Advocates

More than 12,000 individuals and families each year receive outpatient and emergency behavioral health services at Advocates. Services and supports include: 24-hour psychiatric emergency services; urgent outpatient psychiatric care; outpatient mental health counseling; crisis stabilization; psychiatric and medication services; addiction counseling; dual diagnosis counseling and consultation; child and family home-based services; elder support services; respite services and structured outpatient addiction program.

Advocates provides supportive employment and day supports to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals with mental illness, and individuals with brain injuries. The Day Habilitation program offers needs assessments; structured learning and recreation; speech therapy; behavioral therapy;occupational therapy; physical therapy.Employment Services provides employment training and work-related supports to a diverse group of adults with disabilities including a specialized program for adults with brain injuries. Supported employment, job placement, and vocational skills training programs expand opportunities by increasing confidence and independence, providing income, and encouraging creativity. Services include: job planning, placement and support; vocational skills training; individualized placement training; on-the-job training and support; Choices, an employment-related day service; transportation coordination.

Advocates' Family Support Services are designed to support the entire family of a loved one with a disability. These include:Project Able provides culturally competent family support services to Chinese and Vietnamese individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in the Greater Boston and Quincy areas.The Autism Alliance of MetroWest offers resources, programs and support for families with children diagnosed with autism/pervasive developmental disorders. Supported Home Care compensates family members or live-in hired caregivers to provide care in the comfort of home to individuals over 16 who are MassHealth-eligible and who, because of medical, physical, cognitive or psychiatric problems, cannot safely live alone. South Coastal Family Support Center provides trainings, workshops, case management, information and referral services to families caring for loved ones with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the MA south shore area.

Advocates Community Justice Services provide case management, referral and treatment services at many points along the criminal justice continuum, from police departments, pre-trial agencies, the courts, jail treatment programs, probation/parole agencies and community corrections agencies. Services are designed both to prevent incarceration and to successfully reintegrate ex-offenders into their communities. Programs include:Jail Diversion programs, operated in conjunction with the Framingham, Marlborough and Watertown police departments, are designed to divert individuals with mental illness, addiction, and behavioral issues from the criminal justice system for appropriate treatment and case management.Ayer-Concord Drug Court Program serves non-violent adult offenders with an alcohol and/or other drug problem and no prior record ofviolent offense. Services provided include case management, family behavioral therapy, drug testing, referrals to community resources, educational opportunities and employment supports.