On April 10, 2024, the House Ways and Means (HWM) Committee FY25 Budget was released. It maintains most key line items for children and family services at the Governor's proposed levels. Thank you to the Committee for their commitment to accessible, quality programming for children and families across the Commonwealth, including acknowledging in the Chairman's Letter, "$390 million is allocated for the Chapter 257 rates, a large and well-deserved increase for human service workers across the Commonwealth." We urge our representatives to move the HWM Budget forward with considerations noted below, especially to support the following amendments:
- Amendment #365: High Acuity Kids in DCF Care (Rep. Donato, sponsor, and Rep. Ultrino, co-sponsor) - inserts after Congregate Care (4800-0041) assurance and guidance on the implementation of a pilot program addressing the high concentration of "high acuity" adolescents residing in congregate care.
- Amendment #788: Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty (Rep. Decker) - to move up the effective date of a 10% increase to Temporary Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (4403-2000) from April 2025 to October 2024 and provide for a 10% increase to Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (4408-1000) also effective as of October 2024.
- Amendment #473: Department of Children and Families (DCF) Behavioral Health and Primary Care Loan Forgiveness Distribution Programs (Rep. Garballey and Rep. Donato) - ensures all clinicians employed by agencies contracted to provide congregate care and community-based contracted services for DCF can apply for and receive MA Repay behavioral health and primary care loan repayment benefits.
- Amendment #660: Boston Area Youth - Cash Assistance For Stable Housing (Rep. Owens) - adding to Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Services (4000-0007) that not less than $100,000 shall be allocated to BAY-CASH to provide direct cash assistance to unaccompanied homeless youth.
- Amendment #876: Rise Above Foundation (Rep. O'Day) - $75,000 toward the cost of a playground at the Leominster DCF office.
Within the HWM Budget, a few of CLM's priority categories suffered minimal decreases but up to $1.5M. We urge our legislators to maintain the Governor's proposed investments, such as for Clinical Support Services and Operations (4800-0015).
Additional funding should be allocated to critical areas noted below. CLM will advocate with our senators on these items.
- Housing and Services for Unaccompanied Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness (4000-0007) still needs $15M due to the housing crisis, not $11M, which is even less than last year.
- Emergency Assistance for Family Shelters and Services (7004-0101) also requires more support due to the housing and migrant crises.
- An additional $5M in flexible funding for Family Resource Centers (4800-0200) is needed to deliver the myriad of critical, locally relevant, and ever-evolving programming for families with appropriate staffing and resources amidst the migrant crisis.
You'll find our budget table and advocacy letter on CLM's "State Advocacy" webpage. Representatives received this amendment advocacy information via email.