Juvenile Court and DCF Professionals

Help improve lives and outcomes.
3

We Believe

It is often impossible for underserved children and families to obtain equitable outcomes in the system, or in life, when the critical resources needed to remedy concerns or take positive steps forward cannot be found.

Our hope is that by providing this assistance we can help move people forward.

“Meaningful access to justice requires meaningful access to resources.”

Anne Bader-Martin, JD, ED

Types of Items We Fund

Transportation

  • Busses or trains
  • Car repair
  • Train tickets
  • Ride assistance

Education

  • Laptops
  • Summer School
  • School supplies
  • Job training

Housing/Home

  • Emergency rent
  • Utility expenses
  • Beds and other furniture
  • Security deposits

Activities

  • Camps
  • Activities
  • Sports
  • Hobbies

Basic Necessities

  • Emergency clothing
  • Emergency food cards
  • Baby needs
  • Safety needs

Other Supports

  • Visitation needs
  • Therapeutic needs
  • Motivational tools
  • Identification cards

Who can Apply

We are currently only able to accept applications for OCH assistance from Juvenile Court or DCF Professionals.

 

How to Apply

Essential Information

Pre-Approval

  • All applications must be submitted online.
  • You will get an automated response immediately after applying.
  • If your matter is extremely urgent, text 617-930-3468 after you apply online.
  • We always respond by the next business day, so please watch for emails.
  • If you do not hear back, check your spam. For assistance, email info@onecanhelp-dot-org
  • Assistance up to $1000 (not cash) is possible if it will really ignite positive change.
  • Our gift card policy can be found here.
  • Always use your application’s unique reference number whenever you reach out to us.
  • All responses must go through the internal links (the portal) provided in our emails.

Post-Approval

  • Once approved, all receipts needed for reimbursement must be uploaded into the portal.
  • Receipts should be submitted within 21 days of approval whenever possible.
  • Reimbursements are sent after we receive receipts verifying proof of expenditures.
  • We can only provide payments or reimbursements to you or a vendor, never to clients.
  • We can order and pay directly for most items upon request (tax-free).
  • We cannot reimburse for any expenses incurred prior to the application’s approval.
  • We cannot reimburse for any expenses or make payments for greater than the approved amount.

Feedback and Follow-up

We really appreciate hearing from you!

Thank-you cards or emails explaining the impact of this assistance from you or your clients are extremely helpful for our fundraising appeals and foundation grant applications.

Thank you for working with OCH to help your underserved clients succeed.

DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF REQUESTS WE RECEIVE…

  • We can only accept one application per day per applicant.
  • Each application can only be for one type of need.
  • We will do our best to always respond within one business day.
  • We can no longer send multiple reminders.
APPLY NOW

Additional Helpful Resources

Critical Supports to Know

Please check to see if your client is eligible for these basic benefits:

Camps and Activities

In order to preserve our limited resources so that we can meet the many types of urgent needs others do not pay for, we ask that you first apply to one of the non-profits listed below because they focus on paying for camps/activities.

However, if your child client is not DCF involved, the matter is urgent, or additional resources are still needed, then please apply to OCH too.

Statewide:

  • Boston Explorers: High quality, out-of-school learning experiences for Boston youth.
  • Rise Above: Camps and activities support for children currently in DCF  foster care placements.
  • The Wonderfund: Activity support for all DCF involved children including those in intact families (only DCF social workers can apply).
  • MA Health Connector: Access to many free and reduced-fee activities for low income families.
  • Steve Glidden Foundation: Camp funding support for children who are homeless, refugees, or exposed to violence or abuse.

Regional:

