The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or organizations to provide consulting services to support in the design, development, initial implementation and launch preparation for a new statewide support/preventative helpline (“Warmline”) that would assist mandated reporters, caregivers, and communities with obtaining information and referrals for preventative services and supports that promote child safety and well-being for families. The Warmline would differ from Massachusetts 211 by focusing on resources for child maltreatment prevention. This would be DCF’s first procurement of this kind which primary focus will be to offer a prevention-based alternative to filing a report for child abuse or neglect. This contract will support the creation of a comprehensive, community-informed program model that is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and operationally sustainable. The selected contractor will be expected to deliver a full program package including service design, staffing recommendations, operational policies, and facilitate stakeholder engagement, which would help DCF in launching the roadmap towards the creation of this important service.
