Cyber Café Community Bulletin 11 16-12

Cyber Café @ Malden Square

Electronic Bulletin Board
News, Schedules, and Other Information
of interest to Malden and neighboring communities

Today is Friday, November 30, 2012
The time is 1:33 PM

Welcome to the
 We invite you to become a member of our community
and use our facility/services
• We try to minimize rules/regulations.
• Our main requirement is simple:
Respect!
– for other people
– for our facility/equipment
 We have adopted a fragrance-free policy to
accommodate the growing number of people with
allergic reactions to perfumes, colognes, body sprays,
etc.
 Please put your cell phone on vibrate or silent
while you are in the Cyber Café.

Alert! Clients with EBT cards
(cash or SNAP)
 EBT scam in other states; *may* hit Mass clients
as well
 Client receives text message
– told to call a toll-free # or their card will be de-
activated
 Clients who call the # are asked for their EBT
Card #
 Never give out your EBT card numbers, pin’s,
SSN’s, or other personal info except to
– A DTA worker
– Your Case Manger
– Or when it is needed for a transaction you trust!
 When in doubt, call the 800 # on back of your

Joomla! Boston User Group
Cyber Café @ Malden Square hosts the
 Joomla! Boston User Group monthly meetings
 4th Wednesday of every month
 Location: Cyber Café Training Room
 Wifi available
 Register at http://bostonjoomla.org

Everett G.B.A.R.C. Proudly Presents:
A Musical Sleigh Ride:
An Evening of Dinner, Show & Dancing
 Friday November 30th,
2012
 Cocktails 6:30 – 7:30
 Dinner served at 7:30
 Anthony’s, 105 Canal St.
Malden
 Tickets: $40 Cash Bar
 781-629-5051
Limited Seating, Tickets Must Be
 PLENTY OF FREE
Purchased by November 23, 2012
PARKING

Free Citizenship Class
 Offered by the Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.
(ILC)
 For anyone planning to take the US Citizenship
Exam within the next 12 months.
 Class meets Wednesdays from 12:30 to 3:00
p.m.
 Prepares students for the citizenship exam and
interview
 Register in person at the ILC
 Monday, Tuesday Thursday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
and 1:00 -2:30 PM.
 Need more information? Call (781) 322-9777

Free Tax Preparation
VITA Site is gearing up for
Tax Year 2012
Volunteers Needed:
Inquire Within

Volunteers Needed – Inquire Within
The Cyber Café @ Malden Square is
currently looking for volunteers to join our staff.

• We are looking for volunteers with
computer skills and/or customer
service skills.
• Morning and afternoon shifts
available
• Monday – Friday; 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Saturdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Want a volunteer application? Inquire within or
contact cybercafe@maldensquare.org

Do You Know PowerPoint?
PowerPoint Volunteer Needed

• Ongoing updates and maintenance
of this Electronic Bulletin Board.
• 2-4 hours monthly may be needed.
• Onsite or Remote work – we’re
somewhat flexible
• Other projects may be available.


Website Volunteers – We Want You!
Do You Know Joomla! CSM?
Are you Willing to Learn it?
• Ongoing updates and maintenance
of our website, maldensquare.org
• Onsite or Remote work – we’re
somewhat flexible
• Other projects may be available.


Volunteer Projects – Can You Help?
Volunteers Needed for several
online (web-based) projects
• Recategorize blogger-based sites
and link to Delicious.
• Onsite or Remote work – the tools
are all online, you can be too!
• Blogger, Delicious, and other tools.