Specific Resource Needs

  • 211: Dial 211 on your phone for general advice on programs and resources. 
  • A Bed for Every Child: Provides a new mattress and a wooden bed frame to children across MA in 30-45 days (may be expedited).
  • The Bike Connector: On a mission to provide the Greater Lowell Community with safe and affordable bicycles.
  • A Home Within: Connects individuals currently or previously in foster care with volunteer therapists.
  • BMC: Free car seats for qualifying families on their service load.
  • Birthday Wishes: bringing joy of a birthday party to homeless children.
  • Camellia Network: Assists youths transitioning out of foster care by setting them up with registries and donors.
  • Community Giving Tree: Provides low income families with basic necessities such as clothing, diapers and baby equipment in Northeastern MA.
  • Cradles to Crayons: Provides essentials to low income and homeless children under 12
  • Cribs for Kids: Provides cribs to families in need through partnering organizations (Tufts and Boston Medical Centers, Lowell General Hospital, and others).
  • Debbie’s Treasure Chest: Primary focus is on clothing, books, toys, brand new toiletries, scholastic tools, and other necessities. Serving Merrimack Valley and surrounding areas.
  • Deb’s Beds: Helps low-income families who can not afford to buy beds for their children by providing them with a safe and comfy place to sleep.
  • Diaper Circle: Collect diapers from families that no longer need them and help distribute them through social service agencies to families across Greater Boston.
  • Foster Box: New and gently used items for foster families.
  • Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley: Scholarships, backpacks and duffle bags, financial assistance.
  • The Fragment Society: Provides clothing and baby layettes for families in need in the Boston area.
  • Fresh Start: Furniture bank in Hudson, serves MA, RI, CT and NH.
  • Furnishing Hope of MA: Provides families with furniture, household goods, moving and set up services in Boston area.
  • Gifts to Give: Provides gift packages of donated items to children. Runs a Saturday Thrift Store in Acushnet, MA.
  • Giving the Glam: Provides an incredible prom experience for underserved urban and suburban high school seniors.
  • Habitat for Humanity – ReStore: Furniture, appliances, building materials and home goods.
  • HELPIS: Connects people in need with individuals and organizations who want to help.
  • Hope and Comfort: Focuses on distribution of hygiene essentials through partner organizations across MA.
  • Hope for all Seasons: Provide children and families with gifts during the holidays, school supplies in the Fall, and basic necessities throughout the year.
  • Household Goods: Provide a full range of furniture and household items to those in need.
  • Laptops 4 Learning (L4L): Nonprofit organization created to make technology affordable and available, by putting laptops in the hands of economically disadvantaged students and veterans.
  • Lend a Hand: Provides emergency financial assistance for housing, utilities, medical and dental, education and job training in the Greater Boston Area.
  • Lowell Diaper Bank Collaborative: Free diapers
  • Mass Diaper Banks: List of diaper banks and programs.
  • Mission of Deeds: Provides new beds and gently used furniture and household goods in Middlesex and Essex Counties, and communities of Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop.
  • My Brother’s Keeper: Deliver furniture and food to families in need (Easton and Dartmouth, MA).
  • Natick Service Council: Food pantry, after school programs, heating fuel assistance, holiday gifts, preventative dental care, school supplies.
  • New Life Furniture Bank: Distributes donated furniture and household items through referring agencies.
  • The One by One Project: Supports those who are underserved and at-risk in Greater Boston through partnerships with local non-profits.
  • One Simple Wish: Creates a “wish” registry for children in foster care
  • PCs for People: Nonprofit social enterprise working to get low-cost quality computers into the homes of individuals, families and nonprofits with low income.
  • Project Dream Dress: Dedicated to ensure that youth impacted by foster care experience a special prom night by offering beautiful dresses and dapper tuxedos.
  • Project Home Again: Provides low-income families with recycled household goods, furniture and small appliances necessary to live with comfort and dignity.
  • RAD Springfield: Springfield’s community bike shop.
  • Room to Grow: Provides parents and caregivers with essential baby and toddler items, strategies and support over the first 3 years of the child’s life (service starts during the last trimester of pregnancy).
  • Second Chance Cars: Provides refurbished, affordable second hand cars to Eastern MA low-income individuals.
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Provides tween beds to children in Athol, Orange and Acton.
  • Smiles Change Lives: Works in partnership with orthodontists to help with the cost of braces.
  • Solutions at Work: Resources for children (books, clothes, toys), business attire for those enrolled in job training programs, moving services, refurbished computers for previously homeless, professional development, advocacy
  • Teen Parents Child Care: Free day care, free transportations, service referrals, counseling, and parental education for eligible teen parents
  • Tuition Assistance for Foster Teens: Tuition assistance for foster teens
  • The Village Closet: Baby and children’s clothing and supplies in Huntington.
  • Way Finders: Affordable housing and emergency shelter organization in Western MA.
  • Welcome Home: Home goods pantry located in Newton.
  • The Wish Project: Provides furniture, home and baby goods to families in need.

Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking

Food Resources

Fuel / Utilities / Internet and Phone Assistance

Lower utility rates may be available for families receiving MassHealth and EBT benefits. Check with your utility company.

Housing Issues and Shelters

Parenting

Substance Abuse

Miscellaneous Supports

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