Families

LearningWorks (ABCD)

Phone: 

617-348-6721

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

9:30am-5pm M-F

Mission: 

LearningWorks is ABCD's workforce development center. Located in downtown Boston, it offers a variety of education, training and support services for low-income adults. The center is also a resource for employers seeking qualified staff or training opportunities. LearningWorks facilities include a computer lab and a self-directed resource room with automated job banks and resume writing programs.

Location

ABCD LearningWorks
19 Temple Place Downtown Crossing
Boston, MA 02111
United States
Key Partners: 

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

walk in

Key Programs Offered: 

-JobNet provides career assessment and counseling, job readiness activities and job search and placement services. A multilingual staff works with automated job banks to create career opportunities for job seekers on all rungs of the career ladder. -Downtown Adult Literacy Program tutors adults from 18yrs and older one-on-one on basic reading skills and GED preparation. Students also learn basic computer skills, enjoy field trips and guest lectures, and take part in Boston's annual Adult Education and Literacy Week. -Young Parents Program serves 16-to-21-year-old parents and expectant parents. The program provides individual counseling and support, GED preparation, parenting skills classes, job and career development counseling and support groups.

Created: 
03/02/2010

all programs are free of charge.

Upham's Corner Health Center

Phone: 

(617) 287-8000 or (617) 825-9206

Mission: 

The Upham's Corner Health Center is committed to provide high quality, low cost, culturally sensitive, community-based health and social services to the residents of Dorchester.

Our goal is to provide comprehensive health and social services of the highest quality that are affordable, physically and culturally accessible, delivered in a dignified manner, and have a positive effect upon the client's well - being.

Location

Upham's Corner Health Center Main Office
500 Columbia Road
Dorchester, MA 02125
United States
Key Programs Offered: 

Primary Care, Home Care & Behavioral Health and Social Services
415 Columbia Road, Dorchester MA 02125
Tel: (617) 287-8000

Business & Human Resources Office
547 Columbia Road, Dorchester MA 02125
Tel: (617) 825-9205

Upham's Elder Service Plan (UESP) / PACE
SAVIN HILL 1140 Dorchester Ave, MA 02125
Dudley Square 36 Dearborn Street MA 02119
Tel: (617) 288-0970

Teen Clinic and HIV & Women, Infant and Children's Program,
500 Columbia Road, Dorchester MA 02125
Tel: (617) 287-0786 ,
Tel: (617)-825-8994 (WIC)

Dental & Eye Care
636 Columbia Road, Dorchester MA 02125
Tel: (617) 825-9839

Center for Community Health, Education & Research (CCHER)

Phone: 

(617) 265-0628

Mission: 

The mission of the Center for Community Health, Education & Research Inc (CCHER) is to advocate on behalf of families and their children for public health policies and services that will, over time, have long term benefits for them and the larger community. Our focus is to serve linguistically, culturally and socially challenged new immigrant, underprivileged and underserved residents in the greater Boston and the surrounding communities. We at CCHER believe that residents of a community can play an important role in organizing and advocating for efficient and affordable health care and health related services for their community.

Location

Center for Community Health, Education & Research
420 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States

Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center

Phone: 

(617) 825-3400

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Monday - 8:30am to 8.00pm
Tuesday - 8:30am to 8.00pm
Wednesday - 8:30am to 8.00pm
Thursday - 8:30am to 8.00pm
Friday - 9:30am to 8.00pm
Saturday - 9:00am to 3.00pm

Mission: 

-Serve as a primary health care provider without regard to race, sex, color, political philosophy, or religious belief or ability to pay.

-Participate, so far as circumstances may warrant, in any activity designed and execute to promote the general health of families and children of the North Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury communities of Boston in particular, and the City of Boston in general.

-Serve as a primary source in all health education activities relating to rendering care to the sick and injured, or to the promotion of physical and mental health.

-Provide assistance to the community in the development implementation and analysis of health services and policies.

-Initiate and participate in health related research which promotes the well being of the communities served..

