Massachusetts Divorce and Single Parent Resources

A Child’s View Early Learning Center has two locations in Quincy as well as two locations in Dorchester. From the website you can schedule a tour of one of the facilities. The center has programs for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. A Child’s View Early Learning Center teaches children basic values such as respect for others, language skills, safety, and much, much more. The center provides a healthy, happy, and safe environment for children while parents are working.

7:00 AM – 5:30 PM , Monday thru Friday

Founded in 1986, Adoptions With Love, inc. is a non profit charitable organization providing services to both birth parents thinking of adoption and potential adoptive parents. The compassionate staff at Adoptions With Love will guide you along the way providing the support and assistance needed to ensure you make the right decision for you. Staff members work with families to conduct home studies, match families, and provide counseling and health care to the birth mother.

Adult education and career develpment are just one of the many services of Boston ABCD, an area area non profit in 1961. Last year, Boston ABCD helped nearly 100,000 people in the area. Many of those received educational resources to address the underlyiing issue of poverty and every day struggles. Boston ABCD has 14 neighborhood locations in order to reach all areas of Boston. ABCD stands for Action for Boston Community Development and that’s just what they are doing with their adult education programs.

The Boston Adoption Bureau, established in 1983, provides services to birth parents who are seeking to place their unborn children. The agency pays for all medical care outside of any insurance policy as well as legal fees involved. Also they offer counseling services as well as peace of mind for the birth parents. There’s a 24 hour help line available for birth parents who may have questions or need assistance. Adoptive parents must complete a home study including interviews, prior to being considered as candidate for adopting. Once a approved the agency provides adoption education and orientation to guide the family through the process of adopting a child as well as matching service.

In addition to many other classes, Boston Baby Beginnings offers infant and child CPR classes weekly on Saturdays and Sundays at the Worldwide Center for Math. The classes are led by trained professionals. Prices are affordable and class schedules are flexible. Private classes are also an option. Founded in 2009 by two mothers/RNs, Raeanne Brazee & Chanel Harding. You can register for the classes online as well as check out the other class offerings and locations.

Boston Center for Adult Education offers an array of classes for adults in the Boston area. These classes and programs are a low cost alternative to college courses. The convenience and class offerings are intended to support the growing needs of adults in the community. Boston Center for Adult Education was founded in 1933 and has grown extensively over the years. Class offerings include cooking, music, theater, computers & technology, and English to name a few. Students may even register online.

Hours
Monday through Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

The Boston Children’s Museum has been in business over a hundred years. They set the stage for many museums all over the US. The museum offers a variety of educational programs for children of all ages in additon to the exhibits. Many people visit the museum from all areas of the United States. On the very informative website you will find information and photos of the exibits as well as admission price info and information on purchasing a family membership.

Hours
Mon – Thurs, Sat & Sun 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fridays 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Boston KinderCare Learning Center has been providing child care in the area since 1990. They have a program for infants, toddlers, preschool, and even a summer program for school age children. In addition to the basic learning and play curriculum, Boston KinderCare Learning Center has enrichment programs available that include Spanish, Math, Music, and Reading/Phonics. As an added bonus, you can pay tuition on thru the website which I consider the icing on the cake!

7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Bright Horizons Child Care Center is a national child care center with locations across the country. Bright Horizons has a program for children from infancy through kindergarten age. By visiting the website you can read comments and reviews from parents. All staff at the center are trained in CPR and first aid. Enrollment forms can be found online as well as a fact sheet and brochure about the center. You may schedule a tour or find out about special events by calling the center.

7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday thru Friday

The Bristol Lodge Women’s Shelter is a program of Middlesex Human Service Agency, Inc. which operates a number of shelters throught the area. The emergency shelter facility provides a safe place for women in crisis until they are able to find a permanent housing situation. Case managers and staff are there to provide supportive services such as counseling as well as other services to help women get back on their feet.

Email address: bl@mhsainc.org

Case Myrna is an organization dedicated to providing assistance to abused women in an effort to end domestic violence. A large resource of Casa Myrna is the shelter and housing programs available to women and children in need. Emergency shelters are available as well as a transitional housing program and a teen parenting program. The immediate shelter and support services are made available on a case by case basis. Casa Myrna has a 24 hour hotline called SafeLink to assist women in need.

