SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD)
Youth and Young Adults BSAS HELPLINE
MABHA (Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access) Youth and Family Services
Motivating Youth Recovery (MYR), 26 Queen St. 5th floor, Worcester, MA 01610, phone: (508) 860-1244
Peer Support
Learn to Cope: Learn to Cope is a non-profit support network that offers education, resources, peer support and hope for parents and family members coping with a loved one addicted to opiates or other drugs.
Allies in Recovery: Community, personalized guidance, and a scientifically-proven program to support your loved one.
Al-Anon: Al‑Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By sharing common experiences and applying the Al-Anon principles, families and friends of alcoholics can bring positive changes to their individual situations, whether or not the alcoholic admits the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.
Alateen: A place just for teens affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Alateen is a fellowship of young people (mostly teenagers) whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking whether they are in your life drinking or not. By attending Alateen, teenagers meet other teenagers with similar situations. Alateen is not a religious program and there are no fees or dues to belong to it.
MENTAL HEALTH/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DMH Young Adult Resource Guide
Young Adult Centers The Department of Mental Health (DMH) funds centers around the state for young people through age 24. Each center helps young adults build skills for independent living, learning, and employment, and offers opportunities for peer support and mentoring.
Impact Youth Access Center in Springfield
STEPS Young Adult Resource Center in Arlington
TEMPO Young Adult Resource Center in Framingham
The Spot Young Adult Center in Roxbury
Transition Resources & Community Supports (TRACS) in Quincy
You Forward Drop In Centers in Haverhill and Lawrence
Zia Access Center in Worcester
Family Support Services
NAMI Massachusetts Family Support: Resources to support for family members of people who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
NAMI COMPASS Helpline: Speak to someone on family Support options; Helpline available Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Call us at 617-704-6264 or email [email protected].
Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL)
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Family & Friends Support Groups
Mad in America (MIA) Online Parent Support Groups
Recovering Our Families Online Class
LGBTIQQS
LGBTIQQS HELPLINE AND PEER LISTENING LINES
Peer Listening Line (25 & Under): Help lines are anonymous and confidential. No matter what is on your mind, we are here to encourage and ensure you that you are not alone.
Phone: (617) 267-2535
Toll-Free: (800) 399-7337
The Trevor Project crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
24/7 Trevor Lifeline: 1 (866) 488-7386
Support
Boston GLASS Community Center A drop-in center for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning young people between the ages of 13 and 25. You can get something to eat, use the computers to build a resume, or talk to a staff person and get help or support on everything from housing issues to health care. They offer group meetings titled: Gender Identity Group, Coming Out Group, Women’s Group, and Men’s Group.
Phone: (857) 399-1920
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Support Project Their mission is to ensure safe and supportive communities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) youth. The GLBT Youth Support Project provides training and on-going support for educators and health and human service providers to assist them in implementing welcoming and appropriate programs, policies, and services for these young people and their families.
Address: 942 West Chestnut Street Brockton, MA 02301
Phone: 1 (800) 530-2770
The Cape and Islands Gay and Straight Youth Alliance is a community-based alliance of young people from 14 to 22 that exists to improve the lives of LGBTIQQS (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning and straight) youth on Cape Cod and the Islands by addressing key risk factors such as the self-hate, isolation and fear. CIGSYA works toward eliminating all forms of discrimination based on differences through education and training, and by providing a space where young people can come together free from judgment and harassment.
Address: 56 Barnstable Rd. Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: (508) 778-7744
Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Youth (BAGLY) is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies, and services for GLBT youth 22 and under.
Phone: (617) 227-4313
Find an AGLY near you!
Merrimack Valley Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth (McVAGLY) aims to provide LGBT youth from the Merrimack Valley a safe environment to gather weekly to discuss issues that may not be adequately addressed elsewhere. These issues may include coming out, safe sex, the effectiveness of high school and middle school GSA’s, suicide, and GLBT rights in the community. All meetings are facilitated by high school and college students and chaperoned by adults 25+ yrs.
Supporters of Worcester Area Gay and Lesbian Youth (SWAGLY) provides a safe space for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth and their straight allies, ages 14-23 to socialize, learn and share. Their weekly meetings consist of social time, introductions, community announcements, and a structured conversation about issues facing GLBTQ youth today. These include coming out, coping with stress, working with relationships, and various discussions about drug abuse and safer sex
Phone: (508) 755-0005
North Shore Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (NAGLY) is a welcoming and safe place for youth ages 14 – 21 who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. Their mission is to create, sustain and advocate for programs, policies, and services for the LGBT youth community, through regular support meetings, and by defending and enhancing the human and civil rights of LGBT youth on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
Phone: (617) 927-6088
Phone: (781) 913-3747
OUT Metrowest The mission of OUT MetroWest is to support the health and emotional well-being of LGBTQ teens in the Boston MetroWest area by offering youth-led and adult-supported social and educational programs. Umbrella is a peer group specifically intended to provide additional support for transgender and gender-nonconforming youth. Nexus is a program for middle school youth that meets monthly in a safe space to explore questions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Phone: (508) 875 2122
Email: [email protected]
Boston Area Transgender Support is a peer-run support group for transgender young adults in and around Boston. They are inclusive of both female-to-male (FTM) spectrum and male-to-female (MTF) spectrum individuals, gender queer persons, intersexed folks, and of those questioning their gender identity. Meetings emphasize group participation and mutual respect, and all. Discussions are confidential between members.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Here are Local resources in your community.
24/7 Trevor Lifeline: 1 (866) 488-7386
Safe Homes is a program of The Bridge of Central Massachusetts. It is a program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning young people between the ages of 14 and 23, and is led by youth, professional staff, and volunteer adult advisors. They offer support and resources in a safe and nurturing environment.
Address: 4 Mann Street Worcester, MA 01602
Phone: (508) 755-0333
Health
Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center provides safe, non-judgmental care for young people ages 12–29 who may not feel comfortable going anywhere else. They provide medical care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, STD testing and treatment, women’s health care, transgender care, and provide sensitive, respectful and appropriate care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBT) youth and young adults.
Address: 75 Kneeland Street Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 457-8140
Education
GLSEN- Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is a national organization making schools safer for ALL students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, they work to educate teachers, students, and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike.
Address: GLSEN MA PO Box 51243, Boston, MA 02205
Phone: (617) 684-5736
Email: [email protected]
Residential/Housing
Waltham House is a group home program is designed to provide a safe and supportive living environment for up to 12 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth ages 14-18. Waltham House offers residents a safe environment to live while they prepare for family reunification, independent living and future self-sufficiency.
Phone: (781) 647-9976
Employment
Massachusetts Youth Employment and Safety Team (YES Team) The Massachusetts YES Team is made up of 8 state and federal agencies that coordinate efforts to protect and promote the health and safety of young workers across the Commonwealth. YES Team: Resources for young Workers.
Commonwealth Corporation runs programs that teach people how to work, providing lifelong learning for careers of a lifetime. Commonwealth Corporation is a quasi-public workforce development agency that strengthens the skills of Massachusetts youth and adults by investing in innovative partnerships with industry, education and workforce organizations.
Signal Success is a comprehensive curriculum designed and tested by education and workforce development partners to help young people develop essential skills for future success. Students receive systematic instruction in core soft skills while engaging in meaningful future planning.
The Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) is a youth violence prevention and intervention initiative that operates in cities with the highest juvenile crime rates. SSYI targets a small number of individuals, ages 17-24, that local police have identified as “proven risk” or “impact players.” These individuals are substantially gang involved, most likely to be a victim or perpetrator of violent weapons offense, or engaged in high volume illegal activity. SSYI reaches out to these individuals and offers a chance to redirect their lives through educational, employment, and behavioral health services.
Year Up enables 18-24 years old High school graduate or GED recipients move from minimum wage to meaningful careers in just one year.
YouthWorks is a state-funded youth employment program that helps teens and young adults get the skills and experience needed to find and keep jobs. Participants take part in paid short-term work placements during the summer and/or school year at public, private and nonprofit worksites.
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