|
|
|
|
Senate expands child protections in Massachusetts Senate’s child protection legislation revamps state agencies, focuses on care of children February 27, 2008 ... During Tuesday’s formal session, the Senate voted to protect the children of the Commonwealth through comprehensive changes made within the state’s child service agencies, according to Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. “We have a responsibility to provide our children with a safe and healthy living and learning environment,” said Moore. “This legislation brings the whole scope of the state’s child health and welfare services under one office, who reports directly to the Governor. They will have the direct oversight necessary to ensure that our children receive the most efficient services possible.” The legislation creates the Office of the Child Advocate, responsible for examining the quality of child services provided by state agencies and reporting directly to the Governor. In addition to an oversight and ombudsman capacity, the Child Advocate will also be charged with developing a long-term plan to further coordinate and modernize the child welfare system. Under this legislation, the foster care system also sees considerable improvements. The bill extends support for those “aging out” of the system, allowing services to continue for children-turned-adults between the ages of 18-22. Also, in addition to the tuition that is already provided, foster care children will receive fee waivers at all state universities and colleges. Additionally, the bill establishes a foster care registry to track the success of foster parents in the state system. The system can search for relatives or other adult persons who have positively influenced a child’s life. The bill also makes several changes and improvements within the Department of Social Services, seeking to change its name to the Department of Children and Families and targeting issues of racial inequality within the department. Another reform includes the creation of a commission to study the status of grandparents raising their grandchildren. “This is a landmark piece of legislation that constitutes a long-overdue, comprehensive reform of our laws related to child abuse and neglect,” added Senator Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, the legislation’s lead sponsor. “Through a careful review of the nation's best child welfare practices, and in close consultation with the individuals and agencies charged with keeping our children safe, we have created a bill that will immediately and immeasurably improve the health, safety and protection of all the Commonwealth's children.” The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for further action. |
