News Archive

September 1, 2018 Fiscal Year 2018 was a dramatic year for the Children’s League of Massachusetts (CLM). Tammy Mello came on board as the new Executive Director in December and immediately set to work restructuring the organization for greater effectiveness and advocacy. To that end, CLM embarked ...

Some recent news stories from around Massachusetts and the nation pertaining to child welfare. In Massachusetts: A Look at the ‘Inexcusable' Failures That Led to Harmony Montgomery's Death (NBC10 Boston) Mass. tops child welfare rankings, lags in pediatric mental health (Commonwealth Magazine) Bos...

Elected officials like district attorneys, sheriffs, and governor’s council have enormous influence along the cradle to prison pipeline. These actors are decision makers in pressing charges, encouraging diversion, operating county jails and deciding guilt of a defendant who waives a jury trial. CL...

This week Governor Baker signed into law An Act addressing barriers to care for mental health, comprehensive mental health legislation aimed at reforming the availability and timely delivery of mental health services, ensuring equitable access to care, and supporting the behavioral health workforce....

The end of the legislative session brought about final passage of An Act Granting Equal Access to Original Birth Certificates to All Persons Born in Massachusetts, legislation led by Access Massachusetts that CLM has supported for three sessions. The new law closes a gap that denied adopted persons...

Some recent news stories from around Massachusetts and the nation pertaining to child welfare. In Massachusetts Youth Advocates Welcome Release of DCF LGBTQIA+ Nondiscrimination Policy (GLAD) Lawmakers put the brakes on proposed Harmony Montgomery Commission (Fox25) Child care is in crisis. Here's w...

This week Governor Baker and the Legislature enacted the ban on child marriage with language adopted in the FY2023 budget. This success came about through a years-long effort led by the national organization Unchained at Last and the Massachusetts Coalition to End Child Marriage, of which CLM has be...

Today Governor Charlie Baker signed the final FY2023 budget totaling $52.7 billion to fund state programs and activities for the fiscal year that started July 1. Line items tracked by CLM were mostly funded as expected from the version coming out of the Legislature. These include: DCF Services for...

On June 30 the Massachusetts Senate voted to pass the legislation known as the Foster Parent Bill of Rights (S.87), which has been on CLM's legislative agenda for the past three sessions. We were thrilled at the strong support for the legislation in the Senate and we are continuing to work with our ...

On June 7, CLM provided oral and written testimony on new legislation introduced by Rep. Michael Finn, chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities (H.4787). This bill, An Act Enhancing Child Welfare Protections, includes: Updates to the role, duties, and powers ...