State agencies have submitted their anticipated budget needs to the Governor, and CLM kicked off our FY26 budget advocacy with a letter to the Administration. We are calling for investments upstream & in the workforce.
Massachusetts is a national leader in many aspects of child welfare and well-being, because of the ongoing commitment and investments made in the state budget. It is critical that the Commonwealth sustain these efforts with investments in the human services workforce and preventing child welfare-involvement.
To best support the well-being of children and families, key investment priorities include to:
- Continue the state's progress decreasing cases referred to the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
- Build upon the robust network of mental and behavioral health services that support children in their homes.
- Ensure state care settings for children maintain high-quality programming that meets their needs and enables faster reunification.
- Improve outcomes for youth exiting state care to return to stable families or be prepared for independent living with all necessary supports firmly in place.
We urge the Governor to consider the following critical funding needs for children and family service providers:
- HUMAN SERVICES WORKFORCE
To enhance the availability, accessibility, and quality of services for vulnerable children and families, the Commonwealth must increase Chapter 257 workforce rates for community-based children and family services. In partnership with the entire network of human service providers, we have two requests:
- We strongly advocate for the FY26 budget to support a return to using the 63rd percentile for direct care staff. This represents an hourly wage of $22.35. And, increase all human services wages to that 63rd percentile benchmark. This would have the biggest impact on nursing and clinical positions and also ensure competitive salaries for other critical roles.
- We request that EOHHS ensure the tax and fringe rate for providers does not decrease from year-to-year. And, we ask that an equitable consideration for retirement expenses be added to the calculation.
- FAMILY PRESERVATION
Prioritizing enhanced cash assistance, improved access to quality mental and behavioral health services, and flexible funding for Family Resource Centers and other upstream programs helps stabilize families for preservation and reunification. This prevents families from going into crisis and the child welfare system.
- TRANSITION AGE YOUTH PERMANENCY
Promoting permanency and success for transition age youth (TAY) requires greater funding of initiatives helping TAY to:
- Maintain steady relationships with kin, other nurturing adults, and peers.
- Obtain safe, dependable living conditions and be fully prepared for independent living.
- Gain job security, which typically requires access to higher education or adequate vocational training.
- Stay connected with the Department of Children and Families to receive as much transitional support as possible.
- COMPREHENSIVE FOSTER CARE
Foster care and residential care programs need adequate funding. Rates should reflect the cost-of-living and the true cost of service provision, especially for children with high needs.
- POST-ADOPTION SUPPORTS
Many adoptees from foster care are experiencing mental health and other challenges later in their adolescence. This is resulting in more Child Requiring Assistance cases and youth getting stuck in group homes. Massachusetts needs a more robust system of post-adoption supports so adoptees can thrive at home. And, more emphasis is needed on adoptees' connections to their siblings.