Category: Advocacy Feature

June 22, 2023 On Tuesday, June 13th, CLM and our members presented public testimony and submitted written testimony at a hearing conducted by the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities regarding three key bills from CLM's policy agenda: Rachel Gwaltney, CLM's Execut...

BREAKING NEWS: In a momentous decision, the Supreme Court has upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)! Enacted in 1978, this longstanding legislation has played a crucial role in safeguarding the welfare of Native children and families. By placing emphasis on prioritizing the placement of Native ...

April 5, 2023 The Children's League of Massachusetts is looking to legislators at the Massachusetts State House to co-sponsor An Act to eliminate disproportionality and inequities for at-risk children (S.120 / H.153). If signed into law, this legislation would require child-serving state a...

March 31, 2023 The Children's League of Massachusetts (CLM) released a report on “high acuity” adolescents living in congregate care within the child welfare system. Background:In Massachusetts, the reliance on congregate care in child welfare has been slowly declining. This decline has led to a...

On March 1, Governor Maura Healey released her $55.5 billion proposal for the state's FY2024 budget, filed as bill H.1 in the Legislature. At a stakeholders call on Wednesday, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services reviewed key investments that would support children, families, and the pr...

February 23, 2023 KEY COMMITTEE The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities has great influence over our legislative agenda. This committee considers all matters concerning child welfare, juvenile justice, public welfare, and children and adults with physical, d...

January 31, 2023 On Monday, Governor Maura Healey filed a supplemental budget bill requesting emergency funding through the end of FY2023 for programs that provide vital supports to vulnerable children and families. These requests include: Food and housing insecurity are significant contributors to ...

January 5, 2023 The Children’s League of Massachusetts (CLM) celebrates one more 2021-2022 Session Victory: the passage of An Act Establishing a Foster Parents' Bill of Rights! This legislation expands and codifies several key rights important to foster families, including access to training ...

December 28, 2022 This week Congress passed a year-end legislative package that includes the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022! This legislation reauthorizing and expanding the MIECHV program will reach President Biden's desk for signature in the coming day...

For many, pregnancy can be a joyous experience even amidst the undeniable stress that comes with starting a family. New parents who are lucky enough to be surrounded by friends and family receive support to navigate the unfamiliarity that comes with giving birth and raising a child. For others, preg...