Category: Advocacy Feature

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 ...

On May 19, CLM held a legislative briefing to discuss the need for a Foster Parent Bill of Rights (H.212/S.87), to ensure that foster families are giving the training, resources, voice, and respect they need and deserve to carry out their important role in the foster care system. The briefing featur...

The Children's League, as a member of the National Organization of State Associations for Children (NOSAC), is standing in solidarity with families of transgender youth in the face of recent laws that exacerbate the already disproportionately negative outcomes for youth who identify as LGBTQIA+ in t...

CLM’s FY2023 budget agenda includes requests for investments in all facets of the broad system of child welfare: Family preservation and stabilization Human services workforce and provider capacity Transition-age youth Children's health, mental health, access to education, and more. We e...

We’re excited to announce the passage of CLM priority legislation Expanding Access to Adoption! The legislation now goes to Governor Charlie Baker for his signature. This legislation makes a technical change allowing kin to adopt their younger siblings, aunts, or uncles. Previously, only guardians...

On December 17, the CLM TAY coalition hosted a legislative briefing to discuss solutions to challenges faced by young adults who are leaving state care without permanency. Thank you to Representative Liz Malia for your sponsorship, The Home for Little Wanderers for hosting us in person, Matt Stone f...

On Sept. 21 CLM Executive Director Tammy Mello along with the Collaborative of trade associations testified at a hearing held by the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight. This hearing focused on health care, public health and hum...