Central Massachusetts

                  Office Location
                  335 Chandler Street
                  Worcester, MA 01602
                  Telephone: (508) 753-2967
                  Fax: (508) 753-5540
                 Get driving directions to this location

        Programs & Services

Act of Love Adoptions
Licensed in 1998, Act of Love is a domestic infant adoption program serving the needs of birth and adoptive parents.

Connecting Families
MSPCC's newest initiative is Connecting Families.  Through this program, in partnership with the government, MSPCC intervenes with families at high risk of abuse and neglect.  Connecting Families reaches out to families in crisis who have been reported and investigated for child abuse and neglect, but do not meet the criteria for further government intervention.  Research has shown that 40% of these families will be re-reported for abuse or neglect.  The goals of Connecting Families are to ensure that children grow up in their own homes safe, healthy and ready to learn, and to avoid unnecessary involvement with the public child welfare system.  This program accepts referrals only from the Department of Children and Families.

Early Intervention
This program provides assessment and interventions for families with children up to three years of age who have, or are at risk of, developmental delay due to biological, medical or environmental factors.  Services include eligibility screening, developmental assessment, home visits, parent/child groups, toddler groups, parent education groups, parent counseling, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition and health education and information, referral and advocacy.

Family Counseling Centers

• Child and Family Outpatient Mental Health - Family Counseling Centers offer services to children and families who are dealing with mental health, emotional, and behavioral problems.  Families come to us for help with challenging problems, such as behavior problems in the home or at school, depression, anxiety, attention deficit, or problems associated with experiences of trauma, abuse or neglect.  We recognize that when families experience difficulties they may feel isolated and alone.  Our skilled professionals have developed effective ways for working in partnership with families to help children and adults recover from critical situations and move on to living healthy lives.
• Family Stabilization Team (FST) Program - The FST program provides intensive therapeutic services and flexible support to assist caregivers in stabilizing the behavior of children and adolescents in home settings.  These supportive services are delivered during an acute period of emotional, behavioral, and/or psychiatric difficulty.  Services are strength-based, culturally competent, youth and family driven and prioritize the integration of natural supports.  They include counseling, parent management training, case management, skill-building, and behavior management training.

GoodStart
GoodStart, a nationally recognized MSPCC program, helps parents become self-sufficient and raise children who are safe, healthy and ready to learn. Services include home visiting, parenting education, specialized programming for fathers, developmental screening, parent support groups and workshops, development of community resources for families and connection to education, health, economic, job training and other community resources.

Support groups for first-time or young fathers are also available through the GoodStart program.  These groups provide a welcoming environment for fathers to share their experiences as parents, and exchange advice with other parents in similar circumstances.  The latest addition is the Worcester Young Fathers Sports League - designed to provide a sports and social atmosphere in which young fathers can talk about their challenges and successes as parents.  Individual support, and home visiting services are also available.

Through GoodStart's Medical Home Program, in collaboration with three area medical providers, MSPCC provides care coordination for families with children who are at risk for, or have, special needs.  MSPCC care coordinators work with families to increase access to resources in the community such as dental care, educational advocacy and mental health services.  Care coordinators also help families coordinate their medical care in an effort to assist families in navigating the system to ensure the needs of the family are being met.

GoodStart's Young Parents Support Program (YPS) offers intensive prevention services for teen parents up to age eighteen, including home visiting, risk assessment, case management, parent aide services, mentoring, parent education, and parent/child playgroups.  YPS strives to reach at-risk teens and their babies by addressing needs ranging from health education and family planning issues, to guidance in finding affordable housing and obtaining medical insurance.

Healthy Families Massachusetts
MSPCC is one of the largest providers of the Healthy Families program funded by the Children's Trust Fund.  Services include home visiting, parent support, fathers' support and connections to community resources.  Eligibility is restricted to first-time parents under the age of 21 with newborns.  Families can receive services until the child reaches 3 years of age.

Kid's Net
Through Kid's Net, under contract with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, MSPCC provides in-service training, support services (e.g., respite, camp scholarships, short-term child care, etc.), and administrative advocacy for foster, pre-adoptive and kinship families who care for abused and neglected children.  Kid's Net also supports the Massachusetts Alliance for Families (MAFF), a membership organization and legislative advocacy network for foster, adoptive, kinship and guardianship families.