Our April Member Meeting featured recaps and shared notes regarding the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) Conference held in Washington D.C. earlier this month. We were glad to be joined by several Members at this conference and on Capitol Hill to advocate together for the well-being of children and youth in Massachusetts. This Member Meeting also featured state agency updates and legislative advocacy focus points from CLM.
Action Steps
- Please use MA Coalition for Coverage & Care's Story Collection Form to submit stories your organization has collected that highlight the importance of Medicaid for the expansion population. These stories are going to helping our members of Congress fight to protect access to everyone who is currently on MassHealth.
- Check CLM's Congressional Delegates' Story Request Links & Contact Info Doc.
- Budget Advocacy
- View CLM's updated budget advocacy including our letter to the House regarding priority budget amendments.
- Legislative Advocacy
- View CLM's priority state legislation and review talking points for your organization's advocacy efforts.
- Register for CLM's 2025 Advocacy Day at the State House!
CWLA 2025 Conference Highlights
Staff on Capitol Hill emphasized the need for stories to help them fight for social services funding and programs. As noted above, you're urged to share your program's success and challenge stories, e.g., concerning Medicaid/MassHealth: click here to view your Congressional Delegates Story Requests & Contact Info. More CWLA Conference recap details include:
- CWLA plans to lean into their values more than ever and focus on the needs of families, equity, and the causes of child welfare involvement.
- CLM attended sessions on transition age youth, mandated reporting, equity in child welfare, and comparative state resources.
- CLM and Members visited 8 members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to discuss Medicaid, the Social Services Block Grant, and Immigration. Members shared examples of concerns for children and families they serve, and our concerns about cuts to social services driving more families into the child welfare system who would be better served in other ways. Collectively, CWLA members visited over 100 offices on Capitol Hill throughout the day.
- The impact of individual stories was felt throughout the conference.
State Agency Updates
DCF
- Providers are reminded to review the guidelines from DCF on responding to law enforcement encounters, including with ICE.
- DCF is upholding the Family First Prevention Services Act services and Evidence-Based Practices that have been prioritized by the Commonwealth.
- With the recent influx of children entering departmental care amid service closures, DCF thanks for providers for helping to find appropriate placements for those youth.
- The department is actively working with service providers to assess youth outcomes in Enhanced Residential Treatment Programs.
DYS
- Commissioner Peter Forbes recently passed away. Our community mourns the loss of Commissioner Forbes and acknowledges his decades of service on behalf of youth.
DMH
- Funding for youth and families has been partially restored in the House budget.
- DMH is actively working diligently to streamline their cumbersome transfer screening process.
- Looking to implement a single point of entry of youth from hospital referrals.
- Streamlining the requirements for admission.
- Limit 5 days to get a youth into a program after screening and approval.
OCA
- The House budget has OCA funding at the same level as last year.
- Working with DCF and DPH to develop and implement new regulations related to the passage of legislation related to Substance-Exposed Newborns.
- The FY2024 Child Fatality report includes a spotlight on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ways to enhance safety.
EEC
- There is a new director for Residential and Placement, Tim Keane, who joined for this meeting.
- EEC is actively working to improve communications with providers and constituents.