Where to start and where to get help for your child

The first step is to figure out the reasons for your child’s worrisome behavior. Good places to start are:

• Your pediatrician
• School or childcare center
• Family Resource Centers across the state https://www.frcma.org/
• You can also contact a resource specialist for information on state and community-based assistance Community Support Line (800) 882-1435 https://www.mass.gov/service-details/contact-a-resource-specialist-for-information-on-state-and-community-based

• If you are looking for a mental health counselor or therapist for your child:

• Contact your health insurance. Most mental health services, including medication and therapy are provided through health insurance – MassHealth (Medicaid), the Massachusetts Health Connector (health insurance marketplace) or through private insurance (employer-based). 

Your child may be eligible to receive DMH services  if he/she meets the following criteria:

• Has a serious emotional disturbance that: 1. has lasted, or is expected to last, at least one year; and 2. has resulted in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits the child's adolescent’s role or functioning in family, school or community activities; and 3. meets diagnostic criteria specified within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (4th ed., text revision) American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC (2000), but is not solely within one or more of the following categories:
  • Developmental disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence, such as mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorders; or
  • Cognitive disorders, including delirium, dementia or amnesia; or
  • Mental disorders due to a general medical condition not elsewhere classified; or 
  • Substance-related disorders. 

In the state of Massachusetts, services for children and families are provided by many different state agencies depending on the type of challenge the child is experiencing.

• If your child is ages 0 to 3, many early intervention services are provided by the Department of Public Health.
• If your child has a developmental disability or has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, your school and the Department of Developmental Services
• If your child has been abused or neglected or sexually exploited, Department of Children and Families
• If your child is deaf or hard of hearing, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)