• Norwood Anti-scam task Force

• Massachusetts Equipment Distribution Program.
  Specialized phones for people with disabilities. Phone: 800-300-5658.

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• Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.
  Phone: 800-392-6450.

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• Perkins school for the Blind
  Phone: 617-924-3434. 175 North Beacon St, Watertown, MA 02472.

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• Neponset River House.
  Employment and recovery center; offers people with mental health challenges hope and opportunities to achieve their full potential.

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• Massachusetts Office on Disability

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• The ARC of Massachusetts
  Phone: (781) 891-6270. The mission of The Arc of Massachusetts is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families.

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• The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts
  Help Line (800)-242-0030. BIA-MA is a national leader in assuring that persons with brain injury and their families have increased access to services.

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• Town of Norwood Commission on Disability

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• Lifeworks ARC
  Phone: 781-762-4001. Lifeworks provides a variety of programs, services and supports to the communities of Greater Boston and Norfolk County. Lifeworks is an affiliated chapter of The Arc (of the United States) and is partnered with Arc Massachusetts to provide opportunities for empowerment and equity to people with disabilities .

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• Riverside Community Care
  Phone: 781-329-0909. A community-based non-profit organization serving more than 40,000 people a year in Massachusetts, Riverside Community Care offers a wide range of mental healthcare, developmental and brain injury services, early childhood and youth programs, addiction treatment, trauma response, and more.

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• Massachusetts Commission on Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  Voice Line: (617) 740-1600; Video Phone: (617) 326-7546. MCDHH provides accessible communication, education, and advocacy to consumers and private and public entities so that programs, services, and opportunities throughout Massachusetts are fully accessible to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. .

• Bay State Community Services (BSCS) – Intimate Partner Abuse Education services (Click on the "Project Safe" tab.
  Phone: Norwood:781-762-00600, ext. 10 or ext. 11; Quincy: 617-471-8400, ext. 129 or ext. 179

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• Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
  Phone: 800-841-8371

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• Brockton Family & Community Resources
  18 Newton Street, Brockton, MA 02301

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• Child At-Risk Hotline
  Phone: 800-792-5200

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• Deaf Hotline
  Phone: 855-812-1001

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• Dove (Quincy, MA) 24 Hour Hotline
  Phone: 617-471-1234 or toll-free: 888-314-3682

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• Elder Abuse Hotline
  Phone: 800-922-2275

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• Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence Services: Fenway Violence Recovery Program
  Locations in Boston, Cape Cod, Fall River, and Western Massachusetts
  Phone: 617-927-6250 or toll-free: 800-834-3242

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• Jane Doe, Inc., Coalition Against Domestic Violence
  Phone: 877-785-2020

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• Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance
  Phone: 617-586-1340

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• Massachusetts Victim Compensation & Assistance
  Phone: 617-963-2160

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• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  Contact Info.: voice: 800-799-SAFE(7233); TTY: 800-787-3224; Text "START" to: 88788

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• New Hope – Sexual Violence Services
  Phone: 800-323-HOPE (4673)

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• Penelope's Place, 24 Hour Hotline
  Phone: 508-583-3005

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• SafeLink: Mass. Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
  Phone: 877-785-2020

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• The Second Step
  Phone: 617-965-2538

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• Woman's Place – renamed A New Day, affiliated with Penelope's Place (see above)
  Phone: 508-588-2045

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• Victim Rights Law Center
  Phone: 617-399-6720

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Local Elder Care Help:

• Alzheimer's Association of MA and NH.
  Phone: 800-272-3900.

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• "Are you okay?" Program with Norfolk County Sherrif's Office.

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• Executive Office of Elder Care, Boston.
  Phone: 617-727-7750.

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• Health & Social Services Consortium (HESSCO), Walpole.
  Phone: 781-784-4944

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• Julie Ruth House Adult Day Social Center, Westwood.
  Phone: 781-251-3393

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• MassOptions, Online only.