24 hour hotline 877-785-2020

Located at Massachusetts General Hospital, a part of Harvard Medical School, Center for Women’s Mental health provides psychiatric services including evaluations and routine care for women with mental illness. The Women’s Center is an excellent source for research and information as well. They provide psychiatric services to women of all ages and are open Monday throgh Friday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Founded in 1988 by Dr. Jean Emans & Dr. Marc Laufer, the Center for Young Women’s Health serves as a resource center for teen girls and young women to obtain information and resources. The resource center provides computers and internet access as well as general info and resources. On the website, young women can check out the shedule of upcoming online chat topics that may interest them.

Hours
8:00 AM – 5:00 Monday – Friday

Chesnut Children’s Center located in Needham, MA offers programs for infants, as early as three months old and children up to age 5. You will find various scheduling options for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days per week to meet your needs. Morning and afternoon snacks are provided. However, parents must send a lunch with their children. Safety is important so all doors are locked to the outside at all times, classrooms are age appropriately equipped with toys and play space and all employees are trained in CPR and first aid.

7:00 AM – 6:30 PM, Monday thru Friday

A program of the Boston Medical Center, the Child Protection Team is within the Department of Pediatrics. They are dedicated to ensuring support and advocacy for families and children through continued research, training for staff, and ongoing partnership with local agencies such as the DCF and law enforcement. Boston Medical Center’s Child Protection Team reviews all cases of abuse and neglect.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County is located within the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. This organization works in collaboration with other local agencies such as schools, hospitals, and police departments to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect. Children’s Advocacy Center is a 501c3 non profit organization.

Hours
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Mon – Fri

China Adoption With Love, Inc. is a nonprofit agency in Brookline, MA that places children from China in adoptive homes all over the United States. This agency only places children from China in adoptive homes. There’s a process you’d need to go through to be eligible to adopt. The process is quite lengthy and expensive but most definitely for a wonderful cause.This organization respects the chinese culture and encourages families to continue teaching children of their heritage, even planing return trips to China for the children to visit.

A program of Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, the Dialectic Behavior Therapy Skills Building Group is a program for those who have a history of substance abuse and are not using now. Led by Hope Grassi, Licensed Social Worker, this is an 8 session group focusing on emotions and mindfulness to issues related to managing cravings and triggers. The group is for men and women and family members are welcome to attend.

Hours
Mondays 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Group Leader: Hope Grassi, LICSW 617-983-7369

Oona Metz is a Licensed Social Worker who leads the Divorce Care groups for Women. Meetings are held weekly in both of Ms. Mentz’s office locations, one on Tuesdays and the other on Wednesday evenings. In order to attend the group you must first attend two individual sessions. The meetings are confidential and based on a group therapy approach to support and focusing on the needs of divorced women whether they have children or not.

Hours: Tuesdays 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
There is also a meeting at 89 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, AM on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:15 PM.

Catherine Elliott, a Counselor at JCL Counseling Group leads the weekly Divorce, Separation, or Change Group meeting every Saturday from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM at her office located at 200 Broadway in Lynnfield. There is a cost of $20 to attend the support group meetings. The meetings are an opportunity to gain insight and knowlege from others who are also experiencing the effects of divorce. In a confidential setting you will gain much needed emotional support from a group of like minded peers.

Hours: Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Cost is $20

Founded in 1974, the Elizabeth Stone House, which is located in Roxbury seeks to restore lives while resolving issues that resulted in homelessness by providing support groups, educational classes, work programs, and much more. Women in immediate need of shelter are taken in to the shelter where they will feel safe and secure while receiving assistance they need.

The Enhancing Sobriety meetings are conducted by Dr. Russell Lowe, Licensed Pschoanalyst at the Boston Graduat School of Psychoanalysis. These meetings are for people who are sober to offer the ongoing support and therapy to dig a little deeper in understanding oneself and coping with the daily struggles, learning how to overcome those struggles within a new life filled with joy. The time of the meetings is not listed so you should call Dr. Lowe at the number listed below for more information on the time. Session cost is $30-40 and the meetings are for both men and women.

Group meetings take place on Wednesdays at Boston Graduate SChool of Psychoanalysis

A shelter for abused and battered women, the Finnix house has been in existence since 1983. They offer much more than just immediate shelter for women in need such as counseling , health care, advocacy, support groups, transitional housing assistance. The Finnix house has a 24 hour hotline so women in need may quickly to obtain immediate shelter and services. The location of the house is not listed online.

24 hr Hotline 617-288-1054

A program of The Divorce Center, the Divorce Recovery Group meetings are held regularly to support the needs of men and women who may be divorced, separated, or going through divorce or separation. The meetings are held at the First Congregational Church in the Norwood area. Meetings are held on Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM. For more information on the group, one should contact the church at 781-762-3320

Hours: Wednesdays 7:00 PM
Call for info on fees, etc.

