OVERVIEW
Thank you to all of our Members and state agency partners for joining the Children's League of Massachusetts at our September Member Meeting on September 23rd, 2024! It was wonderful seeing you all face-to-face and having the chance to discuss critical issues facing children and families in the Commonwealth.
We were happy you could meet our newest team member: Operations Specialist Jasmin-Anne Ryals and welcome our newest members: Advocates, Children's Friend, Cutchins Programs for Children & Families, Evergreen Center, High Point Treatment Center, Nature Connection, Parent Professional Advocacy League, and Pathways for Children.
EOHHS & STATE AGENCY PRIORITIES
Thanks to your engagement we had a great conversation with Kate Walsh, Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, joined by: Mary McGeown, Undersecretary for Human Services, Dan Shark, Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance, and Staverne Miller, Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, and Brooke Doyle, Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health. They stated their commitment to key principles, including that work to support children is about supporting families and we need to spend resources in the smartest, most effective ways. We were assured commissioners are working together, such as to address the complex kids issue, create more narrow, consistent mandated reporting, and improve pathways to preventative services. They also echoed the need to tackle the housing crisis, including for our workforce.
MEMBER ENGAGEMENT
Member questions solicited affirmations that the state is working to:
- enhance communications down the chain of command
- better engage staff and families with lived experiences in policymaking
- improve maternal health
- provide more consistent standards for behavioral health screenings statewide
- proactively account for institutional and individual biases
- consider how to decrease healthcare costs, including insurance
- create better metrics, data collection, and analyses to improve support for kids and families upstream without labeling kids
- collaboratively and innovatively wrap kids and families, through cross-agency collaborations and working with providers
Both Secretary Walsh and other commissioners, who in their state agency updates, encouraged providers to reach out with issues, acknowledging that it's prime time to collaborate with providers to serve kids and families more efficiently and cost-effectively.
CLM ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLM announcements included:
- CLM is hiring: Communications and Policy Specialist – please share the post
- CLM posted a Right to Shelter Statement
- Sept. 30 – due date for CHIA survey
- Oct. 8 – Special Forum: Ken Brown, EOLWD on migrant workforce program updates, e.g., employer supports and incentives (registration required)
- Oct. 11 (9-10am; Zoom) – Issue Forum: CLM listening session to hear providers' input on the role of quality congregate care in the spectrum of services
- Oct. 28 (10am-12pm; Zoom) – CLM Annual Meeting: Annual Report, Task Force Updates, and Votes: Board Nominations and FY25 CLM Budget
- Nov. 18 (10am -12pm; Zoom) - CLM November Member Meeting with guest speaker DCF Commissioner Staverne Miller
Thank you to our member Justice Resource Institute for hosting us and capturing great photos.