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• Network of Care Massachusetts, Canton.
  Phone: 781-821-4422, ext. 300

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• Norwood Adult Day Health Center, Norwood. Phone: 781-769-4495.

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• Norwood Council On Aging, Norwood.
  Phone: 781-762-1201.

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• Norwood Housing Authority, Norwood.
  Phone: 781-762-8115.

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• South Shore Elder Services, Braintree.
  Main Phone: 781-848-3910. Protective Services: 1-800-922-2275.

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Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation:

• Charlwell House, Norwood
  Phone: 781-762-7700.

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• Ellis Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Norwood.
  Phone: 781-762-6880.

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• Hellenic Nursing & Rehab Center, Canton.
  Phone: 781-828-7450.

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• Norwood Healthcare
  Phone: 781-769-2200.

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• Orchard Cove Hebrew SeniorLife, Canton.
  Phone: 781-821-0820.

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• Spaulding Rehab Hospital, Charlestown.
  Phone: 617-952-5000.

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• Sunrise of Norwood Assisted Living
  Phone: 781-762-1333.

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• Victoria Haven, Norwood.
  Phone: 781-762-0858.

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General Fact Checking:

• Lead Stories
  U.S. company that fact-checks trending stories, images, videos and posts on social media that contain false information.

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• Metabunk
  Website and discussion forum dedicated to debunking and refuting various conspiracy theories and pseudosciences.

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• PEW Research Center
  Nonpartisan fact tank that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis, and data-driven social science research.

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• Poynter Institute
  Nonprofit media institute and newsroom that provides fact-checking, media literacy, and journalism ethics training to citizens and journalists.

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• SIFT Method
  Four-step information evaluation tool developed by research scientist and information expert Michael Caulfield.

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• Snopes.com
  Independent fact-checking and original investigative reporting organization.

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Evaluating Media Bias:

• AllSides
  U.S. company that estimates the perceived political bias of content on online written news outlets and presents different versions of similar news stories from additional sources.

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• Media Bias & Fact Check
  Independent website intended to educate the public on media bias and deceptive news practices by rating the bias, factual accuracy, and credibility of media sources, using human (not AI) evaluators.

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Evaluating Political Statements:

• PolitiFact
  Independent fact-checking journalism website focusing on political statements; associated with Poynter Institute.

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• PunditFact
  Fact-checking tool evaluating the accuracy of claims by pundits, columnists, bloggers, political analysts, hosts and guests of talk shows, and other members of the media; associated with Poynter Institute.

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Educational Games:

• Bad News
  Free web-based game that exposes the tactics and manipulation techniques used to mislead people on social media.

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• "Check, Please!" Course on Using SIFT
  Free online course on fact- and source-checking, using Michael Caulfield's SIFT method; consists of five core 30-minute lessons plus additional optional learning modules.

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• Find Facts Fast
  Free text message course from Poynter Institute designed to help Americans of all ages and backgrounds separate fact from fiction online (also available in Spanish).

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Guides and Tools:

• McGill Office for Science and Society
  Guide to evaluating the legitimacy and accuracy of scientific research studies.

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• Thinking Is Power
  Explanation of the most common cognitive biases and heuristics (thinking "short-cuts").

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• MediaWise
  How to do a reverse-image search (YouTube video).

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• Tools that Fight Disinformation Online
  A set of programs, extensions, and other web-based tools intended to protect web users against trolls, bots, untrustworthy social media accounts, and other sources of disinformation.

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• Norwood Food Pantry
  150 Chapel St., Norwood . Phone: 781-291-3663

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• Hyde Park Food Pantry
  eMail: hydeparkfoodpantry@gmail.com

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• HESSCO Meals on Wheels.
  Phone: 781-784-4944.

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• Project Bread – Food Source Hotline
  Info on Food Stamps (SNAP) . Phone: 800-645-8333.

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• Project Bread – Child Nutrition
  Information on School Meals. Phone:617-239-2543.

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• Norwood Council on Aging & Senior Center
  275 Prospect St., Norwood, MA 02062. Phone: 781-762-1201

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• Department of Transitional Assistance
  Phone: 877-382-2363.

