For more information on resources in your community, please contact either the Everywoman's Center (545-0883) or First Call for Help (256-0121 or 800-339-7779), the two most comprehensive information and referral services in the area. The following listings are just a selection of the community resources available. They are listed alphabetically and can be accessed by clicking on their names; consult the index for specific topics.

If the particular organization/fund/center has a web page, please click on the name to see their web site. To return to the top of the page click on "back" (Netscape).

Abortion Rights Fund
ACLU
Alcoholics Anonymous
AIDS Care/Hampshire County
Amherst Housing Authority
Amherst Survival Center
ARISE for Social Justice
AWARE
Berkshire Children & Families
Center for New Americans
Child and Family Clinic
Devereux: Therapeutic Foster Care
The Birth Collective Doula Services
ESL Program - Jones Library
Tapestry Health Systems (Family Planning)
Five-College Women's Studies Research Center
Five Colleges, Inc.
Support Network for Families of Western Mass
Full Cirle Adoptions & Family Building Ctr, Inc.
GLBT Counseling & Psychotherapy Referral Service
Elizabeth Freeman Center
Highland Valley Edler Services
Hospice of Hampshire County
Incourage: Lesbian Survival Support Fund
League of Women Voters
Language Bridge
Life Course Counseling Center
Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange
Mass. Commission Against Discrimination
The Mediation and Training Collaborative
Men's Resource Center
Monadnock Men's Resource Center
Multiracial Family Group
NAACP
Nessities/Necesiadades
NELCWIT
Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
Peace Development Fund
Planned Parenthood
PFLAG Amherst/Northampton
Sex & Love Addicts
Stavros Center for Independent Living, Inc.
Valley Women's Martial Arts
Victim Witness Assistance
WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
Women's Health Network of Western Mass.
Womenshelter/Companeras
Western MA Eldercare Inc.
Wright Home for Women
YWCA (North Branch)


Abortion Rights Fund of Western Mass
Amherst, MA
582-3532 or (800) 450-6000

Provides no-interest loans with flexible pay back schedule to women who have no other resources for abortions. Money is sent directly to the clinic or physician providing the abortion. Call and leave first name and number with 24-hour answering service.


ACLU {American Civil Liberties Union} Western Regional Office
39 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
586-9115

Activities include litigation, education, public presentation, and legislative efforts on constitutional, civil rights, and civil liberties issues. Call for appointment - no walk-ins.


AIDS Care/Hampshire County
PO Box #1299
Northampton, MA 01061-1299
Tel: (413) 586-8288, Fax: (413) 586-8996
aidscarehamp@cooley-dickinson.org

AIDS CARE/Hampshire County provides case management and comprehensive support services to people living with HIV infection, their families and friends. It is the lead agency for a consortium of community agencies and individuals, including a Consumer Advisory Board, who care about people living with HIV.


Alcoholics Anonymous
532-2111 or 538-5822 (24-hour)

Assists men and women in obtaining and maintaining sobriety while also helping others to recover from alcoholism.


Amherst Housing Authority
33 Kellogg Avenue
Amherst, MA 01002
256-0206 (elderly/disabled) or 256-8128 (family)

Management of housing complexes for elderly, disabled, and low income families, Section 8 (state funded subsidies) certificates, congregate housing of Jean Elder House. Provides list of other housing in the area.


Amherst Survival Center
1200 North Pleasant Street
North Amherst, MA 01059
549-3968

Services include a drop-in center, telephone advocacy and referral, health screenings (Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m.) and the distribution of clothing and small household goods. Provides a noon meal (M, T, Th, F), emergency food, farmers market food vouchers, USDA food distribution (once a month per family) and a Christmas party with gift distribution. Donations of non-perishable food, casseroles at noon meals, clothing, and small household goods are gratefully accepted.


ARISE for Social Justice
94 Rifle Street
Springfield, MA 01109
734-4948 (Information), 413-781-3712 (Fax)

Community organization for low-income families. Services include: health care access information line, advocacy and organization, community education and speaker's bureau.