First Literacy has been around for over 25 years, providing services general education services to adults in the Boston area. Through their scholarship program, First Literacy directly helps adults seeking to continue their education. First Literacy also provides grants to many other local organizationa for purchase of materials and other resources need to continue their work of educating adults and bringing them out of poverty, acquiring jobs and bettering lives.

Contact:Michael D. Feher, mfeher@firstliteracy.org

The Franklin Park Zoo is situated on 72-acres at Boston’s Franklin Park. Admission prices and information can be found on the website and you can also purchase admission there on the site as well. You will also find a “special offer” section on the website which includes special pricing and programs. For families that live near by and plan to visit often there is a family membership available for purchase.

Hours
Oct 1 – March 31 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
April 1- Sept 30 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Mon-Fri & open until 6:00 PM on weekends

Weekly on Fridays from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM there is a AA Meeting at First Baptist Church in Needham, MA. The meetings are open to the public as well as regular group members. The name of the meeting, Great Step Meeting, is referring to the 12 step guiding principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, a national organization. The meetings are support for anyone who struggling with alcohol addiction or struggling to stay sober. I should also mention there are many, many chapters across the Boston area. So meetings can be found pretty regularly in various locations.

Hours
Fridays 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Meeting Location: First Baptist Church

Heading Home located in the heart of Boston has a large shelter program consisting of emergency shelter services, transitional housing programs, and other services such as education, social services, food, clothing and much more. The Cambridge Shelter is their emergency shelter which can house up to 21 people. There are other more long term shelters as well such as the Dorchester and Roxbury Family Shelters. The goal of the shelter program is to help residents get back on their feet and eventually obtain a long term housing solution.

Call for more info

Jack ‘n’ Jill Child Care Center has three locations in the Boston area with programs for infants through age six. The programs offered include infant, toddler, preschool, and kindergarten. The tuition prices are listed on their website based on the child’s age and the number of days per week a child attends. There is a registration fee of $75 as well as an annual enrollment fee of $50. The Jack ‘n’ Jill Child Care Center has been in business for 70 years and staffed with certified and trained staff.

If your looking for something really fun for the younger children, the Kids Fun Stop over in West Roxbury has an great indoor play space that children love. Kids Fun Stop is open 7 days a week. They are open most holidays and occassionally will extend hours on the weekends. The website has a calendar where you can check out upcoming events. Kids Fun Stop is also a great place to schedule a birthday party for your little one. Whatever the purpose of your visit, the Kids Fun Stop promises loads of fun for the littles!

Hours
Mon – Fri 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat/Sun 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Little Ducks Childcare, located in Needham Heights area appears to be a very high quality, smaller sized day care center. The center hours are from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday thru Friday. No information on pricing is located on the site. However, by visiting the site you will find a great deal of information about the center, their curriculum, daily schedule, and activities as well as some beautiful photos of the center. The Director of Little Ducks is a certified preschool teacher with CPR and first aid training.

Hours 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Little Sprouts has been around over thirty years. With 19 locations in the Boston and NH area, Little Sprouts offers a top quality, child care program for children of all ages. Each classroom is staffed with a certified teacher and all teachers received continuing education on a yearly basis. Breakfast is provided as well as two snacks. However, parents must send lunch for their children. The building is quite secure with the keypad, coded entry and all parents given a code to access the building.

6:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday thru Friday

The Massachusetts Adoption Resources Exchange, Inc. is a matching service, filling the gaps between chidren in foster care that need permanent homes and families that seek to adopt a child. If you have questions about adoption or seeking information on a particular child in need, MARE is the place you should go. At this time MARE has assisted over 5,750 children find families. The website is packed full with information from children in need as well as ways you can help. MARE receives some funding from the Massachusetts Deparment of Families and Children

Hours
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education, established in 1992 is a statewide organization that offers professional devlopment resources to educators of adult education across the state of Massachusetts. Members attend workshops, conferences, various other meetings, and interact with peers to stay informed, keep up with new technologies, issues, and work together to educate adults of Massachusetts. No office hours are listed on the site. However, there is a contact name and email address listed below.

Contact person: Jennifer McAllister jmcallister@mcae.net

Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has played an instrumental role in child advocacy in MA since they began in 1878. Over the years their programs have expanded to meet the needs of the community by offering programs such as pregnancy and parenting support, child/family counseling, foster care, and adoption. They have several locations in and around the Boston area.