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• Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program (WIC)
  Phone: 800-942-1007.

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• Self Help Fuel Program
  Phone: 781-762-1201.

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• Self Help Inc
  Phone: 508-588-0447. Head Start, family services, job readiness, fuel assistance, nutritional info, help with SNAP application.

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Youth and Families:

• Boston Alliance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trangender, Queer Youth (BAGLY)
  Youth-led, adult-supported organization committed to social justice and creating and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community.

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• Boston Children's Hospital
  Gender Multispecialty Service (GeMS) offers trans and gender-diverse centered health care for minors in conjunction with families and caregivers.

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• GLASS (GLBTQ+ Adolescent Social Services)
  Serves LGBTQ+ youth of color and their allies in the Greater Boston and Greater Framingham regions.

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• Massachusetts Asian & Pacific Islanders for Health
  Peer support and counseling centering LGBTQ+ API youth in the Greater Boston region.

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• Massachusetts Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Leadership Council
  A state council and five region-based councils that create and inform policy, promote inclusive learning environments, and fosters statewide collaboration among LGBTQ+ students and allies.

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• Massachusetts GLSEN
  Massachusetts chapter of GLSEN, a national organization advocating for every student’s right to a safe, supportive education.

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• Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Resources
  Information and resources about mental health, therapy, substance use, help lines, and support groups for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults from the Massachusetts state government.

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• OUT MetroWest
  In-person programs and services for LGBTQ+ youth (elementary through high school age) and young adults (19-29 years).

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• The Trevor Project
  Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults (call 1-866-488-7386 or text 678-678).

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Adults:

• Boston Area Trans Support (BATS)
  Peer-run support group for trans and non-binary adults in the Boston area.

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• Fenway Health
  LGBTQ+ centered health care, primarily for adult patients.

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• The List
  Facebook page with information about LGBTQ+ community events in and around Boston.

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• Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources
  Information and resources about mental health, therapy, substance use, help lines, and support groups for LGBTQ+ adults from the Massachusetts state government.

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• SpeakOUT Boston
  Community of volunteer speakers seeking to fight anti-LGBTQ+ bias by telling personal stories about their lives.

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• THRIVE Lifeline
  Confidential text messaging peer support to people of color, LGBTQ2S+, people living with disabilities, neurodivergent people, and/or anyone with other marginalized identities aged 18+ (text THRIVE to 313-662-8209).

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• Together Estranged
  Virtual and in-person support groups for LGBTQ+ adults experiencing family estrangement.

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• Transgender Emergency Fund
  Community mutual aid providing homelessness prevention, shelter assistance, nutrition assistance, prescription co-pay assistance, transportation and escort to medical appointments, and more to trans people in Massachusetts.

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• Trans Lifeline
  Trans peer support offering microgrants and a hotline for individuals in crisis (call 877-565-8860).

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General:

• Greater Boston PFLAG
  Support groups, community resources, and advocacy/training for LGBTQ+ people and families, as well as non-LGBTQ+ allies, caregivers, and parents.

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• The History Project
  One of the largest independent LGBTQ+ archival collections in the U.S.

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• Impact Boston
  Self-defense classes for all ages, including classes for LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC, and trauma survivors.

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• Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)
  Peer support, advocacy, and resources for trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive individuals in Massachusetts.

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• MassEquality
  Statewide grassroots LGTBQ+ advocacy organization.

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• Namesake
  Assistance filling out paperwork and navigating the legal process around changing your legal name and/or gender marker in Massachusetts.

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• QT Library
  LGBTQ+ library opening in Boston in June 2024.

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• Transhealth
  Trans and gender-diverse centered health care for individuals and families.