AWARE
District Attorney's Office
13 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
(413)774-3186
FAX: (413)773-3278

Offers victims of domestic violence in-home safety alarms. Participants are allowed priority police response in domestic violence situations.


Berkshire Children & Families
220 Russell St. Suite 200/PO Box 343
Hadley, MA 01035
413-584-5690

Services include: individual and group child therapy; family and group counseling for adolescents and adults on family issues, supervised visitation services for non-custodial parent, parent aids for young families where there is a possibility of abuse. Adoption services include: placement of infants for a fee, foster care for infants, counseling for birth mothers, services to those wishing to adopt a special needs child, placement of children with emotional/physical disabilities, support groups.


Center for New Americans
17 New South Street
Northampton, MA 01060
587-7569

Citizen and immigration resource agency. Offers English classes; citizenship testing (fee-based); tutors; computer skills instruction; referrals; advocacy and counseling.


Children's Clinic
17 Brewster St.
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-3265
clinic@nccf-inc.org

Outpatient mental health clinic for children up to 18 years old. Provides therapy for children and parents. Psychological testing of young children, issues of trauma, anxiety and adoption.


Devereux: Therapeutic Foster Care
Suzanne Welch, Regional Manager
9 Research Drive
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 253-6500, (413) 253-6550 (Fax)
swelch@devereux.org

A managed care model designed to provide individualized treatment to children and adolescents who have mental health, behavioral, developmental and/or adjustment disorders or difficulties. These services are provided in highly structured home-based settings throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island within the community and are designed both to serve as an alternative to institutionalization or hospitalization, as well as a step down level of care following residential treatment.


The Birth Collective: Doula Services
Whitney P. Hull, (413) 774-5589; Wendy Zucco, (413) 268-0158
birthcollective@yahoo.com

Serving families in the Pioneer Valley and surrounding hill towns of Western Massachusetts, as well as the Brattleboro area of Southern Vermont. Experiencing the reassuring and mindful support of a professional labor assistant (doula) enhances the birthing experience for laboring women and their families. Doula-attended births statistically have better social, emotional and medical outcomes.


Elizabeth Freeman Center
146 First Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-2425 (voice and TTY), (413) 443-3016 (Fax)

Services are for anyone whose life is affected by sexual assault: survivors and significant others; referrals for children available; Family Law Project: Free assistance with legal questions, restraining orders, custody issues, visitation, financial support and complex family issues involving the courts; Divorce Workshop; support groups, such as Women's Survivor Group, Men's Survivor Group, Parent's Group, Significant Other Group, Women Who Are Facing Surgery Group, and Teen Support Group; 24-hour hotlines available


ESL Program - Jones Library
43 Amity Street
Amherst, MA 01002
256-4090

Services include administration of citizenship test and tutoring (GED, citizenship test and basic literacy). Offers materials, support, and public programs. ESL books, tapes and videos available on loan.


Tapestry Health/Family Planning
586-2539
16 Center Street, 4th Floor
Northampton, MA 01060
or 548-9992
Amherst Tapestry Health Center
27 Pray Street
Amherst, MA 01002

Medical/counseling services include: birth control, pap smears and breast examinations, STD screening/treatment, pregnancy testing and counseling, referrals, routine lab work, pelvic exams and pre-natal care. Information/referral services for: fertility and genetic counseling, adoption, abortion, prenatal care, sterilization for men and women. Other services: comprehensive exams, education, & preventative health services for women at menopause, including mammograms and screenings for heart disease, thyroid problems, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Educational services: speakers, films, and literature covering all human sexuality topics. Sliding scale fees.


Five Colleges, Inc.
97 Spring Street
Amherst MA 01002
413-256-8316

The non-profit higher education consortium that administers cooperative agreements and programs among Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.


Five-College Women's Studies Research Center
Dickinson House, 50 College St., Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA 01075
538-2275

Supports scholarly activity and creative work in Women's Studies through residencies, seminars and events. The faculties of the Five Colleges (Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith College and UMass) comprise one of the largest concentrations of Women's Studies scholars in the country.


