[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6058380,"mediaKeyId","3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184","parentId",3297250,"title","Workers Urge State Loan-Repayment Program to Retain Human-Services Staff","audioSeconds",605,"startMs",4793000,"endMs",5398000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184&start=4793&end=5398","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184/thumbnail_4793000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6058380/Massachusetts/Workers-Urge-State-Loan-Repayment-Program-to-Retain-Human-Services-Staff","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058380-c5beb12469127792dd675934ef353ff6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773611525&Signature=iNcSdLOZMdvAik1b-w3uZF8SszjA4Y9OUSYofxW05rwAbC7ubVxjashJXA~QL3Zy~Nalvrqte0CF5qVWNu9DQ7fQxfuFrHpkN9XGXVIO1aSWCXOT3Kqac6w5lOZEWerglbQuzkQ0JLQi2EJhdSjNh-hH-uahVHuCuwEN4K9WAeuCQHVOqciBHx5qbnddELYNWIcB9TTdgRKlERiXlmslUsU~xOfvTNKdedKbxyA5tgm-gjymY8RS-N-cEuqJbDIz18NtDP2JQSU7bumoceg2M-wvPf1cTKz0B-Vg3P2NGvFL567--IIJh4SMyDFe6JSNNEx44nuczujaMH-Nxe0D8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","The committee received testimony supporting House Bill 283 / Senate Bill 119 to establish a recurring student loan repayment program for the human-services workforce in Massachusetts.

Bill Yolenak, president and CEO of the Providers Council, said the sector is underpaid and that prior one‑time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding drew more than 3,100 applications for approximately $16.5 million in available funds; applicants requested roughly $63 million. \"We saw an overwhelming response,\" Yolenak said, noting the median wage for direct-care staff remains well below living-wage estimates and that only a subset of applicants could be funded in earlier rounds.

Two human-service workers described personal impacts: Elena Streckenberger said she received $30,000 in loan repayment from a previous state program and that the funds were \"an immeasurable impact\" allowing her to stay in the sector. Jawan Kellum, a licensed clinical social worker, said he carries $93,456.98 in student debt from undergraduate, graduate and clinical training and warned the field loses staff who cannot afford to remain.

Supporters requested a statutory program allowing awards tied to hours worked and tenure with awards sized by educational attainment (examples discussed ranged roughly $6,000–$30,000 per award). Advocates urged a favorable report so the Legislature can provide predictable funding and expand access beyond a one-time allocation. No committee vote occurred at the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities\t5/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Witnesses testified in favor of H.283 / S.119, legislation to create/continue a student loan repayment program for human-service workers; proponents argued the program helps retain staff who provide essential services and described strong applicant demand in prior ARPA-funded rounds.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6058386,"Advocates Urge Expanded Data, Office of the Child Advocate Authority and Education Coordination in Child Welfare Bill",0,5428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184&start=5428&end=5428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184/thumbnail_5428000.jpg","/articles/6058386/Massachusetts/Advocates-Urge-Expanded-Data-Office-of-the-Child-Advocate-Authority-and-Education-Coordination-in-Child-Welfare-Bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058386-595d1bc90c495baffda2ce56fddf7848/orig.mp4?Expires=1773611525&Signature=Sd-YyXSz1deXlw4TV1DwYSCHEhFe6YAacRZXMCxTqlNi-2xXRue~jDFAPmAGCv8g0Vd9fVzE~jHAiq-QGqsElkRO5LoDnImBs-NBKBzyN~rOkl8WJXZ0Y2Jlaut8FDUg7-wXzZk6dZdeafH7~~5ydjKhYLR2~9mRG3e2JqTBcwKgyxRTN5D7h~6KV-fJyjI4VXUYNkvBLPAVWWAPUcm8zpE50-zxpoRH4G2tlGndmJeivLSgbVW2pYihfOwTiPVSnMcqUw~wwkwwi7IDSCMkppyQk19hEQs8zAsMITZPWKFAzn2Gsj3qfdn0GNtNQyT5OZp0Mq0OGgLaRJiKvP0oFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Committee heard testimony from a range of child-welfare advocates and state officials on H.262 / S.148, an omnibus bill intended to strengthen protections and data transparency across child-serving systems.

Maria Masaitis, director of the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), urged passage of the bill to codify practices the office currently performs by agreement, including incident reporting requirements, training for mandated reporters, and a shared chair model for the state child fatality review team. \"As I near the end of my tenure, I'm proud of the OCA's work to improve outcomes for children and families,\" Masaitis said, and asked for statutes that would sustain those practices through leadership transitions.