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Crisis and Emergency Contacts:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

Call or text: 988, or text "TALK" to: 741741
https://afsp.org/get-help/
In addition to the main number above, there are several ways to call depending on your individual needs:

• Spanish Language/En Español: Dial 988, and press #2
• Deaf and hard of Hearing: Call 988, American Sign Language Videophone.
  • For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711, then 988.
  • https://988lifeline.org/deaf-hard-of-hearing-hearing-loss/
• Veterans/Military: Dial 988 and press #1, chat live, or text: 838255
• Disaster Distress: Call or text: 1-800-985-5990

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Crisis Text Line:

• https://www.crisistextline.org/
• Free 24/7 crisis counseling from anywhere in the United States.
• Text: HOME to: 741741
• En Español – Text: AYUDA to: 741741

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Mass Behavior Health Hotline:

• https://www.masshelpline.com/in-a-crisis/
• Free & confidential, no Health Insurance required. Real-time interpretation in 200+ languages.
• Call or text: 883-773-2445.  TTY: 771

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Riverside Community Care
  270 Bridge Street, Suite 301
  Dedham, MA 02026

• 781-329-0909
• Substance use treatment; Mental health treatment; Treatment for co-occurring substance use plus either serious mental health illness in adults, serious emotional disturbance in children, in-home therapy, therapeutic mentoring

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Riverside Mobile Crisis Intervention

• https://www.riversidecc.org/mobile-crisis-intervention-overview/
• 1-800-529-5077
• around-the-clock, 24/7 mental health and substance use evaluations to youth and adults in crisis. Instead of going to the emergency room, services can be provided via telehealth, at home, at school, or in another community setting.

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Samaritan's Hope Suicide Prevention:

• https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/
• Youth up to age 24 can text "Hey Sam" at 439-726 (877-870-4673)

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Trevor Project:
  Crisis counselors are trained to answer calls, chats, or texts from LGBTQ+ young people who reach out on our free, confidential and secure 24/7 service when they are struggling with issues such as coming out, LGBTQ+ identity, depression, and suicide.

• https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
• Call: 1-866-488-7386
• Text: "START" to: 678678
• Chat: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

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Long-term Solutions:

Hand Holding MA

• https://handholdma.org/
• Family Resources for Mental Health Care in Massachusetts

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Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
  Central Office:
  25 Staniford Street
  Boston, MA 02114

• State resources for finding mental health care.
• Phone: 617-626-8000

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MEDA
  1320 Centre Street, SUite 101
  Newton, MA 02459

• https://www.medainc.org/
• 617-558-1991
• Support and resouces for eating disorders

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Monte Nido Walden
  51 Sawyer Road, Suite 510
  Waltham, MA 02453

• https://www.waldeneatingdisorders.com/
• 888-228-1253
• In- and Outpatient Services in Dedham and Waltham, MA

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National Alliance on Mental Illness - Massachusetts
  331 Montvale Avenue, 2nd floor
  Woburn, MA 01801

• https://namimass.org/nami-mass-compass-helpline/
• Phone: 617-704-6264, or 1-800-370-9085
• Compass provides free information, ideas, resources, and support to help people across the state navigate the complex mental health system and related systems of care.

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Neponset River House - MA Clubhouse Coalition

• https://www.neponsetriverhouse.org/
• Phone: 781-762-7075
• An employment and recovery center that offers people with mental health challenges hope and opportunities to achieve their full potential.

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Norwood Behavioral Health
  115 Norwood Park South
  Suite 110
  Norwood, MA 02062

• https://www.norwoodbehavioralhealth.com/
• Phone: 781-349-2062

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Therapy Matcher

• https://therapymatcher.org/contact
• Resource to find a therapist. Not for emergencies.

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• Refugee and Immigrant Assistant Center; Boston, Lynn, and Worcester.
  Refugee and Immigrant resettlement services. Phone: 617-238-2430.

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• RIAN Center; Boston, MA.
  Legal and Education services for refugees and immigrants. Phone: 617-542-7654.

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• Jewish Vocational Services (JVS); Boston, MA.
  Vocational training, ESL classes and more! Phone: 617-399-3131.

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• International Institute of New England; Boston & Lowell, MA; Manchester, NH.
  Refugee and Immigrant resettlement services. Online Contact Form.
  Phone Numbers: Boston: 617-695-9990; Lowell: 978-459-9031; Manchester, NH: 603-647-1500.