Support Network for Families of Western Mass
The Consortium
187 High Street
Suite 204
Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 536-2401
supportnetwork@wmtcinfo.org

The Support Network works to support the needs of families in Western Massachusetts who have a child age 19 or younger with behavioral or emotional challenges. Each family determines its own needs. The Network's mission is to support the unique strengths, insights and skills of families so they may best achieve their individual goals. Family Support Specialists staff the Network in the Berkshires, Franklin, Hampshire, N. Quabbin and Hampden Counties.


Full Circle Adoptions & Family Building Center, Inc.
39 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
587-0007 or 1-800-45-ADOPT (toll free birthparent line)

Provides adoption related services to birth-parents and prospective adoptive-parents. Full services (home-study through finalization) for MA residents, and free counseling to MA birth-parents are provided. Offers co-parent and stepparent adoptions. Provides resource referral and networking for outreach clients of other states where allowed by the laws of their states. Fee-based service.


GLBT Counseling & Psychotherapy Referral Service
16 Center Street, Suite 326
Northampton, MA 01060
586-0678

Free and confidential clearinghouse for issues of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in Western Mass. Services are designed to help ease the search through the often confusing process of finding the services and providers needed.


Highland Valley Elder Services
320 Riverside Drive
Northampton, MA 01060
586-2000 or (800) 322-0551 or (800) 922-2275 (24-hour emergency)

Protective Services and Elder at Risk programs offer a range of comprehensive case management services to elders who are at risk of abuse and neglect. Services include: referrals to a variety of home-care services, crisis case work, and interventation, legal advocacy, Senior Companion Program, information and referral services. Serves Hmpshire and West Hampden counties.


VNA Hospice Alliance
168 Industrial Drive
Northampton, MA 01060
584-6065

Services for terminally ill patients and their family, including: home health care, nursing home and hospital hospice service, community education for professionals or general public on hospice program or on issues dealing with life-limiting illness, bereavement support and counseling to help patient and family (includes spiritual support and counseling), support groups including AIDS-related groups.


Incourage: Lesbian Survival Support Fund
P.O. Box 634
Hadley, MA 01035
413-582-4086

Incourage is a non-profit, volunteer grassroots lesbian organization that provides money to local working class and poor lesbians for survival needs such as rent, health care, food, and transportation. Provides a safety net where none otherwise exists.


Language Bridge
Interpreter Service
P.O. Box 30361
Colonial Station
Springfield MA 01103-0361
Phone: (413) 478-4342, Fax/Voice: (413) 567-1295

Language Bridge acts as a bridge between different cultures providing clients with high quality, around the clock professional translation and interpretation services. Services include written translation, oral (verbal) interpretation (including medical, legal, technical, and other fields), training for interpreters, training for providers, training on how to order and use "Language Bridge" services, document editing, document proofreading, and language consulting.


League of Women Voters
4 Evergreen Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
256-0633
15 Washington Avenue
Northampton, MA 01060
586-0426 or (800)882-1649

Non-partisan organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. Provides information and discussion forums on political candidate and issues for Amherst and Northampton, the state, and the nation.


Life Course Counseling Center
PO Box 845
Northampton, MA 01061
585-1655

Services include: individual and couple counseling for lesbians, gays and bisexuals on a variety of issues, including self-esteem, relationships, incest, drugs, alcohol and AIDS. Comprised of lesbian and gay clinicians. Support groups include: "Out Now Teen Group" of Springfield; Teen Group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning - Coming Out Group; Transgender support and therapy group; Lesbian and Bi-Women's Group.


Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange
Western MA Office
1527 Main Street
2nd Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
413-452-3431

MARE exists to find "a place to call home" for children in foster care including sibling groups and children who are traditionally harder to place by recruiting, educating, supporting and advocating for families throughout the adoption process. MARE focuses on waiting children who are ages six and older, children of color of all ages, sibling groups, children with emotional, physical and intellectual challenges, and children who are at legal risk.