Buses to Replace Orange Line until
December
 July 8 until Dec. 28
 Buses replace evening
Orange Line trains
 Between Sullivan Square
and Oak Grove stations
 Sunday through Thursday.
 On the affected nights
 Bus replacement service
will begin at 9 p.m. and run
until the T closes.
 For more information, go to
www.mbta.com

Why You Should Get Tested for
HIV
HIV Testing:
 IS Free, Simple, and Confidential
 IS a Smart Choice for Making Choices About Your
Health
 IS available even if you don’t have health
insurance
Make the Smart Choice Today!
 Go to Cambridge Health Alliance for same-day
results testing
 195 Canal Street, Malden, MA
The 2010 Campaign to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in Malden and
Everett isthe Free, ConfidentialEverett Boards of Health and
 Call sponsored by the Malden and Information Line: 617-
the Malden-Everett HIV/AIDS Taskforce.
591-6767

Social Security Public Hours
 Malden Social Security public hours
 Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 3 PM
 Address:
 192 Commercial Street, Malden, MA (next to Ace
Hardware)
 1-800-772-1213 or TTY: 1-800-325-0778
 Many services can be conducted by phone or
on the web at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/

Parents: Free School Meals
 If you receive SNAP (food stamp) benefits, your
child is automatically eligible to receive free
school meals!
 If you applied for free school meals and were
denied, see if you qualify for SNAP; once
qualified, your child will be eligible for free school
meals.
 Call the Project Bread Hotline, 1-800-645-8333
 Mon – Fri, 8 am – 7 pm; Sat, 10 am – 2 pm
Child Nutrition Outreach Program
 The Hotline can617-723-5000 for SNAP benefits
Phone: screen you
Email: cnop@projectbread.org
Website: www.meals4kids.org

Healthy Eating for Successful Living
in Older Adults, 1
Six-week Healthy Eating Series
Learn how to make positive changes in your health!
 All interested seniors must pre-register
 Enrollment is limited to 20 participants
 All facilities are handicap-accessible
 Program offered to all seniors at no cost.*
*Voluntary donations will be accepted.
Any donations are confidential and will contribute
directly to the support and promotion of the Healthy
Eating program.

Healthy Eating for Successful Living
in Older Adults, 2
Six-week Healthy Eating Series
Locations & Registration Info
 Everett: Mondays, 8/13 – 9/24, 1:00 - 3:30
p.m.
 (No class on September 3rd)
 Everett Armory, 90 Chelsea
Street, Everett, MA
 CALL Sandra Lisboa,
Everett Older Adult Program
Coordinator, 617-591-6741

Food, Cash Assistance, Health
Benefits
 Self-serve web access for public benefits
recipients
 www.mass.gov/vg/selfserve
 Head of Household (person who signed benefits
application) can create a username and log in to
see status of their:
 Health Benefits
 MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, Health Safety Net,
Children’s Medical Security Plan, Healthy Start
 Food/Cash Assistance Benefits
 SNAP (food stamps)
 TAFDC (cash assistance)
 EAEDC (cash assistance)

Seniors
Need “Extra Help” with Prescription Drug Costs?
 Deductibles
 Premiums
 Co-pays
 The “Donut Hole”
 Call the SHINE Program at Mystic Valley Elder
Services

Malden Senior Center Events
 Blood Pressure: Mon, Tue, Wed: 9 AM – 1 PM
 Sponsored by the Malden Council on Aging
 Blood Pressure with Chinese Translation
 Every 4th Thursday: 12 Noon – 1 PM
 Sponsored by Hallmark VNA
 Writer’s Group: Tuesdays, 1 PM
 Digital Photography Class: Wednesdays, 1 PM
 Computer Classes: Thursdays, 3 PM – 7 PM
 For more information call 781-397-7144

Council on Aging Transportation
Malden Council on Aging Transportation
Program
All Malden seniors eligible for door-to-door service
for:
 Medical appointments to Malden, Medford,
Melrose, and Stoneham
 Grocery shopping (local)
 Shuttle service to the Senior Center and home
 Tuesdays and Thursdays
 Call 781-397-7144 for an appointment

Hunger Network
Malden, Medford, Everett
The 15-member Tri-City Hunger Network builds the
capacity of local food pantries and meal programs by
coordinating efforts, leveraging resources, providing
technical assistance, etc.
Locations and times for food pantries and soup kitchens
in each city follow…

Hunger Network, Malden
Food Pantry & Soup Kitchen
Bread of Life Soup Kitchen
54 Eastern Ave (rear)  5:30 – 6:30
781-397-0404 Tuesday – Thursday
 Food Pantry:
St. Paul’s Church
 26 Washington Street
 4:00 – 6:00
Wednesday  5:30 – 6:30 Friday
 2:00 – 4:00 Friday First Baptist Church
 1 visit every 4 weeks  493 Main Street