The New England Aquarium is located in the downtown waterfront area of Boston in the historic area. The aquarium is open year round and in addition to the amazing exhibits there is an IMAX 3D theatre. One of the newest exhibits is the Secret World of Penguins which looks really exciting. From the websit you can purchase admission tickets or even an annual membership for the family. You’ll find everything you need to make a day trip out of your visit to the aquarium. There’s even a cafe for lunch and snacks.

Hours
6/30-9/1: Sun – Thurs 9AM-6 PM, Fri/Sat 9AM-7PM
Fall/Winter hrs Sun-Thurs 9AM-5PM, Fri/Sat 9AM -6PM

Parents Apart is a two session educational group meeting that’s ongoing in three different locations – Brandeis, Waltham, and Baintree. The two part meetings fulfill the requirement set forth by the Commonwealth of MA for newly divorced/divorcing parents. Parents will learn the importance of getting along and working together for the wellbeing of the children during while dealing with the stress and challenges of divorce and being a single parent.

Meetings take place at various times depending on the location you prefer.

Parents Helping Parents is a national organization with chapters all over the US. This Wollaston Church of the Nazarene, located in Quincy, hosts a Parents Helping Parents support group as a ministry of their church. The meetings are designed to provide emotional support to parents as they face the many challenges and stressful times. Participants can attend the group meetings for no cost.

Hours
Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Park Street Church has a 13 week Divorce Care support group. The upcoming session will run from January 22nd through April 30th with classes held on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM at the church which is located in the downtown area of Boston. The cost of registration is $20 and includes a workbook. Scholarships available. No child care is provided. For more information, contact Dr. Dan Verengia, Minister of Pastoral Care, at the number below or use the contact form on the site.

Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM

The Women’s Inn is one of the homeless shelters of Pine Street Inn, a MA based nonprofit seeking to end homelessness. The Women’s Inn is located at 363 Albany Street in Boston. The shelter provides a safe, warm place for women with no where to go. Many other supportive services are available to the shelter residents such as health care and recovery services. The onstaff counselors are there to help the residents obtain needed services throughout their stay.

Putting Children First is a two part, two day session for divorcing couples. This five hour course fulfills the educational requirement set forth by the Commonwealth of MA. The cost is $80 and registration is required to attend. You may register online or in person for these classes at the Family Services of Merrimack Valley office in Lawrence, MA.

Wednesdays 5:00 – 7:00 PM

Quincy Asian Resources provides education and training for English Speakers of Other Languages. There are classes both day and night, meeting two to three days a week. The evening classes are free and the daytime classes have a cost associated with them. However, there is a waiting list for the free, evening classes. These English classes are very important for the Asian community. Summer session and beginners classes are available as well. You should call them to find out the class schedules and costs.

Hours
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Right Turn is an outpatient treatment center for addiction offering intervention, clinical, and ongoing care and support. Right turn has a number of meetings held almost daily at their center in the Arlington area. If you check out the calender on the website, you’ll find scheduled meetings for the current month. Meetings include Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Marajuana Anonymous just to name a few. No hours listed on the site. But there is a phone number as well as an online contact form to obtain more information.

Led by the Boston Publc Health Commission, Safe Kids Boston is a local chapter of the national organization, Safe Kids. By creating awareness and providing community outreach, Safe Kids Boston is working hard to keep children safe. Car seat safety check, safety workshops, and community events to raise awareness are just a few things Safe Kids Boston does to keep children safe. There were no hours listed on the site. However, if you visit the site you should check out the upcoming events.

Separated and Divorced Catholics Support Group meets weekly on Sundays from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM at St. Anthony’s Shrine. Anyone is welcome to attend and there is no cost to attendees. These group meetings give separated and divorced people an opportunity to come together on common ground in order to receive strength and emotional support that one needs during such a trying time. Many people have benefitted from the support groups and meetings are open, meaning anyone can attend any of the Sunday afternoon meetings.

Sundays 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Glenn Smith, a Licensed Social Worker in Westborough leads a support group for single dads that meets twice per month at his office which is located at 6 Colonial Dr. The meetings are held in the evevnings and are designed to lend emotional support single parent fathers as they face the every day challenges of being as single parent.

Hours
Call for more info on dates/times

A program of Needham Youth Services and in partnership with the Rotary Club of Needham, the Single Parent Support group meets Tuesday evenings from 6:15 – 7:45 PM. The group is led by Katy Colthart, a Licensed Social Worker in Needham area. Childcare is provide throughout the meeting as well as a light dinner for both the participants and children. The group is limited to twelve participants so you should call. Katy at the number below to register. There is no cost to attend the Single Parent Support Group meetings.

