MetroWest Legislators Meet to Discuss Human Services

Last week, members of the MetroWest Legislative Caucus including Senator Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, Representative Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, Senator Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, Representative David Linsky, D-Natick, Representative Chris Walsh, D-Framingham, Representative Carmen Gentile, D-Sudbury and staff of Representative Hannah Kane, R-Shrewsbury, met with the MetroWest Legislative Advocacy Coalition to discuss the priorities of local human service providers, according to an announcement.

The informal conversation provided legislators with perspectives from the front lines about the concerns of those who provide services every day to support residents who are disabled, homeless, or suffering from addiction as well as their families.

Some key issues identified by the advocates were the need to fund the newly established Family Resource Centers which will connect families in crisis with services, ensuring that community behavioral health services are properly integrated into healthcare reform, providing additional resources to help aging seniors stay in their homes, and funding workforce benefits that will attract more young people into the caring professions.

“Hearing the perspective and insights of the Advocacy Coalition helps better illuminate the needs of our region and the challenges many face,” said Representative Carolyn Dykema. “We are lucky to have such a dedicated, service provider community working tirelessly to improve the lives of everyone in MetroWest. They are the experts who are on the ground every day assisting individuals and families who are struggling. Learning from them is immensely valuable, especially as we review legislation and debate on these issues on Beacon Hill.”

“Human service workers do some of the most demanding jobs in the Commonwealth,” said Representative Linsky. “I was happy to have the opportunity to learn more about their needs and priorities, and am always proud to support a strong human service safety net so we can provide quality and consistent care to the our state’s most vulnerable residents.”

In regard to key points relayed by her staff, Representative Kane said, “I was glad to hear of proposals for innovative ways of addressing the homeless crisis in Massachusetts. Combatting homelessness, especially in consideration of the 4,000 families in housing crisis, really must be a priority for legislators. Reports of new pilot programs and expanded support services show the importance of working on a community level to better understand the unique needs and composition of individuals in crisis. I look forward to hearing more about these programs as they develop and working closely with the rest of the MetroWest caucus to find ways to support successful programs.”

The MetroWest Legislative Advocacy Coalition is a group of area service providers who meet monthly to coordinate services so that the can provide better assistance to clients who may have multiple needs and incorporate best practices. Member groups include Baypath Elder Services, SMOC, Advocates, Metrowest Health Foundation, Programs for People, Doc Wayne Youth Services, the Justice Resource Institute, the Edward M. Kennedy Health Center, the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, and Wayside Youth and Family Support Network among others. While members of the legislative delegation meet with the Coalition annually at their April legislative breakfast, the meeting was an opportunity to give legislators an in depth look at specific issues that are most pressing as well as create an informal dialogue on ways to collaborate and better address these issues.

Information submitted by the MetroWest Legislative Caucus