Learn to Cope - Addiction & Recovery Support Network Learn to Cope is a peer-led support network that offers education, resources, and hope for family members and friends who have loved ones affected by substance use disorder.
Support After a Death by Overdose SADOD provides resources, information, and assistance to people throughout Massachusetts who have been affected by the death of someone they care about from a substance-use-related cause.
Child Care Resource Would you like to know more about child care licensing in your state or resources for children with special needs? Do you need to contact someone about child support, health care for your family, or help paying for food or heat? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Click a tab below to find those resources and more in Massachusetts.
The Children's Trust is Massachusetts' leading family support organization. It strengthens the Commonwealth by funding and managing parenting support programs designed to help families raise physically and emotionally healthy children....
Massachusetts Councils on Aging The link above will take you to the resources of the Massachusetts COAs including educational and recreational activities; legal, consumer, and legislative advocacy and health and wellness programs ...
Massachusetts Senior Legal Helpline 1-866-778-0939 The Helpline provides FREE legal information, advice and referral services for Massachusetts senior citizens (60 years or older) in most areas of civil law ...
Parents Helping Parents of Massachusetts To access the resources of Parents Helping Parents of Massachusetts which supports caregivers with a Parental Stress Line and Parent Support Groups ...
Boston Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs Follow this link above, if you're looking to help yourself or someone you love struggling with drug or alcohol addiction to search for an excellent rehabilitation clinic in Boston using an extensive online database ...
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers - The League serves the needs of the state's 50 community health center organizations (listed below) who have more than 300 total access sites.
"Thank you for your interest in the work and mission of the Massachusetts Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
The GP Commission is proud to support the over 35,000 grand-families in Massachusetts, and specifically, the 11,000 grandparents and kinship caregivers raising children without biological parents present.
The work of the GP Commission continues to expand and now includes activities such as virtual workshops, grand-family scholarships to museums and other venues, an annual conference, amongst many other supports and resources.
If you would like to contribute to the continuation of this great work, please consider making a donation to the Massachusetts Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
Our non-profit fiscal partner, The Massachusetts Councils on Aging, has graciously agreed to assist the GP Commission regarding donations
To make a donation: Please send a check: Massachusetts Councils on Aging c/o the GP Commission 9 Summer Street, Suite 306 Franklin, Ma. 02038
Deanna Forist
Deanna Forist holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a Master's in Education/Human Services Administration. She retired after forty-three years of service to children and families in a variety of professional roles. The first years of her career were spent teaching children/youth with significant disabilities, supervising teachers, and developing family support programs focused on self-advocacy for parents and families in concert with broader systems change efforts. Building on her passion for educational equity, Deanna spent twenty plus years advocating for the educational rights of students in the child welfare system, and several years as the Director of MSPCC’s KINnections Program, where she built a strong, diverse and vibrant grandparent community.
Throughout her career, Deanna was regarded as a knowledgeable, engaging, and gifted trainer and facilitator. She presented at numerous statewide conferences, combining her expertise in special education advocacy, child welfare, kinship care and family & community engagement.
In 2018, Deanna was honored to receive the John Lepper Advocacy Award from the MA Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren for her extraordinary commitment, resourcefulness and advocacy for grandparents/relative caregivers in Boston. Since her retirement she has remained involved with the Commission, serving on the Advisory Board and various sub-committees. Deanna was appointed to the Commission by the Governor’s Office in January 2024. Along with her active involvement with the Commission, she also enjoys volunteering in her community.
Thank you!
The Commission is fortunate to have an amazing partner in the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging which is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization.
MCOA has been a friend and supporter of the Commission for many years.
If you are considering making a donation to the Commission for programming, services, and events to benefit grandparents and relative caregivers throughout Massachusetts, you may do so by sending a check to MCOA located at 116 Pleasant Street Suite 306 Easthampton, Ma.
**Please indicate “GP Commission” in the memo of the check.