Massachusetts Services and Resources to help keep you and your loved ones healthy, safe, and happy.

Select a Resource from the list: 

Addiction Resources

Government Programs

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
  SAMHSA’s website has a Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator, to help people find treatment facilities in the United States.
  Search “01810” and a list of many treatment facilities in the area is displayed with links to more information.
  SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services has an extensive list of resources provided by the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services to respond to the opioid epidemic. 

The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline offers free, confidential information and referrals for alcohol and drug problems (in any language). Helpline: 800-327-5050

Intervention & Counseling Services in Massachusetts

Beth Israel Lahey Health Behavioral Services: From outpatient counseling to treatment-focused halfway houses, we offer a full range of addiction treatment programs for adults and teens. Please note that programs are available in a range of local areas.
199 Rosewood Drive
Suite 250
Danvers, MA 01923
978-968-1700

Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline: Offers free, confidential information and referrals for alcohol and drug problems (in any language).
800-327-5050

North Shore Medical Center Substance Use Services: Outpatient services designed for people who struggle with substance use, whether the problem is minor or more severe.
81 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
978-741-1200

Right Turn (formerly in Arlington): Innovative outpatient treatment and extended care for addiction.
440 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
781-646-3800

Riverside Urgent Behavioral Healthcare: Provides timely behavioral health evaluations, short-term counseling, psychopharmacological services and referrals for longer-term care.
270 Bridge Street, Suite 301
Dedham, MA 02026
781-329-0909

Insurance Eligibility

The new Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act ensures that co-pays, deductibles, and visit limits are generally not more restrictive for mental health and substance abuse disorder benefits than they are for medical and surgical benefits. The Affordable Care Act builds on this law and requires coverage of mental health and substance use disorder services as one of ten essential health benefits categories. Under the essential health benefits rule, individual and small group health plans are required to comply with these parity regulations.

Contact the following places to find low or no cost treatment options:

How do I decide which treatment center is best for my situation?

Start by reading the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s guide, Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know what to Ask.

Support for Families

  • Learn to Cope helps connect people with treatment and support groups. Adult and adolescent treatment facilities from across Massachusetts are listed. Meetings and support groups are also listed. Family member discussion forums are also found on this website.
  • NAMI provides information for treatment facilities and options throughout Massachusetts. Other support groups and educational pieces can be found on this site.
  • Parents Helping Parents of Massachusetts: 24/7 free, confidential, and anonymous support for parents. 
    800-632-8188

Andover

Andover Recreation

Assistance Paying Rent / Utilities

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) & Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA): 

The state-funded RAFT and ERMA programs are tools used by the Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) team to provide eligible households up to $10,000 per 12-month period that can be used to help retain their housing, avoid utililty shut-off, obtain new housing, or otherwise avoid becoming homeless.

Crisis Lines

  • Battered Women's Hotline - 1-800-899-4000
  • Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741741 Anxious about coronavirus? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. For anyone feeling anxious, depressed, suicidal, or experiencing any other unpleasant emotions and/or mental discomfort.
  • GLBT National Hotline - 888-843-4564 (Gay. Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender)
  • Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Referral Helpline - Referral agency for substance abuse support services: Inpatient, outpatient, and residential programs; along with self-help and family group meeting 1-800-327-5050 or 617-292-5065
  • National Association Mental Health (NAMI):1-800-950-NAMI or Text NAMI to 741-741 Nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with mental health conditions, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public.
  • National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 741741 For Spanish: 1-866-628-9454 Connects individuals with counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat.
  • Rape Crisis Hotline - 1-800-870-5905
  • Samaritans Statewide Helpline: 1-877-870-4673 Emotional support for anyone in Massachusetts.
  • Samaritan's Suicide Prevention Hotline - 617-247-0220
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline:1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746

Child Care

Disabilities

Eldercare

  • Andover Senior Center/The Robb Center: serves Andover’s 60+ population, where age is a credential, not a barrier; multi-service Senior Center providing on-site programming, including community resource identification; 978-623-8320.
  • AgeSpan: a private, nonprofit agency in northeast Massachusetts that helps people maintain their highest levels of independence, health, and safety as they age; AgeSpan also oversees the Protective Services Division, investigating cases of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; 978-683-7747.
  • MAOA: (Massachusetts Association of Older Americans): enriches the lives of elders through education, advocacy, and action on issues that impact elders.
  • Massachusetts Senior Care Association: information and searchable lists of assisted living, skilled nursing, and continuing care retirement communities in Massachusetts.

