Category: Advocacy Feature

December 14, 2022 Following productive meetings with then-candidates Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll about CLM's priorities and issues, CLM developed and sent a memo to the transition team outlining specific recommendations for the incoming Administration. The memo focused on three themes: Read the me...

November 9, 2022 BREAKING NEWS: Massachusetts passes ballot question 4! CLM is proud to have supported this ballot measure and the Yes on 4 for Safer Roads Campaign. A "YES" vote on Ballot Question 4 keeps the Work and Family Mobility Act as law in Massachusetts. This law allows people in the count...

Throughout the pandemic, the federal government used an expanded child tax credit program to give families direct cash assistance to offset job loss and lack of access to child care. Now, research is emerging that shows the expanded child tax credit had a direct impact on reducing child poverty, des...

Earlier this year, President Biden's proposed federal budget included a significant revision of funding for out-of-home placement by increasing rates for kinship care, and reducing rates for residential care. These and additional child welfare provisions are discussed as part of the President's goal...

A report released last week by State Auditor Suzanne Bump examined significant gaps in state funding that is provided to municipal governments for mandated efforts, including education for foster youth.  Specifically, the report recommends: Fully funding out-of-district (OOD) transportation for s...

September 2021 We are 18 months into the ongoing global pandemic and the Short-term Assessment and Rapid Reintegration (STARR) programs, like so many providers in the human services sector, are at crisis level. In September 2021 the Children’s League of Massachusetts surveyed our members who run S...

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...

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...