Advocates called for robust data collection to identify disproportionality by race, ethnicity, disability status and LGBTQI+ status at decision points across the child welfare system. The Children's League and other groups recommended stronger cross-agency collaboration and engagement of families and people with lived experience. Education advocates urged secure, real-time data exchange between DCF, DESE and school districts to shorten enrollment and records transfer delays that hinder students in foster care: \"Reporting alone won't change school experiences,\" said Suzanne Remington of UMass Chan Medical School; she urged technology-enabled daily notifications so schools can provide timely supports.

Several testifiers supported provisions that would require notice to counsel of placement changes and other events; the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) and other legal groups voiced support for those protections while raising concerns about proposed expansions of OCA authority to access impounded juvenile and court records and the possibility of the OCA filing for redetermination in care and protection proceedings. CPCS asked for further discussion to protect privacy and due process.

The bill also includes provisions that overlap with other pending legislation, such as codifying protections for youth benefits (H.227/S.105) and the foster care bill of rights; advocates asked the committee to retain or strengthen those protections. No formal committee votes were taken; witnesses urged further work between the committee, OCA, legal services and agencies to refine language.","Witnesses broadly supported H.262 / S.148 to enhance child welfare protections but flagged specific concerns and changes, including expanded reporting on disproportionality, clearer roles for the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), child fatality review adjustments, and improved enrollment and records transfers for students in DCF custody.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6058391,"Lawmakers Hear Calls to Restore and Strengthen Right-to-Shelter Protections for Families",332,6469000,6801000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184&start=6469&end=6801","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184/thumbnail_6469000.jpg","/articles/6058391/Massachusetts/Lawmakers-Hear-Calls-to-Restore-and-Strengthen-Right-to-Shelter-Protections-for-Families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058391-a58ad0d4dffe8f16a373ef41dd3e529d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773611525&Signature=Y~yanR5sGEPT2hSZ8R4DJtKOHn5qCbUwRHj8Cv04WL7GVMvWYwKHpCcUHIWVPJQ7xVwi8MFnLii8ylF6U6Czp7X8iQpy6zWZh2SU5NYKiKqF6E5qzHzVQ-5myuJl9RtB2wocBySjvjPniLUDfqWzR-FED7cfZzk50MNb3JDnU98Yu7bp7GMJHAfHy5HW7wh6PO71123mp3VcC5sBZ8UUhYj8Z8h2Flfjuy4q1rqb-Ho20NHV7QJiJnJ0Xc4A8ftgdrflp1iKaVdMJBNauYaOHSBepdVGVr6nFYpn1EhZcIi~THxX6llHZ-x2EZvNbO-DVx13Wc8Kc-z45LQPOU2wKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony urging restoration of key protections for families seeking emergency assistance shelter under Senate Bill 136, which sponsors and advocates say would correct changes that now leave some families sleeping unsheltered while they await placement.

Legal services attorneys, shelter providers, public-health experts and clergy described gaps created when the executive branch tightened EA rules and shortened durational limits in fiscal-year 2025 actions. \"Without presumptive placement, we now see many families sleeping in unsafe places for days or weeks,\" said Adam Houle, lead paralegal at Greater Boston Legal Services, who described a 72-year-old father with cancer and his family who slept in a car for three weeks while agencies and service providers attempted to secure shelter.

Witnesses asked the committee to restore presumptive placement (same-day shelter for those who appear eligible), reverse a six-month limit back toward nine months, require the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to use state data to verify eligibility when families lack documents, and establish an independent ombudsman to help applicants and families navigate appeals and administrative barriers. \"Six months is not enough time for shelter families to find housing in Massachusetts,\" said an expert witness on shelter duration, citing systemic barriers such as eviction histories, low wages and regional housing shortages.

Faith-based volunteers and community groups described stepping in to house families when the shelter system could not. \"Volunteers and congregations cannot recreate a 40-year-old statewide right-to-shelter system,\" said Tali Smokler, who testified on behalf of congregational accompaniment networks. Public-health testimony stressed downstream costs when families remain unsheltered, including increased emergency department use and worse physical and mental health outcomes.