Employment

Mobile Food Pantry at the Robb Center The Mobile Food Pantry will provide bags of non-perishable groceries on the second Wednesday of every month in 2022 from 9:00am-11:00am in collaboration with Andover Elder Services.
LOCATION
The Robb Center
30 Whittier Ct.
Andover, MA
2022 DATES
January 12
February 9
March 9
April 13
May 11
June 8
July 13
August 10
September 14
October 12
November 9
December 14

Project Bread Food Source Hotline If you or your family is facing hunger right now, Project Bread wants to help.Call the FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333

SNAP Benefits (formerly food stamps) are administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you expand your healthy food budget and explore opportunities to support your wellbeing and education and employment goals. Check this flyer to see if you are eligible for SNAP benefits
Apply for food assistance (SNAP), It takes only 20 minutes!

Health

  • AMA Doctor Finder: list of members of the AMA searchable by state and specialty.
  • Centers for Disease Control: health topics A-Z with links to statistics sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
  • Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs: information on prescription and generic drugs from Consumer Reports.
  • Healthcare Blue Book: a database of fair prices for medical procedures by location.
  • Healthfinder.gov: health information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Inner Body: a guide to human anatomy online.
  • Lowell General Hospital Web Library: consumer health sites organized by subject.
  • Massachusetts Health Connector: The Health Connector is a state-based health insurance Marketplace that makes shopping for affordable health and dental coverage easier for Massachusetts individuals, families, and small businesses.
  • Massachusetts Physician Profiles: information about the education and training of licensed physicians in Massachusetts.
  • Mayo Clinic: consumer health resource maintained by the Mayo Clinic.
  • Medlineplus.com: health information from the National Library of Medicine.
  • Merck Manuals: Professional and consumer versions of one of the world's most widely used medical information resources.
  • Merck Veterinary Manual: Concise, easy-to-use, comprehensive reference that covers the diversity of species and animal diseases worldwide.
  • National Cancer Institute: comprehensive information on cancer.
  • NBCancerResource.org: a comprehensive resource guide to help people living with cancer North of Boston.
  • Oncolink: cancer information provided by the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center; includes consumer information causes and prevention information.
  • WebMD: provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information.

Health Insurance

Massachusetts Health Connector: The Health Connector is a state agency and health insurance marketplace that makes coverage available to people who recently lost their insurance from their employer. Most people who apply through the Health Connector can get a plan for a low monthly cost, and some people even qualify for a $0 monthly payment. All Health Connector plans cover services like doctor visits, emergency care, physical therapy, and prescription drugs. When you fill out an application online, you’ll find out right away if you qualify for a health plan from the Health Connector or coverage through MassHealth.

Masshealth: In Massachusetts, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined into one program called MassHealth. MassHealth members may be able to get doctors’ visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, and many other important services.

Languages

  • Babelfish: free online translation service.
  • Duolingo: learn languages completely free, without ads or hidden charges.
  • Google translate: translate text, web pages, and documents; more than 40 languages included.
  • Learn a Language: Exercises to learn words and phrases.
  • Radio Garden: Tune into thousands of live radio stations across the globe.

Parent Education Youth - Ages 9 to 18 years

  • Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
  • Center for Disease Control Mental Health Tools and Resources https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/tools-resources/index.htm
  • Drug-Free- All the latest information to help parents prevent your children from turning to drugs and alcohol
  • Drug Abuse- Drug information and facts, education materials, curriculum guides, classroom tools, and more
  • govprovides information about various drugs including heroin and prescription drugs. This page is useful for both parents/guardians and adolescents.
  • John Knight - The founder and director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research ( CeASAR) at Children's Hospital Boston and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. For his presentation on the effects of substance use on adolescent development please visit Teen Safe.
  • Exceptional Lives: Free, easy-to-use Guides for parents of children with disabilities
  • orgexplains different drugs in a manner that is useful for both parents/guardians and kids.
  • Kids, Teens, and Money: government resources for kids and teens about online safety, advertising literacy, identity theft and scams
  • Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey
  • The Addiction Recovery Management Service(ARMS) - Specializes in supporting teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 25, and their families, as they deal with substance-related problems.
  • govis useful for parents hoping to learn more about drugs. SAMHSA also allows parents/guardians to find treatment for their children/loved ones.
  • The Intervention eBookthat describes how to intervene when you believe that your child or loved one is using drugs or drinking alcohol. Parents/guardians will find this especially useful.
  • This guideprovides information for parents/guardians about prescription drugs.
  • Underage Drinking- Get the facts, the tools, and the advice you need to start talking real.