Emmanuel Baptist Church
20 Hillside Avenue
781-322-5885
 Food Pantry:
 10:00 – 11:30
 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
 No Calls Please
 Closed on holidays and inclement weather

Haitian Nazarene Church
12 Thatcher Street
781-324-2692
 Food Pantry:
 9:00 – 1:00
 Wednesday and Thursday
 Saturdays by appointment only
 Please call first

Imani Temple
264 Salem Street
781-324-3378
 Food Pantry:
 10:00 – 1:00
 Every 3rd Saturday of month

Maplewood Baptist Church
729 Salem Street
781-322-2636
 Food Pantry:
 9:30 – 11:30
 Friday
 Please use side door
 1 visit every 3 months

North Shore Assembly of God
77 Kennedy Drive
781-321-2121
 Food Pantry:
 6:30 – 8:00
 Tuesdays
 1 visit per month

Philadelphie SDA Church
575 Main Street
781-397-9143
 Food Pantry:
 10:00 – 1:00
 1st Sunday of month and on emergency basis
 Required: ID’s and Signature

 Soup Kitchen:
 Wednesday
 12:00 – 2:00

Salvation Army
213-219 Main Street
781-324-1970
 Food Pantry:
 9:00 – 12:00 and 1:00 – 3:00

Hunger Network, Medford
Evangelical Church of Holiness
55 Otis Street
781-391-1443
 Food Pantry:
 2:30 – 4:30
 Last Saturday of month

Friends of Francis
441 Fellsway West
781-396-3400
 Food Pantry:
 3:00 – 4:30 Thursday
 Required: Picture ID, utility bill

Shiloh Baptist Church
Corner of Holton and Bower Streets
West Medford
781-483-8850
 Food Pantry:
 6:00 – 7:00 / 2nd Tuesday of month
 10:00 – 11:00 / 3rd Saturday of month
 Medford Residents Only

St. Raphael's Church
33 Boston Avenue
781-488-5444
 Food Pantry:
 11:00 – 1:00
 Tuesday
 Medford Residents Only

Unitarian Universalist Church
Community Cupboard Food Pantry
147 High Street
781-396-4549
 Food Pantry:
 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
 Thursday

Hunger Network, Everett
Bread of Life (Satellite location)
460 Broadway
857-888-3452
 Food Pantry:
 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 3rd and 4th Thursday of month
 Everett Residents Only

Hunger Network, Everett
Immaculate Conception Church
489 Broadway
617-389-5660
 Food Pantry:
 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM every other Monday
 Everett Residents Only

Low Cost Legal Immigration Services
 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians
 Assistance to Haitians applying for TPS
 Duration of TPS is 18 months
 Permits immigrants to stay and work in the United
States for the time that their TPS is active
 Contact: Marlane Codair, 781-321-2121
 Offered by Compassion Immigration Ministry
 A ministry of the North Shore Assembly of God
 www.northshoreag.org
 Authorized by the Board of Immigration Appears
(BIA) to provide low cost legal immigration services
with affordable fees

Community Support Services, 1
Offered by Hallmark Health, 239 Commercial
St, Malden
 Healthy Families, 781-338-7550
 Statewide home visiting program for 1st-time
parents under 20
 WIC, 781-338-7578
 Offices in Malden, Medford, Everett, Woburn,
Wilmington
 Mothers Helping Mothers Free Clothing Store,
781-338-7579
 Gently used infant & children’s clothing; some baby
equipment

Community Support Services, 2
 Creative Coping, 781-338-7607
 New mom’s group in the Fall & Winter; Reunion in
the Spring
 Community Health Education, 781-338-7561
 Classes in childbirth, breastfeeding, infant care,
anesthesia, new dad and mom, CPR, babysitting,
and wellness
 The Baby Café, 781-979-6455
 Offers breastfeeding support
 Hallmark Health VNA & Hospice, 781-338-7900
 Asthma management and many other programs
 Community Counseling Services, 781-338-7250
 Brian O’Sullivan, LICSW, Director

