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  1. Social Determinants of Health- Quick Reference Patient Handout - available in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and Russian. See CARMA then Social Services/Community Resources. A Partners Social Determinants of Health tip sheet.

  2. Secondary/Homeless

  3. High School Equivalency (HSE or HiSET- formerly GED)

  4. Post-Secondary (College)
    • Application Assist & Navigating Financial Aid
    • Early College programs- meant to make college more affordable for low-income students by letting them take community college classes for free while in high school and earn credit toward their eventual college degree. Learn more (3/17)
    • Homeless Students- Massachusetts plans to pilot a free housing program for homeless college students at Bridgewater State, Framingham State, and Worcester State universities and at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, with more funding expected in the future. For more information, see State Will Offer Dorm Rooms for Some Homeless College Students- MGH Community News, February 2019.
    • Special Needs- Transitions
    • Financial Aid
      • Mass. Office of Student Financial Assistance - Mass Dept of Higher Education
      • Free degrees: MassReconnect program will fund free community college for students ages 25 and older without a college degree. Unlike some other programs it covers both tuition and fees – fees are often much higher than tuition. It also provides an allowance to cover your books and supplies. The budget will also make nursing programs in the state's community college system free, and requires DPH to offer the nurse’s aide certification exam in languages other than English in certain circumstances
      • Boston Expands Tuition-Free Community College Program to All Residents, MGH Community News, March 2023. Important note: this does NOT mean that attending will be free. Tuition may be waived, but “fees” often are a larger portion of total costs. See the link for details.
      • MA In-State Tuition for those without legal status- the FY24 budget allows those without legal immigration status who attended a Massachusetts high school for three years to tap into in-state tuition rates and financial aid at public colleges and universities.
      • Commonwealth Commitment - gives qualifying undergraduates a 10 percent rebate at the end of each semester they complete. Students would earn an associate’s degree at one of the state’s community colleges, then transfer with a tuition waiver to a four-year Massachusetts state university or the UMass system. In addition, their tuition and mandatory fees on any campus would be frozen at the date they start the program. (More: State Program Could Lower Cost Of College For Mass. Students, MGH Community News, April 2016)
      • Beyond Financial Aid: 2015 Guide to Extra Help for Low-Income Adult Students - Plain language guide to public benefits eligibility for adult students from The Crittenton Women’s Union and the Mass. Law Reform Institute.
      • Women’s Educational and Professional Support Resources Directory - Community Advocacy Program of CCHERS, Inc. (Center for Community Health Education Research and Service), August, 2007
      • Pilot Program Helps Students Apply for Financial Aid (Boston Public Schools)- MGH Community News, January 2011
      • Educational Rewards Grant program -Massachusetts Workforce Solutions Act/Economic Stimulus Bill, MGH Community News, July 2007. (Program was not funded for FY2010-11)
        Needs-based program targeting low-income working adults and displaced workers for training in a high demand occupations.
      • Disability.gov’s Guide to Student Financial Aid - a general guide explaining financial aid options for students (disabled or not) attending or planning to attend college or career/technical school.
      • Scholarships:
        • Please be wary of scholarship scams on the internet. See the Federal Trade Commission page on Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams.
        • One Family Scholars - A program of One Family, Inc., that provides college scholarships to formerly homeless and low-income mothers. Significant scholarship levels, with additional mentorship and leadership development.
        • Scholarship search tools:
          • College Board's scholarship search allows you to narrow the search results based on demographics, interested field of study, type of disability, etc.
          • Other places you can learn about scholarships include:
            • The financial aid office at the school you plan to attend. An administrator there can tell you about student aid available from your state, the school itself, and other sources.
            • Your high school guidance counselor may know of local scholarships
            • Your parents’ employers—sometimes companies offer scholarships to the children of employees
            • Local organizations (churches, community groups, etc)
            • Local library
        • Disability-related scholarships (not a complete list) and information:
      • Related article:
    • Student Loan Debt & Loan Forgiveness
      • Massachusetts Programs
        • Massachusetts Attorney General Student Loan Assistance Unit and Hotline - 888-830-6277.
        • MA Loan Repayment Plan for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Counselors
          • A pandemic relief bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in December 2021 included funds for a college loan repayment program for mental health professionals who work in community health centers.
          • The 2021 law did NOT include professionals who work in substance abuse settings, but Health and Human Services Secretary MaryLou Sudders pushed to get $15 million diverted from a state fund that collects money from opioid settlements to cover workers who provide acute care, stabilization services and residential treatment for substance use disorders.
          • The state Department of Health and Human Services is currently negotiating a contract with a private company to run the new program, which will also be available for substance abuse counselors, recovery coaches and others who work in psychiatric units at acute care hospitals or at an in-patient psychiatric hospital.
          • Nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and social workers with master’s degrees who are employed in mental health settings can get between $25,000 to $50,000 in loan repayment. Workers in those professions with bachelor’s degrees can get between $15,000 and $30,000.
          • Those who qualify must commit to working for at least four years in the state under a “service commitment” to receive the financial relief. That employment can be with up to two different employers, according to the state agency.
          • Sudders said the agency expects eligible workers will be able to apply for loan repayment funds from the state by the “end of the year.”
          • See the full Salem News article (10/22)
        • MA Student Loan Ombudsman - tasked with “resolving student complaints, educating borrowers, monitoring student loan servicers and submitting annual reports on borrower complaints and trends,” The Student Loan Assistance Unit will implement outreach efforts including promoting educational materials and informing public employees about the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. A Student Loan Help Request is available online to help borrowers with their needs and loan issues. They can also call the AG’s Student Loan Assistance Helpline at (888) 830-6277. (7/21)
      • Student Loan Repayment Pause ending - During the pandemic student loan repayments were paused for about 3 years. As part of the debt ceiling bill, the Biden Administration agreed to restart all student loan payments after Aug. 30, 2023.
        • At this writing there is no definitive plan on what the restart process yet looks like for student borrowers. Student loan repayment dates may also vary from borrower to borrower.
        • Student borrowers interested in knowing when they should resume their student loan payments can look toward the Federal Student Aid website for loan counselors. Counselors can look at an individual’s financial and employment history and let them know what repayment plan works best and whether they should wait out the 0% interest loan moratorium period.
        • Organizations such as the Student Borrower Protection Center and the Institute of Student Loan Advisors are also useful tools for student loan borrowers.
        • See the full newsletter article (6/23)
      • Federal Student Aid Disability Discharge
        • More information: disabilitydischarge.com (Federal Student Aid, an Office of the US Dept of Education)
        • Income monitoring waived during pandemic: those who are granted a disability discharge are subject to a three-year monitoring period, in which they must submit annual documentation verifying their income does not exceed the poverty line. The Biden administration has announced it will waive the paperwork requirement during the coronavirus pandemic, retroactive to March 13, 2020. Learn more.
      • Income-Driven Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
      • NCLC’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance (SLBA) Project provides information about student loan rights and responsibilities for borrowers and advocates
      • Biden Administration's Student Loan Debt Relief Program (fall 2022) - the US Supreme Court struck down this program in June 2023.
        • The application is now available at: https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application and is available in English and Spanish. Per the website, due to a court order, the application is open, but debt discharge is paused. “We encourage you to apply if you are eligible. We will continue to review applications. We will quickly process discharges when we are able to do so and you will not need to reapply.” The application will be available through Dec. 31, 2023.
    • Student Debt "Help"- Watch for Scams

