Healthy & Safe Relationships Resources

First and foremost, call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Organizations & Groups

Find contact information for a number of organizations and groups that help provide resources for healthy and safe relationships.

YWCA DV Trauma & COVID Training

This training was presented as part of UMass’ Trauma Training Tuesday series. View the full presentation along with the PowerPoint slides.

LGBTQ+ Online Group

Gender Spectrum hosts online groups for pre-teens, teens, parents, caregivers, and other family members. These groups provide participants the opportunity to connect with others, share their experiences, and feel the comfort of a supportive community. All groups are hosted online unless noted otherwise. Please view the information to learn more and sign up for these groups.

LUK’s Young Parent Support (YPS) Program

This program is available for young parents, male and female, and up to the age of 23. We can provide the following services:

  • Case Management - consisting of strength-based assessment Linkages with High School/GED/Continuing Education services
  • Linkages with Physical, Dental, and Mental Health Services
  • Community Services Access and Referral
  • Life/Parenting Skill Instruction
  • Father’s Programming
  • Transportation
  • Informal Counseling
  • Peer Support Groups
  • Health and Nutritional Counseling
  • Pregnancy Prevention Services
  • Aftercare Services
  • Home Visits

Get the support that every parent deserves and access to resources that will help you to be the best parent that you can be. You can choose the services that you feel you need the most and together we can make a plan that works best for you. Services are available in Fitchburg and Worcester.

For referrals call 800-711-4585, or email LUK.

Encompass - Community & Collaboration for Foster Families

Caring for children in foster care is a community—not the responsibility of just one person or family. While not everyone can be a foster parent, Encompass will engage and mobilize community volunteers to play a role in supporting foster parents by giving of their time and donating tangible goods. Volunteer Coordinators will recruit two teams of 40 Community Support Volunteers to provide a menu of supports to foster parents including virtual enrichment activities, meal delivery, and themed boxed donations. Coordinators will work with foster parents to match requests with skills and availability of volunteers.

With funding from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts (THFCM) Synergy Grant, our collaboration has the unique opportunity to revolutionize foster care, beginning in Worcester County. Our team invested a year of planning to identify and research best practices in the Commonwealth and

across the nation. Our commitment is to implement an enhanced foster care system that engages communities, trains caregivers to minimize the impact of trauma, supports the unique role of kinship caregivers, and strengthens information sharing among and between parents, foster caregivers, and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Fuel and Rental Assistance Available for Domestic Violence Survivors

Call Stephanie Dondero, Domestic Violence Counselor at the Spanish American Center directly at 978-534-3145. The YWCA Central Massachusetts also has similar funding that can be used for rental assistance/arrears.

Please feel free to share their helpline (508-755-9030) with workers/clients for more information.