It is also HSNHC’s philosophy that quality health care should be made available, accessible, and acceptable to all people, and rendered in a dignified manner as a right rather than a privilege.

Location

Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center
632 Blue Hill Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02121
United States

Neponset Health Center

Phone: 

(617) 282-3200

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Monday to Friday 8:30 AM—9:00PM
Saturday 9:00 AM—3:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM— 3:00PM
Holidays 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Mission: 

Neponset Health Center (NHC) provides preventive and chronic medical and behavioral health care to residents in Dorchester and the surrounding communities. All NHC physicians and nurse practitioners are Board Certified or Board Eligible in their specialty.

Location

Neponset Health Center
398 Neponset Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02122
United States
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To schedule a medical appointment, please call (617) 282-3200 / TTY: (617) 282-4303.
To schedule an appointment with a behavioral health provider or a substance abuse counselor, please call (617) 282-3200 ext.220 / TTY: (617) 282-4303.

Key Programs Offered: 

Neponset Health Center's Food Pantry:
Every Tuesday from 9 am-11 am the Neponset Health Center Food Pantry is open! New clients only need to bring a valid from of identification and proof of state assistance (DTA, Housing, MassHealth). The Food Pantry is located in the health center on the first floor near the back parking lot. For further information call 617-282-3200

Insurances Accepted:
We accept Mass Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Neighborhood Health Plan, Boston Medical Center Health Net, Network Health, Health Safety Net (Free Care) and Self Pay.

St. Ambrose Family Shelter

Phone: 

617-288-7675

Mission: 

The goal of St. Ambrose Family Inn is to provide shelter, support, and hope for homeless families in transition.

Location

25 Leonard Street behind St. Ambrose Church
Dorchester, MA 02122
United States
Key Partners: 

under Catholic Charities

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Call.

Perkins Community Center

Phone: 

617-635-5146

Email: 

perkinscc@cityofboston.gov

Website: 

www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf

Location

Perkins Community Center
155 Talbot Ave
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
Key Partners: 

Boston Centers for Youth & Families Joseph Lee Elementary School Lee Academy Pilot School Codman Square Library DotWell

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

For Adult Education, including GED and ESOL classes, contact Papa Diop at (617) 635-1894. Drop-in registration every first and third Wednesday of the month. For all other after-school, summer, and recreation programs: call the front desk at (617) 635-1895.

Key Programs Offered: 

School Age Child Care After-School and Summer Program Piranhas After-School Program: Meets M-F, 3:20 - 6. 4 - 5pm writing. 5 - 6pm pool. $150/year. 1st month: Deposit and &35. Then: $35 every 3 months. Piranhas Swim Team: Membership overlaps with After-School Program, but open to others also. Swim meets 6pm Fridays.** Open Swimming: Saturdays. 10:15 - 11 Children, 11 - 12 Lap Swimming, 1 - 2:30 Community/Open Swim, 2-4:30 Adults.** Fire Star Homework Drop-in: Call center for more info Boston Raider's Mentoring: Academic help for youth aged 7-18. M-F, 3-8pm. $20/month. Strong Women, Strong Girls: Mentoring for girls in grades 3, 4 and 5 at Perkins on Thursdays, 4 - 5:30pm. Open Gym Peewee Basketball: Saturdays, 9am - 1pm. $65/season. Season runs approximately October - April. Self-Defense: Free self-defense classes taught on Saturdays from 9 - 11:30 am. 16 years and up. Karate: Classes offered for ages 5 and up, adults included, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6-8. Call center for pricing information. Dorchester Adult Literacy Coalition site

Community Meeting Space Available: 

Yes

Created: 
11/29/2011

Boston Public Library, Lower Mills Branch

Phone: 

(617) 298-7841

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mon & Thurs: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Tues & Weds: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Mission: 

The Boston Public Library's mission is to preserve and provide access to historical record of our society, and to serve the cultural, educational, and informational needs of the City and the Commonwealth.

Location

BPL Lower Mills Branch
27 Richmond Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
Key Partners: 

Part of the Boston Public Library system. Click here to read more about Dorchester's libraries.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To register for a free library card online, click here!