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• Morrill Memorial Library Literacy Dept; Norwood, MA.
  ESL classes, GED help. Phone: 781-769-4599.

Shelters:

• Brookview House
  
  • Shelter located in Dorchester for women, children, and families

Phone: 617-265-2965
2 Brookview Street
Dorchester, MA 02124

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• Common Ground Resource Center
  
  • Emergency and long term shelters in Norfolk and Middlesex Counties

Phone: 508-620-2690
Framingham, MA

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• Department of Transitional Assistance
  
  • Referrals to shelters for families

Phone: 508-895-7000
60 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301

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• Heading Home
  
  • Greater Boston Area shelters for adults and children

Phone: 617-864-8140
186 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

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• MainSpring House
  
  • For individual adults

Phone: 508-587-5441
54 North Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301

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• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
  
  • Services for families, individuals, veterans, young people

Lynn, MA
Phone:781-595-7570

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• Yawkey Housing Resource Center
  
  • For individual adults

Phone: 617-770-3314
39 Broad Street
Quincy, MA 02169

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Housing Assistance:

• Brockton Area Multi Services (BAMSI)

Phone: 508-584-4357

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• CHAMP (Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs)

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• Eliot Community Human Services

125 Hartwell Avenue
Lexington, MA 02421

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• Emergency Housing Help (RAFT)

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• Housing Match
  
  • Find roommates with background checks

6 Liberty Square, #2122
Boston, MA 02109

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• Housing Navigator Massachusetts

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• Massachusetts Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Phone: 617-994-8200
Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building
10 Causeway Street, 3rd floor
Boston, MA 02222

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• Joe Andruzze Foundation
  
  • grants@joeandruzzifoundation.org

Phone: 508-261-0630
49 Plain Street, Suite 500
North Attleboro, MA 02760

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• Lawyer's Clearinghouse

Phone: 617-544-3434
7 Winthrop Square
Boston, MA 02110

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• NeighborWorks Housing Solutions

Phone: 617-770-2227

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• New England Center and Home for Veterans

Phone: 617-371-1800
17 Court Street
Boston, MA 02108

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• Norwood Housing Authority

Phone: 781-762-8115
40 William Shyne Circle
Norwood, MA 02062

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• Operation Homefront

Phone: 210-659-7756

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• Self Help Inc.
  
  • Programs and referrals to fuel assistance program, elder care management, SNAP application assistance, and more

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Homebuying and Home Ownership

• Housing Consumer Education Center

Phone: 508-872-0765

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• Mass Housing

Phone: 617-854-1000
One Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108

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• My Mass Home, Citizens' Housing & Planning Association

One Beacon Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02108

• Town of Norwood: Voting & Elections
  Phone: 781-762-1240
  

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• League of Women Voters
  A nonpartisan political organization encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
  

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• Secretary of the Commonwealth:
  Elections and Voting in Massachusetts: What would you like to do today?
  
  Elections and Voting in Massachusetts (How to Guides)

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• Massachusetts Laws on Elections and Voting
  General Mass. Voting Information
  

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• US Election Assistance Commission
  National Voting Inoformation
  

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• Vote 411 Massachusetts and Voter's Guide
  Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF). VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. Provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information
  

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• Vote Riders
  VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to vote.
  

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• Voting & Election Toolkits
  Comprehensive one-stop information clearinghouse for voting related matters. Created by American Library Association's Government Document Round Table (GODORT). Information includes registering to vote, forms, sample ballots and much more
  

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• Vote Smart
  Vote Smart's mission is to provide free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials to ALL Americans
  

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• Ballotpedia
  Ballotpedia is the nonpartisan digital encyclopedia of American politics and provides unbiased information on elections, politics and policy.
  

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• Voter and Civic Engagement
  A guide about voting, ballots, absentee ballots by state and much more. Links curated by American University, Washington, DC
  

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Quick link to Fact-checking Resources tab above
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