Parent Contact update

November 2023

Community Support Line

The Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has a statewide Community Support Line. Staff provide callers with information, technical assistance, and resources for families with children and youth with special health needs.

Resource Specialists inform families about public programs they may be eligible for and about the state and community-based resources that may provide assistance. They answer questions, do an assessment of a family's needs and eligibility for services and benefits, and provide training to families and providers.

Resource Specialists provide information on a broad range of programs, including:

Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
Public benefits (SSI, CommonHealth, MassHealth, etc.)
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund
Hearing Aid Program for Infants and Children
Care Coordination services
Family-to-family supports
Community-based services

You can reach the Community Support Line at (800) 882-1435.

Resources & Opportunities

Turning Three Essentials Workshop

We are excited to continue to offer Turning Three Essentials to our families. If you are starting to think about your child's transition from early intervention, then this FREE virtual workshop is for you! Covering everything from timelines to requirements and understanding who does what, this workshop does an amazing job of helping prepare families for the next step in the journey. Advance registration is required. The next presentation will be on Friday, December 8th, 2023, from 1 pm - 3 pm.

Preparing for Your Transition From EI?

The EIPLP has a video, Transition Beyond the IFSP, that can help you prepare for the process of transitioning out of early intervention. It includes information about timelines, your EI program's responsibilities, and what you can do as a family to get ready for transition conversations.

Don't miss out on these tips from veteran EI parents to help make your transition process as smooth as possible, whenever it may happen!

Check out Mass.Gov for More Transition Resources

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) have put together materials to support families whose children receive EI services. These include a guide to best practices around transition, information about transition requirements, forms your EI program will use, and frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Family Stories Wanted

Did you know the EIPLP features family stories in our newsletters? It's one of the ways that we make sure that family voices are represented in the MA EI Community.

We are looking for parents/caregivers who want to share part of their EI experience. It can be about your first EI visit, a visit that really made a difference for your child and family, a time when you advocated for your child's needs, a training or workshop you attended (live or in person), and the impact it had on your child/family, or any other part of your EI experience you think people should hear about. Email liz.cox@mass.gov for details!