Hours
Tuesday evenings 6:15 – 7:45 PM

The Single & Parneting Small Group is a Chapel of the Cross Church in Westborough. The group meetings are twice per month on Sunday afternoons from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Childcare is available for the meeting. Single parents come together to share experiences and learn from each other how to overcome the challenges of being a single parent. To obtain more info you should contact the church by calling or emailing.

Hours
Sundays 4:30 – 6:30 PM

Email for more info: office@chapelcares.com

Smart Recovery is a national group with regional chapters located all over the United States. Meetings take place locally all over the country. By visiting the website you can locate a meeting in close proximity just about anywhere. Smart Recovery is based on a four point program emphasizing self help and recovery at no cost. Many resources can be found online….printable materials and a chat/forum area with online meetings and resources. The group at Yawkey Outpatient Center meets weekly on Thursday evenings.

Hours
Thursdays 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Meetings take place at Massachusetts General Hospital at the Yawkey Outpatient Center 4th Floor, Area 4A, Room number 4.930
Contact: Randy Lindel Email: Rlindel@aol.com

South Shore Women’s Health located in Boston has several locations around Boston to serve you. the locations are listed on their website. The medical team consists of 7 gynecologists, 4 nurse practitioners, and 4 physician assistants. By providing state of the art care, patient education, and working with patients South Shore Women’s Health helps patients achieve good health through a full range of routine care and pregnancy care.

Hours
Call for hours

Tartts Day Care is a family owned day care center that’s been in business since 1946. The center is managed by the Tartt family who is dedicated to providing high quality child care for working professionals. Tartts Day Care has both infant and toddler programs, serving children from 2 months of age through 2.9 years of age. The center is located in the same building as the Municipal Police Department, Department of Public Health, and the Fire Department Inspections Division so it’s very convenient for anyone working in that particular building or surround area.

7:30 AM – 5:30 PM, Monday thru Friday

The Freedom Trail is a trail 16 historical sights located throughout downtown Boston where you’ll find an array of historical parks, chapels, churches, burial grounds, and museums. If you check out the website, you will find information on each site such as Boston Commons Park which the oldest park in America and the US Constitution Museum as well as much, much more. There’s also handy little informative brochure to assist you in planning your visit. You may want to schedule a guided tour or or check out some of the various educational programs or events listed on the calendar.

Hours
Mondays – Fridays, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm;
Saturdays – Sundays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Hours listed above are for the visitor center located at Boston Commons Park. Check out the brochure for hours at each location to plan your visit.

The Home for Little Wanderers located in Boston operates a number of safe homes and support programs for homeless children throughout Boston and surrounding areas.The Home for Little Wanderers assists children and youth from birth to age 22. They do have an adoption program which provides full service adoption assistance, training, and education including home studies and assessments for adoptive families. The adoption program also provides continued support services for adoptive families.

If you happen to be in Boston, a tour of the beautiful Fenway Park is a must. The tours take place daily, 7 days a week, on the hour. The tours are on a first come basis and hosted by a tour guides who will tell you everythink you ever wanted to know and more about Fenway Park. The cost is $12 for children and $18 for adults. There’s a $1 off for seniors and students.

Hours
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Weston Ski Track runs along side the Leo Martin Golf Course, along the banks of the Charles River. Located around 30 minutes outside of Boston, the ski resort attracts people of all ages for various activities such as skiing, skating, and snowshoeing. You can purchase a trail pass for a day or a trail pass and lesson. For people who live nearby and plan to visit the ski track often, there are family passes as well as individual passes available for purchase. Onsite is a ski shop as well as guided tours, demos, food, and of course equipment rental. By visiting the website you can obtain the daily ski report which will include weather conditions as well as special events and hours for the day.

Hours
Monday–Thursday 10am–9pm*
Friday 10am–6pm*
Weekends/Holidays 9am–6pm*
*Subject to change based on weather and snow. Today’s hours appear in the Ski Report on the website

The Women’s Health Center is the gynecology and obstetrics department located at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and has been providing care for women for 175 years now. It’s the mission of the medical team here at the Women’s Health Center to provide the very best care, knowledge, and experience to maximize the overal health benefit of their patients. The Women’s Health Center is committed to research in an effort to provide top quality care to patients.

Women’s Health Group at Boston Medical Center is open 7 days a week providing full preventative health services as well as routine screenings, mammograms, etc. They are located in the South End area of Boston in the historical district. Women’s Health Group takes great pride in the excellent care, compassion, and high quality care they provide patients as well as the relationships they have with their patients built on basic principles of trust and understanding.

Hours
Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM