Helpful Links
Below you can find links to websites that we find helpful.
As health professionals, it is important to us to provide you with the most reliable health information. We want you and your family to have safe and dependable information at your fingertips.
While we believe these sites provide useful, respected information, we do not own, control or take responsibility for their content.
We are providing these links for your convenience and information only. Always consult with your physician regarding information for medical conditions and treatments.
Asthma
- Asthma Overview
- How to Use a Diskus Inhaler - video and instructions
- How to Use a Flexhaler - video and instructions
- How to Use a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) with Spacer and Mask
- How to Use a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) with Spacer and Mouthpiece.
- How to Use a Twisthaler - video and instructions
- How to Use a Nebulizer
- How to Use a Peak Flow Meter-video and instructions
- How to Use a Redihaler-video
Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding Info from the CDC
- Kelly Mom
- Stanford University Breastfeeding - Helpful site with info about breastfeeding, with great videos, particularly useful in the early breastfeeding days.
- Infant Risk Center at Texas Tech University - National call center on safety of medications for breast feeding mothers and their babies. Also has a great APP MOMMY MEDS.
- Breastfeeding info on the Office on Women's Health - Practical info about breastfeeding benefits, "how-to" guides, strategies for work as both an employee as well as employer, from the US Dept of Health and Human Services.
- La Leche League International
- Newton Wellesley Hospital Breastfeeding Booklet - Great summary of all early breastfeeding concerns with good photos, about managing latch, infant cues, supply, engorgement. Also Gía de lactancia materna (Spanish)
- New Little Life Everything about breast pumps
- IABLE (Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding &Lactation Education) Videos
Autism
- Autism Speaks - An excellent resource for families with children with Autism.
- The Lurie Center for Autism - Great resources for families, even if they are not followed at the Lurie Center.
- Autism Science Foundation
- Sams Sibs Stick Together - Resources for sibs of children with Autism. Has great resources including monthly webinars. A collaboration between Els for Autism® & Autism Science Foundation.
- National Autism Center - Reliable information about Autism from the May Institute in Randolph Massachusetts.
- Be Ready-Free Kit - To help decrease wandering risk from the National Autism Association
Food Allergy
- Food Allergy Research & Education - Information about living with food allergies and resources for participating in studies about food allergies.
- Kids With Food Allergies
- Allergy and Asthma Network
General Pediatrics
- Healthy Children (AAP Parenting Website)
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Zero to Three, an excellent website about the Early Child Development
- Ticks - Everything you possibly want to know about Ticks from the CDC. Has good photos
- Kids Health from Nemours - Overall good site for info about kids health from Nemours, a large health care organization for kids. Has a great video section on a wide variety of topics geared toward kids, teens and parents. These range from breastfeeding, to "how does the ear work" and "how do bones heal" , to "what happens when I get a MRI." Excellent overall site.
- My Children's Teeth - Everything about teeth from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry with resources for every age from infants to teens in braces. Includes nice tips about your making your children's visit more comfortable.
- Skin Care by the American Academy of Dermatology - Good resource from the American Academy of Dermatology with information about skin ailments ranging from acne to eczema.
- Developmental Milestones by Age - List of early child milestones by age
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Hotlines
- Love is Respect Teen Dating Abuse Hotline Call 1-866-331-9474 LOVEIS' to 22522 - Site created by the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
- National Domestic Abuse Hotline - Hotline and resources for those struggline with domestic violence.
- The Trevor Project The Trevor Project – LGBTQ Youth helpline – 24/7 Phone, text, chat, social media support The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. Contact by phone: 1-866-488-7386 or visit their website at thetrevorproject.org
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline - Specializes in child abuse, child welfare, and the impact of the trauma of child abuse on survivor’s and loved ones’ mental well-being. Support, coping resources, and crisis counseling to help seekers. Information to help guide help seekers through the process of making a child maltreatment report and can provide information on how the child welfare system works. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is NOT a reporting line for child abuse. The hotline is NOT connected to emergency services nor is it a replacement for 911 emergency responsive services.
