Helpful Links

Looking for more information? Explore these links or check out our other pages: Parent Education and Tips for Managing Finances. Please note that Community Teamwork, Inc. takes responsibility for the content and maintenance of only its own web pages.

Health
Consumer Health Help Line: ( 800 ) 272-4232
www.hcfama.org
Health Care for All

• A free resource for Massachusetts' residents where counselors answer questions ranging from general inquiries about insurance to questions about the health care system in Massachusetts. Counselors can also answer questions about co-payments, health insurance rules, directions, eligibility for programs and more.

Mass Health (An Overview)
www.massresources.org/pages.cfm?contentID=35&pageID=13&Subpages=yes
MassResources.org

• Explains the eligibility requirements, benefits and the plans available within the MassHealth system, as well as the enrollment procedure.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance: 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669)
www.pparx.org

• A coalition of pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups working to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through appropriate public or private programs. Many will get them free or nearly free. In order to find out what patient assistance programs you may qualify for, all you have to do is answer a few short eligibility questions.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Call the Main Office at (978) 454-6397
www.comteam.org/wic.htm

• WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children under 5 years of age. WIC provides support to low-income women and children by offering nutrition education, healthy foods, and referrals to health and social service providers. To qualify for CTI's WIC Program, you must be a female Massachusetts resident who is pregnant or postpartum - OR - manage a family with an infant or child under five years of age and meet the income guidlines.

Housing / Homeownership
Citizens' Housing and Planning Association
www.chapa.org/housing_workshops2005.htm

• Lists the certified "First-Time Home Buyer classes offered throughout Massachusetts

Community Housing, Inc.- Affordable Housing Solutions
www.community-housing.com

• Community Housing Inc. (CHI) is a non-profit organization specializing in sales of affordable homes. Many of these homes are sold before they are ever advertised on any real estate listing service. Once qualified residents have completed a “First-Time Home Buyer” class, CHI can assist homebuyers in purchasing affordable housing. CHI is a subsidiary of Community Teamwork Inc., operating in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership: (978) 459-8490
http://www.mvhp.org

• The Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership is a private 501(C) (3), non-profit organization that promotes “affordable home ownership opportunities for low and moderate income earners.” MVHP offers down payment assistance to qualified residents within the Greater Lowell area, as well as “First-Time Home Buyer” classes through its Project Genesis program.

Financial Awareness
Caution with Credit
http://www.cautionwithcredit.com/
Massachusetts – Office of the State Treasurer

• Explains the benefits and consequences of credit management, as well as the role of credit counseling.

Money Management International: (866) 889-9347
http://www.moneymanagement.org/
Consumer Credit Counseling Services

• A free, comprehensive financial education service provided by a non-profit organization, including a 24 hr./ 7-day a week hotline number for callers.
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• Offers advice on budgeting, debt management, and even bankruptcy counseling.

Parenting
Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium
http://www.doe.mass.edu/familylit/parents/

• Resources to help parents of young children learn and love reading.

Military Homefront: Supporting Troops & Their Families
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_HOME_1?section_id=20.40.0.0.0.0.0.0.0
U.S. Department of Defense

• With articles and links to other sites designed to help troops and their families cope with the challenges of deployment.

Prevent Child Abuse Massachusetts
http://www.masskids.org/pcama/index.html
Massachusetts Citizens for Children

• Site includes parenting advice, suggestions for appropriate levels of discipline, and further information to help prevent the abuse or neglect of children.

Support Services (Greater Lowell)
Mental Health Association of Greater Lowell: (978) 458-6282
http://www.mhalowell.org/

• The group offers counseling and consultation services to children, adults, couples and families. In addition to outpatient counseling, the group also provides residential programs for mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons, community education, and information and referral services.

Merrimack Valley Legal Services, Inc.: (978) 458-1465 or (800) 336-2262
http://www.mvlegal.org

• MVLS is a legal aid program that provides free legal advice and representation in civil legal cases to low-income and elderly residents of parts of Essex and Middlesex counties. Since 1974, MVLS has represented victims of domestic violence, clients from becoming homeless, children with special needs, elderly and disabled people in obtaining disability, welfare, and medical benefits, people making the transition from welfare to work, and those denied unemployment compensation.

For other information, please choose one of the following links: