AIDS
AIDS Hotline: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Info & referral for treatment, support, counseling, and education; anonymous testing sites.
1-(800) 235-2331
Latino AIDS Hotline (Bilingual): Monday - Friday, 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.
Crisis intervention counseling and referrals to culturally appropriate support groups, HIV test sites, health care providers and substance abuse programs for Latinos.
1-(800) 637-3776
Cancer
Cancer Information Service (Bilingual): Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Information and referral for treatment, diagnosis, local resources and early detection.
1-(800) 4-CANCER
Cancer Response System: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. -4:30 P.M.
1-(800) ACS-2345
Car Safety
Massachusetts Passenger Safety Program:
Monday - Friday, 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.
Information & education on child and adult motor vehicle occupant protection; technical assistance to groups and individuals.
1-800-CAR-SAFE
Dentists
Massachusetts Dental Society:
Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Lists dentists available in various areas. Also, referrals for children with special needs.
1-(800) 342-8747
Children With Special Health Care Needs
Community Support Program is a toll free line that offers assessment, technical assistance, information about public benefits, other state programs, and community resources. Staffed by social workers with extensive experience in assisting families of children and youth with special health needs.
1-(800) 882-1435
CommonHealth or MassHealth
If you do not have an application package for CommonHealth or MassHealth and would like to get one, call 1-888-665-9993 or use TTY: 1-888-665-9997
Federation for Children With Special Needs: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Parent referral, special education, and legal rights training.
1-(800) 462-5015
Information Center for Individuals with Disabilities (ICID): Monday - Friday, 11 A.M.- 4 P.M.
Available resource referrals; info on local early intervention programs. Professionals available to answer questions relating to person with disabilities.
1-(800) 462-5015
Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Monday - Friday, 8:45 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Provides services for the deaf and hard of hearing, including interpreting, case management, and technology
1-(800) 882-1155
1-(800) 439-2370
Massachusetts Office on Disabilities: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. Advocacy information and referral service for people with all kinds of disabilities.
!-(800) 322-2020
Social Security Information Teleservice:
Call to initiate a Social Security Insurance application; will be referred to a local Social Security Administration office for completion of the application process.
1-(800) 772-1213
Families and Children
Parental Stress Hotline: 24 Hours, 7 Days.
Support and referrals for parents with children of any age, as well as for other family members, care givers, friends and relatives.
1-(800) 632-8188
Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (DSS): 24 Hours, 7 Days.
Hotline provides info. and referral for DSS from 9AM - 5PM and after hours (5 P.M. - 9 A.M.) is a crisis hotline for DSS. Primarily used to file 51 A reports.
1-(800) 792-5200
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC): M-F, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Protective child welfare agency; provides info & referral; adolescent parent services; and family advocacy services.
1-(800) 442-3035
National Runaway Switchboard: 24 Hours, 7 Days.
Helps children find shelters. Contacts parents or finds social service agency for protection.
Staffed by young volunteers, hotline is primarily for children.
1-(800) 621-4000
Food and Nutrition
WIC (Women, Infant & Children): Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Provides nutritious foods, nutrition education and counseling, and health care and social service referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under five.
Referrals made to local WIC programs and guidelines provided.
(617) 624-6100
Food Stamp Hotline: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Information service for pre-screening clients for Food Stamps; problems with eligibility; and locations for cashing food stamps.
1-(800) 645-8333
Food Protection Hotline (DPH): Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Referral to local food protection programs and information about foodborne illness prevention.
(617) 983-6712
Gambling
Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling
A 24-hour confidential helpline and referral service for problem gamblers and others affected by problem gambling behavior.
1-(800) GAM-1234
Heat
Assistance Heatline (Bureau of Energy Programs): Monday - Friday, 8:45 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Resolve situations for people who receive fuel assistance.
1-(800) 632-8175
Hepatitis C
Statewide Hepatitis C Hotline: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M - 5 P.M.
Information and education, referral for medical care, vaccination, testing, support and treatment.
1-(888) 443-HepC (4372)
Lead Paint Poisoning
Lead Paint Hotline: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.
Provide information about licensed lead inspectors, home inspection, public education, and screening programs in high risk communities.
1-(800) 532-9571
Medicaid
Medicaid Managed Care Recipient Line: Monday - Friday, 8:45 A.M. - 5 P.M.
1-(800) 682-1062
Nursing
Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses
55 Main Street
Westford, MA 01886
contact: Sandy Collins R.N., (978) 692-5509
(incorporated state organization for current or retired public health nurses)
(holds yearly state conference in the spring)
Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses Northeast Chapter
61 Center Street
Burlington MA 01803
contact: Andrea Penney (800) 549-3441
Massachusetts Municipal Public Health Nurses Association
Braintree Health Department
1 J.F.K. Memorial Drive
Braintree 02184
contact: Mary Mulready, RN (617) 848-1870 x3140
Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses Western Chapter
Northampton Health Department
Memorial Hall
240 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
contact: Cindy Gaudet, RN (413) 586-6950 x216
Poison
Poison Information Hotline: 24 Hours, 7 Days
Emergency Number for medical professionals and individuals for advice about drugs, pesticides, and other toxins.
1-(800) 682-9211
Pregnancy
Healthy Start (Pregnancy Hotline): Monday - Friday, 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.
Assists pregnant women applying for public insurance coverage (Healthy Start or Medicaid).
Referrals to doctors or nurse-midwives, WIC (Women, Infant & Children)and other services.
1-(800) 531-MOMS
Pregnancy Environmental Hotline: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Information for health care professionals and pregnant women about the possible effects of substances or environmental agents during pregnancy. Genetic counseling referrals.
Radon
Radon Hotline: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. ( plus a 24 hour voice mail system)
1-(800) RADON95
Substance Abuse
Alcohol and Drug Hotline: 24 Hours, 7 Days
Info & referral for substance abuse services including crisis intervention and referrals for inpatient/outpatient treatment and where to go if uninsured.
1-(800) 327-5050
Smokers Quit Line: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Provides counseling, support and referrals for individuals trying to quit smoking.
1-(800) TRY TO STOP
Welfare
Client Services: Monday - Friday, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Questions on eligibility guidelines for public welfare programs: AFDC; foodstamps;
Emergency Assistance for elderly, disabled and children; Medicaid; and Emergency Assistance.
1-(800) 841-2900
This information is provided by the Department of Public Health.