To get help from an FPP advocate:

 

  1. Your family must be involved with Massachusetts DCF.

  2. You cannot be involved in a court case with DCF.

  3. Select your town from the list at the right  to get started.

If your town is not on the list, there is not currently an FPP program that serves your town.



Community Legal Aid (CLA)

Requirements: Generally, your income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level. 

How to contact them:

  • Call the CLA intake line at 855-252-5342 or submit an online application.

  • Say that you are looking for help with your DCF case with the Family Preservation Project (FPP). 

  • If there is an alleged perpetrator of domestic violence, please have available that person’s name and age (or date of birth if possible) for conflict checking.

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Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)

Requirements:

  • You must be low-income (usually below either 125% or 200% of the federal poverty line, depending on the circumstances.)

  • Due to limited resources, GBLS cannot represent every qualified applicant. They give priority to:

    • survivors of domestic violence

    • cases with a Probate and Family Court case

    • DCF cases requiring a grievance or fair hearing

How to contact them:

  • Email the Family Law Unit at FamilyLaw@gbls.org for screening.

  • Please provide the following information in your email:

    • Name

    • Contact information, including whether it is safe to contact you

    • Description of what is happening in your DCF case

    • Copy of the response letter you received from DCF showing the findings made against you

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Northeast Legal Aid (NLA)

 Requirements:

  • Your income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level.

  • You must be a U.S. citizen, have legal permanent resident (“LPR”) status, or be an eligible victim of domestic violence.

How to contact them:

  • Call the NLA general intake line at 978-458-1465, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 1:00 PM. Say that you are seeking help with DCF involvement with your family; or

  • Submit an NLA online intake form in English or Spanish; or

  • Go to the walk-in intake hours at their Lowell, Lawrence, or Lynn offices.

  • It is helpful to know and give information about the status of the DCF involvement and any related legal issues.

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South Coastal Counties Legal Services (SCCLS)

Requirements:

  • Your income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level.

  • You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

How to contact them:

  • Call the SCCLS hotline at 1-800-244-9023, or

  • Submit an online application and say that you are looking for help from the Family Preservation Project (FPP) for your DCF case.

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MetroWest Legal Services (MWLS)

Eligibility requirements:

  • With the exception of the Civil Legal Needs for Victims of Crime Initiative and if you are age 60 or older, your income cannot exceed 125% of the Federal poverty Guidelines.

How to contact them:

  • Please fill out our online intake form or call our office at 508-620-1830 or 1-800-696-1501 and an intake worker will determine whether we can help you.

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