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STATE & NATIONAL AGENCIES |
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Department of
Children & Families (DCF) The Department of Social Services is the Massachusetts State Child Protective services. DSS provides:
Department of
Developmental Services DDS provides services and supports to adults with mental retardation and children with developmental disabilities. Assistance is available in the areas of:
Department of
Education and Secondary Education The DOE administrates the public education of state residents including those with special needs.
Department of
Environmental Protection The Dept. of Environmental Protection is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air and water, the safe management of toxics and hazards, the recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, the timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.
Department of Mental
Health The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) sets the standards for the operation of mental health facilities and community residential programs and provides clinical, rehabilitative and supportive services for adults with serious mental illness, and children and adolescents with serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.
Towns served: Ashfield, Athol, Bernardston, Buckland,Charlemont , Colrain
, Conway, Deerfield Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Leverett,
Leyden, Millers Falls Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Petersham
Phillipston, Rowe, Royalston, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Turners
Falls, Warwick, Wendell, Whately
Department of Public
Health (MA-DPH) DPH promotes and insures conditions that improve and protect the health of all Massachusetts residents and communities. Programs address:
List of towns in Western Mass region:
Department of Public
Health The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services oversees the substance abuse prevention and treatment services in Western Mass and helps to provide access to treatment services for indigent and uninsured people.
Department of
Transitional Assistance| The Department of Transitional Assistance is the Massachusetts State Division of Welfare. They distribute food stamps, TAFDC, EAEDC, emergency assistance and referrals. The DTA office has a satellite in Athol at First Call for Help, 423 Main Street. The satellite is staffed Wednesday’s from 9:00-5:00 p.m. with a clerk who is able to answer questions, hand out paperwork/applications & schedule appointments.
Department of Veterans
Services The mission of the Department of Veterans’ Services is to be the leading advocate for the more than half-million veterans of the Commonwealth and their families and survivors. DVS establishes policy, proposes legislation, ensures adequate funding for veterans programs is included in the Governor’s budget, and represents the interests of veterans in matters coming before the General Court. In addition, DVS represents all state agencies and individual veterans before the federal Department of Veterans Affairs in securing federal compensation and other benefits that might be available. It administers the needs-based benefits program (M.G.L. C. 115) through Veterans’ Agents in each municipality of the Commonwealth, and also provides state funding to organizations offering homeless shelter, transitional housing, and outreach services to veterans.
Department of Youth
Services (DYS) The Department of Youth Services is the Massachusetts State Juvenile Delinquency prevention program and provides oversight of court involved youth.
Disabled Persons
Protection Commission (DPPC) DPPC is committed to protecting adults with disabilities from abusive acts and omissions of their caregivers through investigation, oversight, public awareness, and prevention.
Massachusetts Commission
for the Blind The Mission of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind is to work in partnership with legally blind individuals to reach their goals of independence and participation in their communities. SERVICES AND PROGRAMS:
MassHealth MassHealth is insurance coverage that pays for healthcare for income eligible residents of Massachusetts. MassHealth covers a broad range of health-care services by paying for part or all of a member’s health insurance, or paying MassHealth providers for medical services.
Massachusetts
Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) Information and referral on questions regarding developmental disabilities.
Massachusetts Office on
Disability (MOD) The purpose of MOD is to bring about full and equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life in a manner which fosters dignity and self determination. MOD works to:
Massachusetts
Rehabilitation Commission The MRC is the agency of the Commonwealth responsible for vocational rehabilitation services, independent living services (except for persons who are blind) and for eligibility determination for SSI/SSDI (federal) benefits programs for citizens with disabilities. There is an outreach worker who comes to Orange and Athol twice a week to meet with clients. Call for an appointment in the North Quabbin area.
Social Security
Administration SSA administers:
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