- SafeLink Domestic Violence Hotline 877-785-2020 Massachusetts Statewide Tollfree Domestic Violence Hotline
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 24-Hour Call Center: 1-800-843-5678 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyperTip Line for reporting incidences of child sexual exploitation including photos, on-line and off-line.
- Runaway Safeline Hotline for Teens and Concerned Adults 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) The National Runaway SafeLine has info for teens and concerned adults. Excellent forum section to ask questions.
- DOVE (DOmestic Violence Ended) Domestic Violence support, hotline and resources 24hr hotline 617.471.1234
- Jane Doe Domestic Violence Hotline: 1 (877) 785-2020 Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (JDI)
- New Hope Domestic Violence Crisis Line 800-323-HOPE (4673) Toll-Free, 24-Hour Confidential Hotline resource for domestic and sexual violence. Assists with crisis intervention, risk assessment, and safety planning. . Our Hotline is also available to family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers who may be concerned about someone they know that may be a survivor of domestic or sexual violence
- One Touch Job: Resources for Parents in Massachusetts
Learning Disabilities
- CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD)
- International Dyslexia Association
- Learning Disabilities Association of America
- Understood Excellent resource for people with learning differences including ways of working with schools. Offers tools and support for people with think and learn differently.
- Explaining Brains Great resource about explaining LD to kids.
- Wrights Law Reliable, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.
- British Dyslexia Association Has excellent information about dyslexia. Has a great youtube channel, with great videos explaining dyslexia to kids
- National Center for Learning Disabilities
- Child Mind Institute Learning Disorders
LGTBQ+
- The Trevor Project - 24/7 Crisis Services for LGBTQ Youth
- PFLAG - Large organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families.
- BAGLY (Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Youth) Free drop-in weekly virtual therapy and support groups.
- Pronouns Matter
- AMAZE Great cartoon videos to help you talk to your kids about everything from babies to bodies to gender to consent to relationships.
- Fenway Health Care, support services and resources for LGTBQ+ and BiPOC community
- Q Chat Space
- GLSEN Championing LGBTQ issues in K-12 education
Mental Health
Grief:
- Compassionate Friends - Provides support for family members who have lost a child at any age. Offers local and virtual chapter meetings. (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing approved
- Friendsway Grief Resources - Resources for grieving children, teens, adults.
- The Dougy Center Grief Resources - Support and resources for grieving children, teens and adults
- National Alliance for Children's Grief: Resources and support for children who are grieving
Post-partum Depression aka "baby blues"
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline - 24/7, free, confidential support line for Mothers with postpartum depression
- Support for Dads -- Postpartum Support International - Contains videos, blog posts, and articles exploring the experiences of fathers with postpartum depression themselves or in their partners.
- Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms - Resource for Moms with postpartum depression
General Mental Health
- MABHA Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI) NAMI Connection is a free, peer-led support group. Groups are led by NAMI-trained facilitators who’ve been there.
- Divorce - Tips for Divorcing Parents
- Massachusetts Children's Behavioral Health Initiative - Mental Health Resources
- International OCD Foundation Information and Resources about OCD.
- OCD Challenge Self-Help program for OCD>.
- The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at MGH Resources to support the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of young people. Excellent podcast and videos.
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Medication Guides for psychiatric medications
- Anxiety Grounding Techniques: Finding Calm in the Chaos
AAP Youtube Channel, in multiple languages.
Nutrition
- National Eating Disorders Association Resources (NADA)
- Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA)
- Nutrition
- My Plate - USDA Nutrition
- Eat Right
- Food Safety - FDA site about purchasing, storing, cooking food as well eating food prepared outside of the home.
- FEAST - The FEAST site has helpful information for parents of individuals with eating disorders. FEAST is a nonprofit organization run by caregivers of those suffering from eating disorders, meant to help others.
- WIC
Safety
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Recalls by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission - A key site to look up safety recalls. Recalls of products for infants and children are common. This site will help you stay on top of these. Great resource to look up safety recalls on hand-me-down kid products.
- Infant Formula Recalls FDA website listing infant formula recalls.