Screenings

Mental Health Screening Tool

If you have been feeling sad, blue, stressed, anxious, or generally out of sorts, one of these screenings may help you decide if you should consult with your physician or seek mental health treatment. We invite you to take this free, confidential online screening for mood and anxiety disorders. The screening is provided so that you may find out quickly and easily whether professional consultation would be helpful for you. You can access our screenings HERE

Online Screening Tool For Substance Use Addiction: https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/substance-abuse-screening

Subsidized Housing

CHAMP (Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Public-Housing): CHAMP is the website where you can apply for state-aided public housing. Through the online system, this website lets you submit your application to one or more housing authorities, instead of having to mail or hand deliver an application to each housing authority separately. You can also keep your application information up-to-date on this website as it changes. This will help you to make sure that housing authorities know how to contact you.

Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8, is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, elders, and people with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.

Volunteering

All for Good: helps you find ways to "do good"
Habitat for Humanity: brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope
Idealist.org: a portal for everyone interested in nonprofit organizations and issues, nonprofit careers, volunteering, events, and resource
Volunteer Match: connects people with nonprofits that need volunteers
Volunteer.gov: a United States Federal Government portal which lists volunteer opportunities on public lands in the United States

Books

  • What's A Parent To Do? Straight Talk on Drugs and Alcohol - Abraham, Henry David. (2004). Far Hills, NJ: New Horizon Press.
  • The Power of Resilience: Achieveing Balance, Confidence and Personal Strength in Your Life - Brooks, Robert. (2004). NY : McGraw- Hill
  • 7 Things Your Teenager Won't Tell You - Lippincott, Jenifer and Deutsch, Robin, PhD, (2005)
  • This book sheds light on the mysteries of the developing adolescent brain, and gives practical advice on how to keep the lines of communication open during these important years.
  • How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk - Faber, A. & Mazlish, E. (2006). New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
  • Talking With Kids About Drugs and Alcohol: Just Say Know - Kuhn, C., Swartzwelder, S., & Wilson, W. (2002). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company Inc.
  • What to Do When a Teenager Uses Alcohol / Drugs: A Step-by-Step System That Really Works - Schaefer, D. (1998). Choices & Consequences: Minnesota: Hazelden
  • Smashed: A Story of a Drunken Girlhood - Zailckas, Koren. (2005). New York, NY: Penguin Books
  • From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking - Volkmann, Chris and Toren. (2006). New York, NY: New American Library
  • The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids - Levine, Madeline. (2006). New York: NY: HarperCollins Books
  • Get Out of My Life but First Could You Drive Me & Cheryl to the Mall: A Parent's Guide to the New Teenager - Wolf, Anthony E. (2002) Revised and Updated. NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Not Much Just Chillin': The Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers - Perlstein, Linda. (2004). New York, NY: Random House
  • How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years - Ross, Julie A. (2008). NY: McGrawHill
  • When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens About Grieving & Healing - Gootman, Marilyn E. (2005). Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing Inc.
  • After Suicide Loss: Coping with your Grief - Baugher, B. & Jordan, J. (2002). Newcastle WA: Self-published.
  • Magnificent Mind At Any Age: Treat Anxiety, Depression, Memory Problems, ADD, and Insomnia - Amen, Daniel G. (2008) New York, NY: Harmony Books.
  • Reality Gap: Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex-What Parents Don't Know and Teens Aren't Telling - Wallace, Stephen (2008) New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
  • Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic: Professional Views and Personal Insights - Benton, Sarah Allen (2008) Santa Barbara, CA : Praeger Publishers.
  • How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid - Joseph A. Califano, Jr. (2009 Simon and Schuster)
  • Keeping Adolescence Healthy - Aaron Whyte, PhD, (2008 Booksurge Publishing)
  • The Talk: What Your Kids Need to Hear from You About Sex - Sharon Maxwell, PhD (2008 Penguin Books)
© 2022 Andover Youth Services - A Division of Community Services
Andover, MA 01810