also works with employers, day care providers, and others in the community to expand and improve child care resources, and also provides training opportunities for child care professionals, including family day care providers. This program operates through locally-based agencies throughout the state. Contact this office for the name of the CCR&R agency in particular communities.

The Licensing Division licenses and monitors child care settings. It oversees the licensure of:

• Day care, group day care and school age child care facilities
Family day care homes and large family day care facilities Adoption and foster care agencies Temporary shelters for children for most cities and towns Residential programs serving children and teen parents

More information on this can be obtained by calling the office. It also provides assistance in meeting standards or in developing programs.

Executive Office of Education

1 Ashburton Place, Room 1403
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-979-8340
Fax: 617-727-0049
Email: EOE@massmail.state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-education

Established in 2008, the Executive Office of Education oversees and coordinates the direction and efforts of:

• Department of Early Education and Care
• Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Department of Higher Education
• University of Massachusetts

Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)

Executive Office of Education
51 Sleeper Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-988-6600
Fax: 617-988-2451
www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-early-education-and-care

The Department of Early Education and Care sets standards for and monitors childcare programs throughout the state. It is responsible for fostering the well-being of children enrolled in child care by establishing and enforcing health and safety standards.

Through its regional offices, it licenses:

• The state's child care centers
• Nursery schools
• Private kindergartens
• Family day care homes
• School age child care programs
• Preschool programs
• Residential and temporary shelter facilities for children
• Foster care and adoption placement agencies

EEC also administers and purchases subsidized child care for income eligible families, families receiving Transitional Assistance, early learning services, special child care services and child care resource and referral services. The office also provides information and referral for parents seeking child care. EEC serves children up to age 18 (to age 22 with special needs) and their families.

Regional EEC Offices

Quincy

Lawrence

Springfield

Taunton

Worcester

In addition, EEC oversees the Children's Trust Fund. A primary prevention program which was established to provide statewide child abuse prevention programs at elementary schools.

Children's Trust Fund

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
Main Number: 781-338-3000
TTY: 1-800-439-2370
Legal Office: 781-338-3400
Teacher Licensure: 781-338-6600
Fax: 781-338-3391
www.doe.mass.edu

The Department is the administrative arm of the State Board of Education. It offers technical consultation and guidance to all public primary and secondary schools in the state.

Some of the specific responsibilities include:

• Chapter 188 and Chapter 727, School improvement laws
• Chapter 766, the special education law
• Transitional bilingual education
• Chapter 622, the anti-discrimination law
• The integration of schools
• Occupational education
• Adult education including literacy programs
• School building standards
• Program and hour requirements
• Early childhood education
• Teacher certification
• Educational technology
• It publishes a directory of public and private elementary and secondary schools (also sold at the State Bookstore), and information on the distribution of high school graduates
• It serves as the clearinghouse for research and data for the department and school systems

Adoption and Family Foster Care Recruitment

Department of Children and Families
600 Washington Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617-748-2000
Adoption/Foster Care Info: 1-800-KIDS-508 (543-7508) (within Massachusetts only)
Email: DCFCommissioner@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/adopting-from-dcf

Family foster care is temporary in an approved family home on a 24-hour a day basis. Children who cannot remain with their own families are provided with stable family living situations. Potential foster care families are recruited and assessed and children are prepared for placement. Financial assistance, orientation, training, and other support services are provided to foster care families by DSS and contract agencies.

Kaileigh Mulligan Program

MassHealth Central Processing Unit
P.O. Box 4405
Taunton, MA 02780
Toll-free: 1-800-841-2900 (within Massachusetts only)
TTY: 1-800-497-4648 (within Massachusetts only)
www.mass.gov/service-details/health-plans-and-programs

This is a home care program for disabled children who do not qualify for Medicaid, but with limited financial resources and is administered by MassHealth.

Children's Medical Security Plan (CMSP)

MassHealth Central Processing Unit
P.O. Box 4405
Taunton, MA 02780
Toll-free: 1-800-841-2900 (within Massachusetts only))
TTY: 1-800-497-4648 (within Massachusetts only)
www.mass.gov/childrens-medical-security-plan

The Children's Medical Security Program (CMSP), created Chapter 151, s. 257 of the Acts of 1996, is a health-insurance program that provides certain uninsured children and adolescents with primary and preventive medical and dental coverage. Children under the age of 19 who are Massachusetts residents, do not qualify for MassHealth (except MassHealth Limited), and do not have access to primary and preventive health care qualify. The amount a family pays for CMSP coverage is dependent on family size and income. There may be a waiting list to receive CMSP coverage.

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF)

Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs
250 Washington Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-624-6060
Toll Free: 1-800-882-1435
TTY: 617-624-5992
Fax: (617) 624-5990
www.mass.gov/cicrf

The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund was established by legislation in 2000 to help families bear the excessivefinancial burdens associated with the care of children with special health care needs and disabilities. It provides financial assistance for Massachusetts families with children experiencing a medical condition requiring services thatare not covered by a private insurer, federal or state health care assistance, or any other financial source.

CICRF receives money through an annual allotment of $1 for each employee whose wages are counted as part of employer contributions for unemployment health insurance. The fund is administered by an independent, multidisciplinary commission. Members from the public and private sectors are recommended by the Office of the Attorney General and the Governor's Office. Final appointments are made by the Governor. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health provides staff support to the Commission, with the final authority on decisions regarding expenditures from the Fund.