Administration officials did not present during this portion of the hearing; advocates asked for a timely favorable report and legislative attention to both restore immediate shelter access and invest in upstream housing and tenant protections. No committee vote was taken at the hearing; sponsors and advocates will submit written testimony and follow-up materials.","Senate Bill 136 would restore presumptive placement into emergency assistance (EA) shelter for families, lengthen time limits and create an ombudsman to help applicants. Witnesses described families sleeping in cars and at transit hubs and urged reversal of stricter eligibility and time limits enacted in 2024.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6058396,"Committee Hears Broad Support to Protect Social Security Benefits for Youth in Foster Care",904,524000,1428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184&start=524&end=1428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297250-01440b638bd9f5c14435c25f25f9d184/thumbnail_524000.jpg","/articles/6058396/Massachusetts/Committee-Hears-Broad-Support-to-Protect-Social-Security-Benefits-for-Youth-in-Foster-Care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058396-118e8f26cad3ea6fd9d821a1fe347794/orig.mp4?Expires=1773611525&Signature=RkT73mvC~sHnfNsiv~Y~toQ~W1WGFVJOWPm6RSDbBun0YUerITi9GeYQ9A47ZiFQF2BL77~-xUAjfVTg-LpdVbs6IvhO5MF9cvxPeNHizzpja9Hs8MW8EdZtIlLNFftJfZK4GcJKWpPWzb8s0QvRnbzofWfwIYrkAulLx06dVipxBw3SRMOkRMnDy-gAxlAB63vinxQ~TaoKv1clext9enl6okEmEc-xamhPE~CFuZrUX2HY7P2XCXXCthlcCqwcOhIcg0jCF~uVCxFXu9FCpa6sP6YbipEr4N7kUMc1DlFfS6bUS5dL51g~IbO9zF1S3uFpAsvkm9atDUe3xhk2bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities heard hours of testimony urging the Legislature to pass bills (H.227 / S.105) that would prevent the commonwealth from appropriating Social Security and other federal benefits owed to children in Department of Children and Families (DCF) custody.

Advocates, legal organizations and people with lived experience told the committee that DCF’s prior practice—redirecting benefits into the state general fund—had deprived hundreds of young people of funds meant to support basic needs and transitions to adulthood. \"These are benefits that children and youth are entitled to,\" said Kat Kerian, public policy and advocacy manager at Hopewell, \"and passing this bill will ensure DCF can never revert back to this harmful practice.\"

Attorneys and advocates described a multi-year campaign that prompted DCF to change its operational practice in early 2024 to conserve benefits in youth-specific accounts. Rick Glassman, formerly of the Disability Law Center, said DCF’s policy shift was a positive development but urged codification into statute so the practice endures: \"This reform needs to be codified into law,\" he said. Young people who testified described concrete harms from the prior practice. \"During my time in foster care, DCF took $44,000 in SSI payments,\" said Felix Rosario, who testified as Onyx, and recounted lacking money for rent, transportation and basic hygiene when he left care.

Supporters stressed equity and long-term outcomes: Senator Jo Comerford said roughly $5.5 million per year intended for about 600 youth was previously redirected to the general fund and that the practice disproportionately affected children of color and youth with disabilities. Experts explained differences among benefit types and implementation steps: survivor benefits and dependent payments have been conserved in interest-bearing accounts, while SSI recipients have been placed into ABLE accounts to preserve eligibility.

Multiple legal and child-welfare groups testified in favor of statutory protections, and several detailed transparency and financial-education provisions in the bill intended to ensure youth understand and can access their accounts beginning at age 14. Testimony acknowledged DCF’s operational work to open individual accounts—advocates highlighted that, as of testimony, DCF reported hundreds of ABLE accounts and thousands of dollars conserved for youth—but said statute is needed to prevent future reversions.

Committee members did not take a procedural vote during the hearing; witnesses submitted written testimony and urged a favorable report to the Legislative session. Advocates emphasized that codifying the change will protect the funds from future budgetary pressures and provide youth entering adulthood with a financial cushion for housing, education and basic needs.","The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities heard extensive testimony urging lawmakers to codify Department of Children and Families’ recent practice of conserving Social Security and SSI benefits for children and young adults in foster care so benefits are available when youth age out of custody.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Workers Urge State Loan-Repayment Program to Retain Human-Services Staff

Advocates Urge Expanded Data, Office of the Child Advocate Authority and Education Coordination in Child Welfare Bill

Lawmakers Hear Calls to Restore and Strengthen Right-to-Shelter Protections for Families

Committee Hears Broad Support to Protect Social Security Benefits for Youth in Foster Care