Key Programs Offered: 
  • Homework Assistance Program

    Free one-on-one homework help for students in grades K-8 from high-achieving high school mentors. Available at every BPL branch Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30PM.

  • Boston Teachers' Union Tutors

    Tutoring for students in all grades from BPS teachers. Days and times vary by location. Lower Mills: Monday and Thursday 4-6PM.

  • Ongoing Programs
  • Tuesdays: 10:30am, Preschool Adventures with Ms. Maija: storytime and a fun activity.
    Wednesdays: 10:30am, Little Wigglers Storytime and Playgroup: Ms. Maija will read a story and then we'll have some fun with music, dancing, and playing with our friends.
    Fridays: 10:30am, Preschool Films: 3-10 minute short films for preschoolers.

Community Meeting Space Available: 

Yes

Also (or Previously) Known As...: 

library

Created: 
05/26/2010

DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS OF THE COLLECTION
The branch has a particularly strong mystery collection, and has been building its medical study and reference collection to support the schools and colleges in the neighborhood. The fiction collection continues to expand, providing various genres for diverse readers. Books and ephemera related to Dorchester, and particularly Lower Mills, history are well represented in the collection.

RECURRING PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Preschool story hours are offered twice weekly for children. Trivia night is held once a month for school-aged children. Pre-school films are also shown weekly. Students who attend the Pope John Paul II Academy, Lower Mills campus and The Charles Taylor Elementary School use the branch daily. Teachers also bring classes to check out material that may support their curriculum. For adults, the Book Discussion Group meets every third Thursday of the month. Beginners Internet instruction is available by appointment.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Lecture programs are typically offered in the fall or spring focusing on a variety of topics including local history. In June, an Outdoor Music Concert is held. Summer reading programs are offered for children and additional events are scheduled during these months.

HISTORY
Library service in Lower Mills was first offered through a branch delivery post in 1875; it was open three hours each day to take requests for books and to deliver books requested from the Central Library and the Dorchester Branch Library. Full branch services began in 1876 with a dedicated collection and expanded hours. In 1883, branch service was moved into the vacated Blue Hills Bank building. In 1931, space owned by the American Legion was purchased and in 1936 a small addition was completed. Eventually the collection outgrew that building and the present Lower Mills Branch Library building was opened in 1981.

In 2005, the branch was renovated, a new façade was designed, and the heating and cooling systems were up-dated. The building in general got a “face lift” and is bright and airy.

Project D.E.E.P

Phone: 

(617) 635-5027

Fax: 

(617) 635-5298

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Monday through Thursday: 3 - 8 p.m.;
Friday: 3- 6 p.m. (Subject to change)

Mission: 

Project D.E.E.P. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational program, which operates through collaborations with Boston Centers for Youth & Families and Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and charitable institutions like the Boston Foundation. The mission of the program is to foster the educational, athletic and social growth and development of middle school children of all races, creeds and ethnic backgrounds throughout the Dorchester community.

Project D.E.E.P. has been very lucky to receive the support of its community. From the area's elected officials to the local parents who wait in line for hours to sign up their children, all of Dorchester has supported the organization since day one. The staff has worked hard to develop a large and strong volunteer network, one that grows each year and makes programs like the tutorial component possible.

The people at Project D.E.E.P. truly care about the children. The organization's assets do not involve the awards it has received, but the dreams it watches over. Children everywhere have dreams, and Project D.E.E.P.'s main concern is that those dreams do not go to waste. That is why every child who takes part in Dorchester's ground-breaking educational outlet is treated as the most important person involved in the program.

Location

1 Worrell Street
Dorchester, MA 02122
United States
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Sponsor a Student Program: Each year, middle school students from all over Boston struggle with their school work, the pressures of standardized testing, and the fear of getting into a good school. On top of these challenges, kids are also balancing friends, family and after school sports and activities. Thankfully, Project D.E.E.P. has been a shining resource in helping Dorchester students manage these responsibilities so that our students come out on top.

Created: 
05/06/2011
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