Mass. Commission Against Discrimination
436 Dwight St., Suite 220
State Office Building
Springfield, MA 01103
(413)739-2145
FAX: (413)74-1056

Helps citizens to understand their rights and laws against harrassment and discrimination. Facilitates in understanding when to file a law suit or complaint. Enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disablity, etc.


The Mediation and Training Collaborative
277 Main Street
Suite 401
Greenfield, MA 01301
413-774-7469
mediation@fcac.net

A non-profit program of Franklin Community Action Corporation, TMTC is a comprehensive conflict resolution, mediation and training organization, serving western MA. TMTC mediates a broad range of disputes including consumer, housing, divorce and family, workplace and neighborhood.


Men's Resource Center
236 N. Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
253-9887
253-4801 (fax)

Its mission is to support men and to develop men's leadership in challenging all forms of oppression. The programs support men in overcoming the damaging effects of rigid and stereotyped masculinity, and simultaneously confront men's patterns of personal and societal violence and abuse toward women, children and other men.


Monadnock Men's Resource Center
PO Box 140
Keene, NH 03431
Toll Free 866-969-6672
info@mmrconline.org

MMRC is committed to providing all men with a safe space for growth, sharing, connection, and community building with other men. It is committed to challenging and promoting an understanding of interpersonal and institutional violence, sexism, homophobia, racism and other forms of oppression, and to promoting and supporting healing and empowerment for all people. Toward this end, it strongly support the insights and social changes the civil rights movement, feminism, and the gay liberation movement have stimulated for both women and men.


Family Diversity Projects
P.O Box 1246
Amherst, MA
256-0502

Network of multiracial families including lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight, single-parent, and adoptive families. Activities for children and adult/parent potlucks to discuss issues, educational events, and resources.


NAACP
Job Placement Officer
25 James St. Avenue
Springfield, MA 01109
413-734-2765

National advocacy group for blacks and other minorities. Articulates grievances and protests rights by whatever legal means necessary.


Safe Passage (formerly Necessities/Necesidades)
43 Center Street, Suite G
Northampton, MA 0106
586-1125 (business) or 586-5066/888-345-5282 (24-hour crisis/collect calls accepted)

Shelter in safe house for women and their children who are in danger of assault by a domestic partner. Legal assistance with restraining orders, divorce, separation and counseling. Public awareness and community education on issues of domestic violence.


NELCWIT (New England Learning Center for Women in Transition)
479 Main Street
PO Box 520
Greenfield, MA 01301
772-0806
34 N. Main Street
Orange, MA 01364
978-544-0270
312 Main Street
Athol, MA 01364
978-249-2938

Safe-house shelter for battered women, legal advocacy, and advice for battered or abused women. Counseling services for battered or abused women and for survivors of sexual abuse and rape. Support groups for battered women, battered lesbians, rape survivors, incest survivors, and for self-esteem. Community education on violence against women.


Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
Cooley Dickinson Hospital
30 Locust St. (Route 9)
Northampton, MA 01060
582-2000

Services include: individual, couple, family, and group counseling; psychological assessment and evaluation; educational talks and workshops for community groups. Accepts Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance with referral from primary physician (if required).


Peace Development Fund
44 North Prospect Street, Box 1280
Amherst, MA 01002
256-8306

A public, nonprofit foundation supporting progressive grassroots movements through grants and training. Its mission is to work in partnership with community-based groups to achieve social, environmental, and economic justice.


PFLAG, Inc.
147 Porter Lake Dr.
Springfield, MA 01106
413-536-6373

Support for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered and their families and friends. Advocates community education regarding LGBT issues. Call for more information.


Planned Parenthood
3550 Main St., Suite 201
Springfield, MA 01107
413-732-1620 or 800-258-4448 (toll free)

631 Lincoln Street
Worcester, MA 01605-2010
(508) 854-3310

Services include: birth control care, gynecological care, STDs and HIV services, abortion services, free walk-in pregnancy testing, counseling and referral.


Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
Western New England Intergroup
P.O. Box 63
Northampton, MA 01060
(800) 749-6879

A 12-step program for people who are recovering from sex and love addictions. Meetings and counseling are available to friends and family of recoverers as well. Call for schedule.


Stavros Center for Independent Living, Inc.
Main Office
210 Old Farm Rd.
Amherst, MA 01002
256-0473 (voice/TDD) or (800) 804-1899 (voice/TDD)

Stavros Center is dedicated to helping people with disabilities to live as independently as possible. Stavros maintains offices in Amherst, Springfield and Greenfield. Services include: information and referral, peer counseling, skills training, advocacy, personal assistance service, assistive techonology, assistance with housing and accessibility, equipment loan, and other services. Serves Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin County.


Valley Women's Martial Arts
1 Cottage Street (Rt. 141)
P.O. Box 1064
Easthampton, MA 01027-1064
527-0101

Self-defense, karate, and modern arnis (Filipino stick fighting) instruction for women of all ages and abilities. Sliding scale for payment.


Victim Witness Assistance/District Attorney's Office
586-5780 or 586-0992 (Northampton, 1 Court St.)
772-6944 (Greenfield, 13 Conway St.)
(978) 544-7376 (Orange, 1 Court Square)
413-967-3711 (Ware, 71 South St.)

Provides information regarding court proceedings, victim rights information and assistance, compensation information and abuse prevention (restraining order) petitions. Social service referrals.


WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
413-549-6864 or (800) 942-1007 (nearest office)
150 Fearing St.
Amherst, MA 01002

413-543-2460
300 High St. #1
Holyoke, MA 01040

Program for Massachusetts residents. For pregnant and post- partum mothers and their children under 5 who meet income guidelines. Regular visits 2nd & 4th week of month which include nutrition assessment, dietary intake, analysis of growth patterns, development of a care plan, and assigning of an individually tailored food package. Food vouchers issued every three months for use at contracted stores and pharmacies.


Women's Health Network of Western Mass.
Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut Street
Springfield, MA 01199
413-794-8010

Provides mammograms, pap tests, diabetes and cholesterol screenings to mainly uninsured women between the ages of 40 and 64 and to younger women if they are at a greater risk of ovarian or breast cancer.


Companeras
Women's Shelter
476 Appleton St.
Holyoke, MA 01041
Office: (413)538-9717
24 hour crisis line: (413)536-1628/(877)536-1628

Counseling, advocacy, 24-hour support and emergency shelter for battered women and children. Provides legal services and community awareness programs. Support groups, teen services and volunteer opportunities are available as well.


Western MA Eldercare Inc.
4 Valley Mill Rd
Holyoke, MA 01040
413-538-9020 or 800-462-2301

Serving Belchertown, Chicopee, Granby, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Ware and beyond; Since 1974 Western Mass ElderCare has existed to serve the needs of older people. A private, non-profit agency that offers a diversity of programs and services to preserve independence and the family network. Meets the individual needs of the elder at the different stages along the continuum of care, ranging from information services to inhome support, to crisis prevention and nursing home advocacy.


Easthampton Home for Aged Women (The Wright Homestead)
305 Main Street
Easthampton, MA 01027
527-4316

The Wright Homestead is a private, nonprofit residence open to a maximum of 13 women from this area. For the older woman who would like freedom from household cares and responsibilities, with home-cooked meals served family style in an attractive dining room; independence to come and go as desired: privacy in a pleasant, private room with own furnishings; companionship with congenial residents in a homelike atmosphere.


YWCA North Branch
6 Myrtle Street
Northampton, MA 01060
586-6807

Services include: individual/group counseling for individuals 12-22 years of age; school and community-based services for low-income youths 14-22 years of age; individual tutor/mentor services (LEAP); breast/cervical cancer education, early detection, and referrals for women over forty (Encore Plus Program); youth leadership and tobacco prevention program (Teenage Power Alliance); support/education for pregnant and parenting mothers age 12-22. Transition Living Program includes a range of support services as well as subsidized housing to assist formerly battered women and their children in their transition away from abusive relationships and toward self-sufficiency.