Head Start - State Collaboration Project

Department of Early Education and Care
51 Sleeper Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-988-6600
Amy Whitehead-Pleaux, Massachusetts Head Start State Collaboration Office Director: Amy.Whitehead-pleaux@mass.gov

www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-early-education-and-care

The Head Start Program in Massachusetts is sponsored by the Head Start-State Collaboration Project of Massachusetts, funded through the U.S. Administration for Children and Families Early Childhood Learning &Knowledge Center: 1-866-763-6481 in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of the Collaboration Project is to improve the lives of children and their families in Massachusetts by improving the way services and support for young children are designed, delivered, coordinated and organized.

Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition

Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-624-6060
TTY: 617-624-6001
Fax: 617-624-6062
www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-family-health-and-nutrition

The Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition focuses on the health of infants, children, adolescents as well as men and women through the following divisions: Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs; Catastophic Illness in Children Relief Fund and the Nutrition Division. The bureau targets its resources to low-income and special needs individuals and to high need areas of the state in an effort to reach those most at risk for health problems.

Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs

Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-624-6060
Community Support Line: 1-800-882-1435
Fax: 617-624-6062
E-mail: Elaine.Gabovitch@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/dph/specialhealthneeds

The goal of the division is to reduce rates of infant mortality and low birthweight, to prevent health and developmental problems in infants and children, and to improve the long-term health outcomes in families by targeting services in the reproductive, childhood, and adolescent years. The division strives to reduce barriers to prenatal services, pediatric care and family planning services; and to provide primary care, and family support services to women of reproductive age, women who are pregnant, children and youth in a manner sensitive to individual needs and cultures. Its programs include: Early Intervention; and Universal Newborn Hearing Screening. The division plans, implements and evaluates public health programs for children with special health needs and their families. This role goes back to Title V of the Social Security Act, which established a system for states to provide care for children with special health care needs starting in 1935. Programs include case management of children with special health care needs, such as: the Pediatric Palliative Care Network; the Special Medical Fund; which helps when it has been determined that public and private services are not available to the child. The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund; MassStart (Mass. Technology Assistance Resource Team); and MassCare (Mass. Community AIDS Resource Enhancement Program) are also family-oriented health programs, while the Office on Health and Disability (OHD) seeks to improve the health and well being of persons of all ages with disabilities in Massachusetts.

Office of Sexual Health and Youth Development (OSHYD)

Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Bureau of Community Health and Prevention
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02108-4619
Phone: 617-624-6060
Fax: 617-624-6062
www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-sexual-health-and-youth-development

The Office of Sexual Health and Youth Development comprises several different programs that work synergistically to:

• Increase access to comprehensive sexuality education
• Decrease teen and unintended pregnancy
• Decrease the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Increase the sustainability of delivery networks serving youth and other vulnerable populations
• Increase protective factors for young people using a positive youth development lens

Division of Violence and Injury Prevention

Bureau of Community Health and Prevention
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-624-5413
www.mass.gov/dph/dvip

This division oversees the Emergency Medical Services for Children; Injury Prevention and Control Program; the Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention; the Violence Prevention and Intervention Services; the Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services; and Llamanos, a statewide Spanish language sexual assault hotline. Its Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Unit offers programs related to batterer intervention, bullying prevention, gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender youth. The Child and Youth Violence Prevention Unit offers programs and services that include gang intervention, and high-risk youth mentor/apprentice and job readiness and employment programs.

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Nutrition Division

Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-624-6100
www.mass.gov/orgs/nutrition-division-of-the-bureau-of-family-health-and-nutrition
Toll Free: 1-800-942-1007

Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
www.mass.gov/wic

Within this division, the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children, more commonly known by its acronym, WIC, was designed to improve the nutritional content of the participants' diet, both while they are enrolled in the program and when they no longer receive WIC services.

It provides access to:

• Nutritious foods via vouchers
• Nutrition education and counseling
• Health care referrals to women, infants, and children under five years of age who are at medical or nutritional risk

The Growth and Nutrition Program funds several clinics across the state to evaluate and treat children with Failure-to-Thrive. The program was established by the legislature to evaluate and treat children with severe undernutrition, or failure-to-thrive, which results in both growth and social development delays.

Services include:

• Home visitation
• Collaborative community-based outreach projects
• Provider training
• Research and advocacy

Nutrition, Health and Safety

Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-9120
Phone: 781-338-6480
Fax: 781-338-3399
E-mail: nutrition@doe.mass.edu

Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
www.mass.gov/women-infants-children-wic-nutrition-program

In 1977, the Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET) was enacted under section 19, Public Law 95-146. The Food and Nutrition Service operates the NET Program to support nutrition education in the food assistance programs for children:

• The National School Lunch Program
• School Breakfast
• Summer Food Service
• Child and Adult Care Food Programs (CACFP)

The Massachusetts NET Program was established to support nutrition education for children, parents, educators, and food service personnel. This agency administers and provides technical assistance for feeding programs for public and non-profit private schools, institutions, child care agencies, summer camps, family day care homes, and adult day care centers.

The office oversees the distribution of surplus food to local and non-profit agencies for income-eligible citizens. The CACFP is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. State agencies or FNS regional offices oversee the program at the local level. This office approves these agencies.