We hope this site is helpful and provides you with useful information and resources. If you have any questions or requests for information to be posted here, please contact Melissa Maguire.

• A Parents Guide to Special Education
• Parents Notice of Procedural Safeguards - November 2019 update
• Mass Family Ties
• The ARC of Massachusetts
• Federation for Children with Special Needs
• Massachusetts Association of Special Education parents Advisory Councils (MASSPAC)
• Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change
• Disability Definitions and Related Links
• NAMI - Resources for Families
• Toilet Training for students with ASD

Department Of Developmental Disabilities

• Turning-22-services
• DDS Transition Information
• DDS Autism Waiver Program
• DDS Family Support

Autism Waiver Program Notice - September 2021

This year, the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS) will be accepting interest forms between 10/15-10/30. This is a program for DDS-eligible students aged 3-9 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum, who would benefit from a more intensive in-home direct services support model than family support. The program offers access to in-home clinical services, case management, and progress tracking on goals, respite, and flex funding for a period of up to 3 years. Students must be DDS eligible to enroll but may submit an interest form prior to receiving an eligibility determination as long as an application is submitted. Please see attached for the ASD Waiver Program overview, interest form, and DDS applications for children under 5yo and aged 5-22.

 Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to check the status of a student with DDS, have a question about the service, or want to set up a time to help a family complete the application. Open Request Forms are available in many languages. If you need one, let me know.

 https://www.mass.gov/service-details/dds-autism-waiver-service-program-overview

Contact for more information:

Jenna Zoino, Children’s & Transition Service Coordinator
Department of Developmental Services
Cape & Islands Area Office
181 North Street, Hyannis MA 02601
774.373.0200

jenna.zoino@state.ma.us

ASD Waiver Program Open Request Form

ASD Waiver Overview

ASD Waiver application 5-22

ASD Waiver Application 0-5

Bay Cove - Mobile Crisis

Bay Cove is still fully functioning 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, during this COVID 19 time. We still have clinicians going into the community and both hospitals. We are also advertising that our mobile crisis clinicians now have the ability to use telehealth if a family or client does not want someone to come into their home! We are attempting to reach out to support our families and community in this difficult time. Please pass this on to your staff and students that Bay Cove can still assist with crisis evaluations for anyone in need!

The Family Resource Center is open

We open normal operational hours, supporting both families and students during these challenging times. We are practicing appropriate social distancing by limiting our physical interactions to mainly our colleagues in the office. Attached is a community flier which further describes how families can connect with us.

Katie Mann, School Liaison
Cape Cod Family Resource Center
29 Bassett Ln., Hyannis, MA
508-815-5074

Cape Cod Family Resource Center - Community Notice.pdf

CCFRC Brochure Feb 27-2020.pdf

WIC services and food for our families with young children.

The MA Department of Public Health's Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nutrition P​rogram is informing our health and community partners that WIC services are available by phone.  ALL WIC Programs are able to provide all services by phone to align with social distancing efforts. Our website​ will be kept up-to-date as well.  Contact local WIC programs with any questions about breastfeeding, nutrition or shopping.  Even if local program offices are not open, they are responding to phone calls and providing services from remote locations. WIC is committed to providing families with continued support now and in the days ahead.

WIC welcomes families at any time. Check out WIC's eligibility page to see how to families can apply online for WIC services. Parents, grandparents and foster parents may apply for children under the age of five years who are in their care.

Call WIC at 1-800-942-1007 or 617-721-6601weekdays Monday through Friday 9am – 5pm.  If you hear a recording, please leave a message with your name and telephone number, and staff will respond the same business day or email a Local WIC Program directly with any questions.

Cape Cod WIC Program: CCWIC@healthimperatives.org

Justice Resource Institute
Cape & Islands Community Service Agency

As the Senior Family Partner for the Cape & Islands Community Service Agency, I wanted to take a few minutes to provide you with some information regarding Family Partner Services and how they can be helpful in supporting a parent and/or guardian who are raising a child with, what insurance companies refer to as an SED (serious emotional disturbance). This diagnoses can run the gamut from ADHD to anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, etc. This service can also be provided for children who have a primary diagnosis of autism.   

These services are provided by individuals who have lived experience as parents of a child with an SED. The Family Partners are able to share their knowledge and how they were able to navigate the child serving systems successfully. Services are provided in a strength-based manner and personalized to always consider the family culture within the home. 

If you have any questions regarding the service, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly and we can discuss the process.  The best way to contact me now would be on my cell phone, which is listed below, or via email. 

Thank you. 

Jackie Higgins, Senior Family Partner 
Justice Resource Institute
Cape & Islands Community Service Agency
221 Willow Street, Yarmouthport, MA 02675
508-771-3156 x2675
508-745-4232 (cell phone)
(fax) 508-771-3287

Wraparound Via Telehealth Flyer.pdf

MassSupport Network – outreach and services available
Please see the attached MassSupport Network school flyer for information about community outreach and support services available statewide. Information about related events such as town halls and support groups that may be of interest can also be found on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram. In addition, the program has a YouTube channel that includes presentations and other helpful materials.