policy

A true coming together for children

Christie Getto Young — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:12:07 -0500

Last week I helped organize an event held at the Massachusetts State House entitled, "Health, Housing and Hunger Prevention: the Building Blocks of Childhood Success." The idea was to have a bunch of organizations that work in these areas band together to educate legislators and raise awareness about the current need around these issues. In many ways, it was a typical "Legislative Advocacy Day" up on Beacon Hill where we gave out information and materials, had an educational and inspirational speaking program of experts, provided food, and sought to build relationships with legislators read more »

CORI law reform in Mass.

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:47:27 -0400

Several years ago when I worked for an admissions office at a Simmons College I was assigned to run a college fair within the Suffolk County House of Correction. The women who were attending the fair were all incarcerated for short term sentences usually relating to drugs or assault charges. Most of them were close to concluding their time there, were still very young (20 to 25) and were trying to figure out what on earth they would do afterwards. Each of them came to my table. I was all idealism and promise, “We can figure out the financial aid situation, just apply and see what happens,” I remember telling them. “You can do anything.” Trouble was: they couldn’t do anything. The majority of them were interested in nursing. Simmons had a strong nursing program. But one by one, each of them informed me that it couldn’t happen, that the major would do no good because they’d never get through CORI to get a job after.

Yesterday at a hearing Governor Patrick called for CORI law reform... read more »

Science, Policy and Children

Geetha Pai — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:50:29 -0500

A few weeks ago I attended The Center on the Developing Child on Science, Policy and Children: Informing the Process to Improve the Outcomes. Ruth Kagi, a Democrat from Washington and Wes Hayes a Republican from South Carolina discussed the difficulties they faced in passing state legislation related to early child development. Here's a short recap... read more »

State Takes New Bold Steps to End Homelessness

Elizabeth Curtis — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:33:37 -0500

On Tuesday, January 6th the Patrick-Murray Administration announced a dramatic new move in its effort to end homelessness. Currently the emergency shelter services program sits within the Department of Transitional Assistance (our state's welfare department). The Administration is now working to shift this program to sit within the Department of Housing and Community Development, a move designed to recognize that homelessness is an issue of housing that should be aligned with the state's housing resources. read more »

Tamara's Story

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:57:01 -0400

On Monday, July 14th, The Massachusetts Asset
Development Commission held its first public hearing on the policies, programs and practices that can better assist low and moderate income families to build an retain assets, such as housing, savings and retirement funds. At the hearing, residents from throughout the Commonwealth provided accounts of their personal experiences living and supporting families in today's economy. We'll keep you posted about future public hearings. The following is Tamara's testimony in response to the Asset Development Commission's questions... read more »

Tinisha's Story

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:26:23 -0400

The following is Tinisha's testimony for the Massachusetts Asset Development Commission's public hearing on the policies,
programs and practices that can better assist low and moderate income
families to build an retain assets, such as housing, savings and
retirement funds. This was the first public hearing in what will be a series of hearings on the financial stability of Massachusetts Residents. Here' is Tinisha's story...