We are looking forward to meeting new faces who want to have support from us at YMM -- please feel free to join our next virtual youth group!

Contact Dev Kaplan at [email protected] for more information!

PPAL’s Multicultural Outreach Program has been busy reaching out to diverse communities. Early in the month, PPAL’s Johana Rodriguez and Fabiana Borges attended the 27th Brazilian Independence Day festival and Resource Fair. They were able to connect with a number of organizations, including places of worship, community partners, grassroots organizations, clinical professionals, and elected officials, with whom they plan to collaborate in the coming days! They were able to reach out to families and bring the conversation around Mental Health to the table. PPAL is now supporting several families who engaged with us at the fair. We’ve also started to collaborate with the Boston Public Library in East Boston!

Later in the month, PPAL reached out to families at the Mattapan Square Farmers’ Market sponsored by the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition. They have been champions in the Mattapan community when it comes to food access, physical activity, youth development, and empowering the community. PPAL engaged with the community and met several organizations and a number of families. PPAL is excited to offer workshops, such as Juvenile Justice 101 and Pre-Crisis Planning, in both Spanish and English. Visit PPAL's Events Calendar to see these workshops and more!

PPAL is expanding! In collaboration with the Central MA area of the Department of Mental Health, PPAL is providing new services in Central Massachusetts, including one-to-one family support, Ask the Advocate, support groups, training, help with parenting teens, and support with navigating the maze of mental health systems.

In addition to our expanded activities in new areas, PPAL continues to provide support to families across the state, including training, tip sheets, one-to-one support, our Juvenile Justice program, and more. So wherever you live in Massachusetts, reach out to us anytime - we’re here to help!

Click the flyer below to download in English as well as Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole.

This free program is for parents, caregivers and siblings, and focuses on building sibling resiliency, decreasing trauma and strengthening families of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disabilities and/or Mental Health Issues.

You can learn more about the program and download the flyer below. To reserve your spot, call 857-523-1145 or email Emily Rubin.

Have you raised, or are you raising, a child with mental health needs? PPAL values that experience! As we seek to fill several positions, you may be just who we are looking for!

PPAL is currently hiring both family support specialists and family support coordinators in several regions across the state. If you’d like to join a passionate, mission-driven team in advocating for children with mental health needs, learn more and apply for a position here.

PPAL values diversity and especially seeks applicants from diverse backgrounds and/or those who speak multiple languages. PPAL also values those who have direct lived experience raising a child with significant mental and behavioral health challenges and gives hiring preference to individuals who have this direct lived experience.

Every month, PPAL asks those raising a child or supporting a young adult with behavioral health needs, or working closely with someone who is, how things are going in a particular area.

In September, we asked you “What are some of the costs of raising a child with behavioral health needs?”

Here’s what you had to say!

In October, we are asking, "For families with siblings, how are things?"

Be sure to visit our website to answer October's question!