Want Your Message Displayed?
 Any local non-profit organization can get
information posted to our calendar and electronic
bulletin board (EBB)
 Date-specific information: send to
calendar@maldensquare.org
 Include your contact info so we can verify posting
 These will also be posted to the EBB
 General information (not date-specific) or ongoing
programs/services: send to
ebb@maldensquare.org
 Include your contact info so we can verify posting

Provided as a public service by the Cyber Café @ Malden Square

Tri-City Community Action
Program
Tri-CAP’s 3 divisions and the services they offer
follows…

Children and Advocacy and Energy
Family Services Community (Weatherization
(CFS) Services (ACS) and Fuel
Assistance)

Tri-CAP Children and Family
Services Division, Head Start, p1
 Tri-CAP Head Start has operated since 1980
 Provides a comprehensive child development program
 Meets the educational, social, health, nutritional, and
emotional needs of income eligible families
 with children 3-5 (three to five) years old
 who reside in the Tri-City Area and surrounding
communities
 Emphasis is on parent involvement
 Philosophy: parents are the primary educators of their
children
 Provides foundation of physical, emotional, &
intellectual stability
 Helps parents improve their child-rearing skills in a
constructive, supportive manner
 Many families find that Head Start strengthens their
family life

 Children spend half days or extended-days in a rich
learning environment supervised by licensed pre-
school teachers
 Play is an essential ingredient in a child's health
development
 Head Start experiences:
 Complement children's individual developmental skills
 Strengthen their socialization skills
 Strengthen their ability to interact cooperatively
 Help develop positive self-esteem
 Carefully balance the need to experience success and
the opportunity to face and overcome challenges
 The children's sense of self is enhanced by giving
them choices and various opportunities for creative
expression.

 Head Start provides children with a variety of health
services
 Particular emphasis on early identification of problems
 All children receive complete physicals,
immunizations, and health screenings
 Parents are helped to enhance their advocacy skills
 Parents also receive training in such areas as
 nutritional cost allowances
 menu planning
 budget counseling
 food preparation
 food related activities
 Children receive at least one third of their daily
nutritional needs at the Center.

Services Division, Head Start, p 4
 Licensed Nutritionist assists in identifying
children's nutritional needs, making
recommendations, and explaining nutrition’s role
in preventative health care
 Multi-cultural experiences include a variety of
ethnic foods, which foster an appreciation of
different backgrounds
 Social Services enable families to cope with their
problems
 Staff utilize their extensive community networks
to
 make referrals, advocate, and empower parents
 ensure that families receive the best available
services

 Mental Health staff work closely with children and
families to ensure that children reach their fullest
potential
 As needed, children are observed and evaluated
 Their psychological needs are then further
discussed with the parents to ensure all services
needed are received.
 Educational trainings and parent workshops
 assist parents in further understanding:
 child development, assertiveness training, and
behavior management
 Mental Health Consultant is available to meet
with parents on an individual basis

 Parent Involvement links all the family services
components together. All parents may participate in
family nights, parent groups, and special events.
 Parents are given many opportunities to participate in
decision-making about virtually every aspect of the
Head Start program from specific activity committees
to the Policy Council.
 The Policy Council is comprised of parents and
community representatives, who plan, monitor and
evaluate the program to ensure it meets the needs of
the families being served.
 The Policy Council represents a tremendous
opportunity for parents to develop their leadership
skills and exert an important impact on their program.

 Head Start believes all children are special
 Head Start is mandated to offer at least 10% of its
enrollment opportunities to children with "disabilities"
or "special needs”
 A child may come into the program with a diagnosed
special need or it may be determined through ongoing
assessment
 Head Start and the parent would make a referral for
evaluation
 Collaboration within Head Start and with the community
is fostered to ensure appropriate services for children
with special needs are implemented in a timely fashion
 A developmental approach allows staff to address
children at their particular stage of development
 Parent training on related laws, specific disabilities and
approaches to accommodate them are also provided

Tri-CAP Advocacy and Community
Services Division (ACS), p1
 Advocacy and Community Services provides
 Information and referral
 Clothing
 Housing assistance
 Benefits and health care advocacy
 Pro bono legal assistance and advocacy
to all low-income Tri-City residents
 Provides housing counseling and case management
for people with HIV/AIDS in partnership with
Cambridge Health Alliance.
 Mobile Homeless Outreach Team (MOHT) provides
assistance to homeless individuals seeking housing,
income, and mental health/substance abuse services.

Housing, Stan Kaszanek House
 Offers housing to 11 homeless males and females
 Collaboration between Tri-CAP and Heading Home,
Inc.
 Offers supportive services to residents
 Skills training
 Anger management, etc.
 Potential residents must be referred by Tri-CAP
 See your Tri-CAP case manager for information

Housing, Single-Room Occupancy
 October 2008, Tri-CAP opens 14-bedroom Single
Room Occupancy (SRO) house at 115 Washington
Street, Malden
 This house was established to provide an opportunity for
homeless and low-income individuals to achieve stability
in their lives.
 Tenant agree to a one-year renewable lease
 this can become permanent housing if they choose
 Some look at this as a stepping-stone to acquiring a one
or two bedroom accommodation in the future
 Tri-CAP also provide four rooms that are available to
non-clients (people from the general community) in
the tri-city area
 For more information, call Fernanda Brito at 781-322-

Housing Resource Center
 Opened July 1, 2009 for residents of Malden,
Medford, & Everett
 Serves needs of homeless or almost homeless
families
 Targeted to at-risk families/individuals – particularly
elders, people with disabilities, or people in need of
housing resources
 Coming Soon: HRC will host a
 Hot line service and web-based housing-related
resource bank
 Links to Tri-CAP’s legal services
 Special funds, emergency food and shelter funds

Pro Bono Legal Project (PBLP)
 Provides legal information, advice, advocacy,
referral, and representation to low-income people
with civil legal problems related to
 Housing
 Family law
 Unemployment
 Disability
 Pro Bono Legal Project staff provide services
directly and through a panel of volunteer
attorneys who offer their services to the program.

 Community Organizing is currently focusing on
elderly residents at Heritage Apartments in Malden
 Resident were hit with a 35% rental increase over 5
months
 Tenants formed the Heritage House Tenant
Association and
 Picketed for better communications from the building
owner
 Successfully developed a working relationship with the
property advisor and building management
 Hold regular meeting for and with tenants
 Tenants stimulated legislation that passed through
Congress to ameliorate their rent situation
 Oct 2010 Update: Received $10.8M funding for
renovation and $2M for maintaining affordability!

Hunger Network
 The 15-member Tri-City Hunger Network builds
the capacity of local food pantries and meal
programs by
 coordinating efforts
 leveraging resources
 providing technical assistance, etc.
 Brings together operators of food pantries and
meal programs to improve the community’s
capacity to respond to hunger

 Offers free access to computers and the Internet
 Low membership fee (required)
 1-day or 1-week pass available for low fee
 Basic computer assistance and training available
 IRS-certified VITA Site
 VITA = Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
 Formed and operated by Tri-CAP, the Office of
Representative Christopher G. Fallon, Malden Access
TV, Murray Learning Associates, and The Career
Place
 http://maldensquare.org or call 781-397-2970

Tri-CAP Energy, p1
Fuel Assistance
 Fuel Assistance serves over 4,000 households in
Everett, Medford, Malden, Winchester, Stoneham,
Melrose, and Woburn.
 helps low-income homeowners and tenants pay a
portion of the cost of heating their homes.
 payments can be used toward oil, gas, and electric costs
and toward rent, if heat is included in the rent.
 open for six months each year, November through
April.
 When combined with utility discounts and energy
conservation measures, Fuel Assistance helps make
energy costs affordable for low-income families.

Tri-CAP Energy, p2
Weatherization, 1
 Weatherization provides energy conservation
measures to low-income homeowners and tenants in
Everett, Malden, Medford, Woburn, Winchester, and
Stoneham.
 Funded by the Department of Energy, Weatherization
can provide
 weather stripping
 insulation of attics and walls
 heating system improvements
 health and safety checks

Tri-CAP Energy, p3
Weatherization, 2
 KeySpan/NGrid Weatherization Program provides
weatherization services to low-income tenants and
homeowners who have gas as their primary source of
heat.
 The scope of work is similar to the Department of
Energy-funded Weatherization.

Tri-CAP Energy, p4
The Heating Systems Program
 The Heating Systems Program is a heating
emergency assistance program for low-income Fuel
Assistance-eligible homeowners who are in no-heat
or dangerous situations due to faulty systems.
 Primarily designed to assist with heating
emergencies, the program may also improve heating
system safety and efficiency.
 Scope of work done by the program may include:
 repairs
 new burners
 heating system replacement
 related asbestos abatement

Tri-CAP Energy, p5
Appliance Management Programs
 Appliance Management Programs help low-income
families save money by reducing their electric usage.
 Tri-CAP provides on-site assessments of electric
appliances.
 Electric use is reduced through the installation of
efficient light bulbs, water conservation devices, and,
in some cases, replacement of high-use refrigerators.

Services, p1
Head Start
 Head Start provides comprehensive child and family
development services to income-eligible residents of
the Tri-City area, Melrose, Stoneham, Wakefield,
Reading, North Reading, and Winchester.
 The program runs center-based child care centers for
preschool aged children.

Services, p2
Preschool Teacher Training program
 Provides an opportunity for individuals with limited
work history to gain experience and skills as
preschool teachers
 Offers a 9-month supervised experience assisting in
preschool classrooms.
 College credit provided by Bunker Hill Community
College
 Trainees are placed in child-related jobs at the end of
the program year

Services, p3
Summer Lunch Program in Everett
 The Summer Lunch Program provides free lunches
for Everett children under the age of 18.
 Lunches are provided throughout the summer at
several Everett Parks.
 The program operates during July and August
 Sponsored jointly by
 Tri-CAP
 Massachusetts Department of Education
 Project Bread

Services, p4
Extended Day Program
 Full-day, full-year Head Start classroom for Head Start
children
 Available to children whose parents are working,
studying, or participating in a training program
 Families already enrolled in the Head Start program
are prioritized for services

Information for Immigrants
ESL
Health Care Resources
Information on Use of Public Benefits
follows…

ESL: Conversational English

 1-2:30 PM, every
Wednesday, Malden
Public Library
 For beginning English
speakers to practice
and learn new words

ESL
(English as a Second Language)
Learn English
with

Muslim American Cultural

and Civic Association
110 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148

Voice: 617-671-1276 Cell: 508-451-3985

Health Care Resources for
Immigrants, p1
Organizations
 Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy
Coalition, Toby Guevin, 617-350-5480 x216,
www.miracoalition.org
 MA Law Reform Institute, 617-357-0700,
www.masslegalservices.org
 Health Care for All – MA, 617-350-7279,
www.hefama.org
 National Immigration Law Center, www.nilc.org
 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
www.uscis.gov
 Greater Boston Legal Services (Immigration Unit),
617-371-1234, www.gbls.org

Immigrants, p2
Other Resources
 Health Care for All Consumer Health Helpline, 1-800-
272-4232
 Public Health Insurance and Immigrants Webpage,
http://www.hcfama.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.vie
wpage&pageid=785
 National Immigration Law Center: Immigrants &
Public Benefits: Health Care Webpage,
http://nilc.org/immspbs/health/index.htm

Immigrants, p3
For Victims of Discrimination
 Health and Human Services Office for Civil
Rights, http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/, to file a
complaint, visit:
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html

 MA Civil Rights Division, 617-727-2200,
http://www.mass.gov/ag

Immigration and Public Benefits, p1
Will benefits hurt my chances of
getting a Green Card or Becoming a
U.S. Citizen?
If you do not have a green card yet
 It will not hurt your chances of getting a green card if
you, your children or other family members use:
Health Care, such as: MassHealth, Healthy Families, WIC,
prenatal care, other free or low-cost medical care
Food Programs, such as: Food Stamps(SNAP), WIC,
school meals, and other food assistance
Other programs that do not give cash such as: public
housing, disaster relief, childcare services, job training,
transportation vouchers

