413Cares Collaborates with Mass 2-1-1, Aunt Bertha to Offer Support for Those Seeking COVID-19 Services

June 12, 2020
Springfield—413Cares.org, the online community resource database recently launched for the Western Massachusetts region, has announced a collaboration with Mass 2-1-1, the statewide free information and referral hotline. The collaboration will provide phone support for those searching for services on the 413Cares portal.

Springfield—413Cares.org, the online community resource database recently launched for the Western Massachusetts region, has announced a collaboration with Mass 2-1-1, the statewide free information and referral hotline. The collaboration will provide phone support for those searching for services on the 413Cares portal.


Those searching for food, housing, or other COVID-related services on the 413Cares online portal will see a pop-up box with links to COVID-19 resources and a link to call Mass 2-1-1. This “click-to-call” feature will be incorporated into the 413Cares.org website with the help of Aunt Bertha, which is the national platform that houses 413Cares.org.


The Mass 2-1-1 resource and referral hotline, created by the Council of Massachusetts United Ways, operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week.


Other resource and referral networks in the region and across the state, including Boston Medical Center’s MA Community Resource Directory MASSTHRIVE.org and UMass Memorial Health Care & Reliant Medical Group’s CommunityHELP.net, are also collaborating with Mass 2-1-1 to offer this feature on their portals. 


413Cares provides residents the ability to access critical information, resources and referrals to community-serving organizations from one online portal. The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts manages the portal that was established with initial funding by Baystate Health.


According to Jessica Collins, Executive Director of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, “We are pleased to collaborate with United Way in providing another layer of resources and support for residents of our region on the 413Cares online platform. By adding Mass 2-1-1’s phone-based system, residents of the 413 seeking to speak with someone about services can reach the Call2Talk resource for behavioral health phone support. This online and over-the-phone safety net is providing a critical resource that people need now during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.”


Paul Mina, President & CEO of Mass 2-1-1, states, “This new partnership will provide consumers more immediate access to accurate information via the Mass 2-1-1 system 24/7/365 in over 140 languages. In addition, our Call2Talk, mental health and suicide prevention line will be available for emotional support as well.”


As a single online point of contact, 413Cares efficiently connects people in the region to critical services they may need including housing, food and nutrition, healthcare, transportation, early education and more.

The site is expected to serve individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with needs for community resources dramatically increasing due to the crisis.


The development of the resource portal and platform was the result of a community-driven process led by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) and Baystate Health and was soft-launched early in 2020.


413Cares is fully HIPAA compliant, mobile-friendly and can be translated into over 100 languages.

The portal is populated by community-serving organizations in the region “claiming” their listings on 413Cares.org to ensure their program information is accurate and up-to-date, which helps the public find services more efficiently.


The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts was formed a little over 20 years ago with the goal of building measurably healthier communities using data and its convening power to create collaborative partnerships.


Click here to download a copy of the press release


share this

Related Articles

May 30, 2025
Live Well Springfield Transforming Communities Initiative invites you to attend their Housing Resource Fair
May 28, 2025
The Springfield City Council and Springfield Zoning Board of Approvals, represented by the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), asked the state’s Supreme Judicial Court to review a decision that revived building permits for the controversial Palmer Renewable Energy biomass facility in Springfield. Read CLF's press release for more information. Community groups and health advocates have been fighting against this proposed plant for more than a decade. Burning biomass, like wood, pollutes our air with particulate matter, contributing to asthma and other serious health issues. The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts recently joined CLF and more than 86 other organizations urging MA lawmakers to end public subsidies for biomass energy. Act Now!  Tell the Massachusetts Legislature to take dirty biomass out of our clean energy programs!
May 14, 2025
Beyonca Twiggs is a Project Coordinator at the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Read her reflection below about engaging in equity work and showing up even when it is hard. Showing Up When It's Hard There are days when the work feels heavy. Not just the tasks or the meetings, but the weight of what we’re trying to change. Systems that were never built for everyone. Patterns that repeat across generations. Stories that aren’t told, because they’ve been ignored for so long. On those days, I remind myself why I’m here. I didn’t get into this work because I had all the answers. I got into it because I kept seeing the same harm, the same gaps, the same silence, especially around race and health. And I wanted to be part of interrupting that silence. I’ve learned that equity work isn’t about checking boxes or writing the right statement. It’s about being willing to stay in the room when things are uncomfortable. It’s about asking, “Who’s not here?” and meaning it. It’s about choosing to be accountable, not just when someone is watching, but especially when no one is. It means listening even when the truth stings. It means making space for stories that challenge how we see the world and how we see ourselves. Sometimes, it’s slow. Sometimes, it’s painful. But every time we choose to show up differently— more aware, more honest, more intentional—something shifts. And over time, those shifts start to matter. I’ve also learned that change doesn’t always look like a policy passed or a report released. Sometimes, it looks like someone feeling seen for the first time. Sometimes, it’s a door that wasn’t open before. Sometimes, it’s just staying committed when it would be easier to walk away. I am doing this work because I believe in the possibility of something better, and not just in theory, but in practice. In neighborhoods. In classrooms. In clinics. In the everyday places where people deserve to be safe, to be well, and to be valued. This isn’t just professional for me. It’s personal. Because the stakes are real. Because our communities deserve more than survival. They deserve care. They deserve joy. They deserve justice. So no, I don’t have all the answers. But I’m here. I’m learning. I’m listening. And I’m staying. Because the work is worth it. And so are the people we do it for. If you’re looking for ways to deepen your understanding, continue learning, or spend more time with the stories and voices that shape this work, I encourage you to explore the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide . It offers tools, reflections, and local resources to support ongoing growth.