FirstStop Martha’s Vineyard (FirstStop MV) is an Island-wide reference guide to support the health and wellness of our friends, family, clients and neighbors. By providing critical public information and helpful resources, FirstStop MV keeps our community connected to a network of support and each other.
Who We Are
FirstStop MV is a program of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard. This website is made possible by funding from Dukes County and all six Island towns: Oak Bluffs, Chilmark, Edgartown, West Tisbury, Vineyard Haven, and Aquinnah.
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services commits our unique experience, expertise and compassion to help our entire community be as vibrant, strong, and healthy as it can be.
Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard is working to create an aging-friendly Island meeting the needs of the rapidly growing 65+ population and those who care for them.
Our History
In 2013, the Dukes County Health Council invited a group of medical and nursing students from the University of Massachusetts Medical School to Martha’s Vineyard through UMass’s “Rural Scholars” program. The Rural Scholars were commissioned to study demographic projections and future needs of the Island’s aging population, and they identified that we needed a centralized, web-based information and referral system to serve caregivers, providers, and seniors.
In turn, the Dukes County Health Council formed the Healthy Aging Task Force, now known as Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard. Led by the Information and Resource working group of the Healthy Aging Task Force, community members, providers, and caregivers spent the next two years working together to develop and launch FirstStop MV.
The program moved to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services in 2016 to streamline operations and expand First Stop MV to become an all-ages, Island-wide reference guide for social services, programs, activities, and opportunities. A more extensive online directory was then launched in 2017.
Since then, we have served more than 33,000 online visitors. An update to the website in 2019 helps ensure that FirstStopMV will continue to meet Islanders’ growing need to connect with local resources that lead to happier and healthier lives.
About the Directory
The FirstStop MV database is made up of on and off-Island providers who provide and maintain their listings. Inclusion in the directory is not an endorsement by FirstStop MV or our partners. Visit the Find a Provider page to learn more about how to search the site, or simply browse by category:
- Urgent Help, including emergency services, clothing and shelter
- Families and Seniors, which covers childcare, parenting, caregivers and more
- Food, Health and Disabilities, for all of your physical and mental health needs
- Island Life, encompassing social activities, employment, housing and beyond
For assistance by phone, call 508-693-7900 to leave a message or speak with a staff person who can help you locate services.
Update Your Listing
Providers with an existing listing in the directory can update their information using our online form.
Add a New Listing
If you provide resources or programs that serve the community, add a listing by submitting your profile.
Contact Us
Do you have questions about First Stop MV or this website? Contact us to learn more, find help or get involved.