- Food and Drug Recalls FDA website listing current food recalls
- FDA Consumer Updates - Useful updates on a wide variety of health topics including children's health, supplements, cosmetics, nutrition etc.
- Safe Kids Woldwide. - Safety Tips for all ages and situations, Safe Kids Worldwide was started by an ER physician in response to the many childhood injuries he treated in the ER.
- Mother to Baby - Resource for exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, ranging from medications to household products, cosmetics etc. From the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS),
- Car Seats info at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Everything you could possibly want or need to know about keeping your child safe in cars.
- Massachusetts Find a Car Seat Inspection Site
- Food Safety - FDA site about purchasing, storing, cooking food as well eating food prepared outside of the home.
- Commonsense Media / Excellent guide to all children's media
- STOP Sports Injuries
- NetSmartz -
Info about teaching Kids about Internet Safety.
Special Needs
- Federation for Children with Special Needs - Clearinghouse for information, resources for families with children with special needs.
- Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund - Information about resources for financial relief for families with children with catastrophic illnesses
- National Down Syndrome Society - Clearing house of info related to children with Down Syndrome.
- Pacer Center PACER Center is a parent training and information center for families of children and youth with all disabilities from birth to young adults.
- Tourette Association of America Resources for families dealing with Tourette's
- Sensory Processing Issues from the Child Mind Institute
Community Resources
- Project Bread - Food Support
- Food Fair - Food support $2 bag for food.
- Abundant Hope - offers a monthly distribution of free diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, and donated baby blankets and clothes. Diaper Bank is open for qualifying children under 2 years old. To register for Diaper Bank, please attend our next Diaper Bank and provide a parent/guardian ID, WIC card, and the child(ren)’s birth certificate(s).
- South Coastal Counties Legal Services - is committed to bringing justice to low-income residents throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands. We advocate for people struggling economically to help protect their homes, their families, their health, their livelihoods, and their rights.
- Health Law Advocates - Free legal representation to residents in low-income situations experiencing difficulty accessing or paying for needed medical services.
- Massachusetts Advocates for Children - Help for families with children who are facing barriers to receiving educational services. Our priorities are children with disabilities, children who have been suspended from school, English learner students, and victims of racial discrimination and bullying. Call: (617) 357-8431 ext. 3224
- South Shore Resource and Advocacy Center - Legal services for Domestic Violence victims. 800-233-4478.
- Citizens for Citizens - We provide short and long term services that empower low-income individuals and families with the tools necessary to overcome the burdens of poverty and financial crises while creating and maintaining self-sufficiency. Some of these services are: home energy, children and youth, food nutrition, health, community, seniors, finances.
- Taunton Family Resource Center - (774) 501 2633 Assists Families with local services. Has English classes for Haitian Creole speakers.
- Office for Refugees and Immigrants - ORI supports services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of refugees and immigrants through a network of service providers in Massachusetts.
- Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy - MIRA Coalition provides legal assistance and advocacy for immigrants.
- Sturdy Hospital Infant CPR - 508-236-7151
ADHD
- CHADD - Children and Adults with ADHD. Info on ADHD diagnosis, treatment and medications.
- ADDitude Magazine - Online Magazine about ADHD.
Substance Abuse
- Partnership to End Addiction - Provides information and support for families struggling with their child's substance abuse.
- SAMHSA *substance use hotline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Teens
- Center for Young Womens Health at Boston Children's Hospital
- Center for Young Mens Health at Boston Children's Hospital
- Center for Parent and Teen Communication - Excellent site with tips on communication
- Moving Into Adulthood Resource Center -
Young Adult Resource from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry on making the transition to adulthood for teens with mental illnesses and their families.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
- Center for Parent & Teen Communication, Resources about Racism
- Stop Bullying
- Teens Against Bullying
- PBS Kids Talking with Young Kids about Racism
- How to promote diversity and inclusion in your child’s life - Children's Mercy Hospital
- Using Books to talk with Kids about Race and Racism
- Chicago Children's Museum, Race, Diversion & Inclusion Resources for parents and caregivers
- National Museum of African American History & Culture Talking about Race