U.S. Citizen?
If you do not have a green card yet
 You might have a problem getting your green card
later only if:
 You use Cash Welfare such as: TAFDC,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), EAEDC
 Or your family’s only source of support is cash
welfare received by your children or other family
members
 Or you are in a nursing home or other Long-term

U.S. Citizen?
If you are a victim of abuse:
 Who has filed a self-petition under the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA), use of cash welfare and
other programs will not count against you.
If you are a Refugee or Asylee
 You can use any benefits, including cash welfare,
health care, food programs, and non-cash programs,
without hurting your chances of getting a Green Card

U.S. Citizen?
If you already have a green card
 You cannot lose your green card if you, your
children, or other family members use:
 Health care, food programs and other non-cash
programs
 Cash welfare
 Long-term care

Important Information for All
Free Services for Low-income Residents
Commonwealth Care Brief Facts follows…
Eligibility
Income Guidelines
Health Care Providers
Health Care Providers

Free Services for Low-Income
Residents, p1
Nutrition (Food Stamps)
 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
 Income-based; family size also counts
 Call for appointment and list of documents you’ll need
to bring
 781-322-4125

Health Insurance Signups
 Income-based; other requirements for non-citizens
 MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, Medical Security
Program, Children’s Medical Security Program
to bring
 781-322-4125

Free Services for Low-Income
Residents, p2
Tax Preparation
 January through April and beyond
 IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers
to bring
 866-833-2823
 Part of the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance) Program
 Accepting volunteers year-round at # above

Commonwealth Care Brief Facts
Uninsured?
Not enough money to pay for health insurance?
You may qualify for Commonwealth Care.
Private Insurance at lower rates for low-income
residents!

Tri-CAP’s Benefits Specialists may be able to help you
determine if you qualify and help you apply. Call 781-322-
4125 to ask about an appointment!

Commonwealth Care Eligibility
 Health insurance for adults
 Age 19 and older *
 uninsured
 meet certain eligibility requirements.
 You may be eligible for Commonwealth Care if:
 Your family’s income before taxes meets the income
guidelines specified on the next screen
 You are uninsured,
 You are a U.S. citizen/national, or you are an alien with
special status who has had that status for at least 5
years,
 *persons under age 19 maybe able to help you
Tri-CAP’s Benefits Specialists may be eligible for
MassHealth benefits

Commonwealth Care Income
Guidelines

Family Size Income is Family Size Income is
at or Below at or Below
1 $ 32,496 5 $ 77,376
2 $ 43,716 6 $ 88,596
3 $ 54,936 7 $ 99,816
4 $ 66,156 8 $111,036
Note: Income guidelines used to determine eligibility change every year
on March 1.


Commonwealth Care Health
Services
 In Commonwealth Care, all health plans offer the
same medical services.
 Benefits of being a Commonwealth Care Member
include:
 Your own health care provider.
 Preventative care checkups.
 Care when you are sick or injured.
 Prescriptions at your local pharmacy.
 Treatment for alcohol, drug abuse, and mental
health problems.
 Vision care.
 Dental care (available to some members only).

Commonwealth Care Plans
 Plans may offer different extra services,
 such as programs for weight loss or diabetes
management.
 Some offer telephone help lines or discounts at
fitness centers.
 You will have a choice of which plan to sign up
for.
 3 types of plans available, based on your income.
 All providers offer these 3plans.
 Premium costs vary according to your income
and the plan you choose.

Commonwealth Care Providers
 Commonwealth Care plans are offered by:
 Boston Medical Center (BMC) Health Net Plan,
 CeltiCare Health Plan,
 Fallon Community Health Plan,
 Neighborhood Health Plan
 Network Health
 Availability of these plans varies by region of the
state.
 Go to http://mahealthconnector.org for more
information

Cyber Café Community Bulletin 11 16-12

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