One Can Help Inc

One Can Help was created by juvenile court attorneys and social workers who saw that more resources were needed to help vulnerable children, because our government agencies did not have them:
funding for basic needs, camps, activities, bus passes, laptops, emergency rent ….

Most of the children and families involved with DCF or the juvenile courts are very low income and for historic reasons, disproportionately of color. Not being able to access the critical resources needed to take positive steps forward or address concerns that have been raised, results in poorer outcomes overall and less justice for our most vulnerable, including: more revolving door involvement in the system, more children going into foster care, fewer children able to return home, more destabilized families, more children believing they are "less than" others.

Poverty is the big elephant in the room in most juvenile court cases. Many children and families lack the basic resources they need to address court concerns and take positive steps forward. Without access to critical supports, many are unable to overcome poverty barriers that stand in the way of progress and future goals. For example, not being able to afford mattresses so children can get a good night’s sleep, after school activities so at-risk kids are well-supervised and can learn skills, or even bus fare to attend much needed counseling, can lead to unequal outcomes in court- and in life- for the poor.

We believe a major opportunity to meaningfully improve and enhance vulnerable lives is missed when there is juvenile court involvement but no resources to address court concerns. This is the ideal time to intervene! Children and families are in crisis. People are motivated. Stakes are high. Judicial oversight and professional services are in place. Often the only things missing are the financial resources necessary in order to make constructive gains. One Can Help exists to provide missing resources tailored to the needs of the child in crisis, which can help break the cycle of poverty and ignite life changing impact.

How OCH works:
OCH’s innovative system works because of the collaborative partnerships OCH has established with the dedicated juvenile court appointed professionals (attorneys, social workers and advocates) charged with helping vulnerable children and families. They know the unique problems their underserved client faces, what specific resource is needed, and whether that assistance is available elsewhere. When the professional sees a need that cannot be met elsewhere, which if found could truly benefit their client, they apply to OCH and agree to procure the item or service their client needs.
All applications are screened by a seasoned committee of Board members who are also attorneys and social workers and understand the system. They determine eligibility based on OCH’s standardized criteria.
Only juvenile court attorneys, social workers and child advocates may apply. We never work through the beneficiaries themselves. In this way, OCH is able to quickly, responsibly and effectively provide individualized resources. Statewide. Often in just one day!

By quickly providing the urgently needed missing resources each particular child’s situation requires, OCH helps:
• improve difficult lives and build better futures.
• level the playing field so that all underserved children an achieve equitable outcomes in court -and in life.
• juvenile court attorneys and social workers better support the underserved children they work with.

Types of resources OCH pays for:
• laptops so students can keep up with classmates,
• transportation passes so aging out teens can get jobs,
• emergency rent to help struggling families during a crisis
• activities or camps to ensure all children are safe, thriving and developing skills
• car repair so children in foster care or treatment facilities can reliably see the parents they miss,
• basics such as emergency food, warm clothes, or sports equipment.

The resources OCH provides can cost up to $1,000, but most requests are for resources that cost much less (average $250). Some, like the identification card a foster teen needs before he/she can get a job, is priceless!

Outcome surveys measure impact.
Our measurable goals include responding to applicant within business day and working with the applicant to complete each request for assistance that conforms to our 14 point standardized criteria. Each application is reviewed by seasoned staff and board members with experience in the juvenile court and child welfare system.
Three to four weeks after assistance has been provided, we ask each professional to complete an outcomes survey. We strive to get 70% of those surveys completed. Our outcomes goal is to have a made a positive impact for over 95% of those children and families we assist.

Our measurable short term/intermediate impacts include:
• Reducing the risk of substance abuse
• Improving academic performance/reducing truancy
• Improving mental health
• Facilitating employment
• Helping stabilize housing or prevent homelessness
• Reducing the likelihood of further court involvement
• Improving wellness
• Creating safer environments
• Improved family connections
• Reducing child stress
• Improving self-esteem


Our long-term vision:
• Making it possible for kids to reach goals they couldn’t before.
• Removing the barriers of poverty impeding opportunity and justice.
• Encouraging family stability and well-being.
• Preventing or reducing the need for foster care or court when poverty is the primary issue.
• Making taxpayer-funded social services more effective.
• Helping juvenile courts better support children and families.
Leveling the playing field for our most underserved children and families resulting in healthier and more equitable communities.

OCH has helped more than 15,000 children and families since 2007.
Two thirds of OCH beneficiaries are children and families of color.
OCH can often provide urgent assistance in as little as 1 day across the state.
OCH is the only non-profit in MA, or perhaps nationwide, providing resources like this.
OCH assistance not only helps vulnerable children and families, it also helps our front line juvenile court attorneys & social workers, be more effective and supportive.
Requests for OCH assistance grow dramatically every year.
For example, we helped 1,000 more children in 2022 than just the year before.

How professionals describe OCH:
“It really helps with DCF's reputation and builds trust when you can help a family out with something that we couldn't normally do without the help of OCH. Ii shows them that we are here to help and not the bad guys just trying to take children away.!!!” DCF Social Worker
“Sometimes our clients are one step from a breakdown or a relapse, over no money for rent, food, etc.
One Can Help brings them back from the brink. No other nonprofit provides assistance like this. Long term, this saves the Commonwealth money because the court doesn't have to stay involved with the family that truly just needs a little extra assistance. This just makes SO MUCH SENSE and fills so many gaps our clients need to reach their potential”. -Juvenile court attorney
“One Can Help reaches a population that cannot financially access the resources requested and have failed the screening levels for other funding sources. It is a last effort for social services workers to ease the poverty barriers their low income and chronic families face. And in so doing to provides a much-needed source of hope for our families" Social worker