  5. Computer Instruction
    • Boston Public Library Computer Assistance (Classes & Drop-In assistance)
    • Tech Goes Home Helps to Bridge the Digital Divide (Greater Boston)
      • Participants receive 15 hours of live, interactive digital skills training, a Chromebook or iPad, and, if needed, 12 months of internet services. 
    • The SDM Foundation is a nonprofit that focuses on teaching how to use technology, such as computers and the Internet. We help people use email, the web, digital photography, spreadsheets, video chatting, and all of the other ways that people interact, learn, and participate in their community, using phones, tablets, and computers. We also help small businesses and nonprofits develop and maintain their websites, social media, and other technology. We do all of this by offering FREE individual and small group lessons. Any topic, any time: while located in Melrose, MA, appointments available in person or remotely. Open to all - no age, location, or income restrictions.
    • Charles River Public Internet Center- Computer Classes - MGH Community News, June 2014
    • Digital Access Coordinators at MGH - Digital Access Coordinators (DACs) are available to support patients who are struggling to use Patient Gateway and other digital health tools. The team provides remote Patient Gateway support and education Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, in eight languages – English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Arabic, Russian and Cape Verdean Creole. Additional languages are available using Interpreter Services. Instructions to make an Epic referral order for adult patients and Instructions for pediatric patients. DACs are also available for in-person assistance on MGH main campus near the Wang 1 elevators. Staff and patients can reach the DAC Helpdesk for immediate support at 857-282-5358. For more information, email Michelle Zelen. (7/23)

  6. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL/ESL): Adult Basic Education programs provide free English language classes for those 16 and older, not enrolled in school, and have English language skills below the 12th grade level. Immigration status does not matter. To find programs in a specific area, see:
    Many programs have long waitlists.

  7. Citizenship Classes

  8. Related Topics: see also Financial Education and Vocational Rehabilitation and Workforce Training.