State House Passed Child Welfare Legislation

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BOSTON — The state House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation to strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability within the commonwealth's child welfare system. 
 
An Act Enhancing Child Welfare Protections modernizes the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) statutory reporting, clarifies the independence of the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), improves educational stability for children in care, and updates the state's child fatality review process.
 
"Every child in every corner of the state deserves to be safe and happy. Children in the state's care are incredibly vulnerable and it is our impetus as lawmakers to do everything we can to improve their lives," said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. "Today we took a step in that direction by passing a child welfare omnibus. 
 
"Championed by my colleague Chair [Jay] Livingstone, this legislation strengthens DCF oversight and increases accountability and transparency through reporting requirements and technical changes. I will continue advocating alongside foster parents and advocates in my community for children in our state's care."
 
Livingtone, of Boston, is House chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
 
Farley-Bouvier said the legislation expands statutory reporting by DCF to include disability and disaggregated demographic data, breakdowns of 51A reports by reporter role, Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation and complaint metrics, and refined placement and permanency measures. It also adds reporting requirements on outcomes for youth aging out of DCF's care, behavioral health boarding, and education metrics, such as individualized education program counts, attendance, and graduation rates.
 
The bill allows for the creation of a DCF Education Unit, tasked with academic monitoring, support, and strengthening coordination with school districts. It also requires DCF and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish clear enrollment timelines and record transfer standards for children in DCF custody who change schools.
 
It also clarifies the role of the Office of the Child Advocate and expends its authority to examine disproportionality, partner with agencies, maintain a public mandated reporter website, and conduct systemwide reviews of DCF. The bill also strengthens other review systems and requires timely notifications of changes related to the children under DCF purview. 
 
The bill passed the House of Representatives 159-1. It now goes to the Senate for
consideration.

Tags: children & families,   Legislature,   State House,   

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Companion Corner: Princess at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an energetic girl waiting to find her new home at the Berkshire Humane Society.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.  

Princess is a six year old shepherd mix that has been at the shelter for just over a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Princess.

"She's very social, very friendly. When you're out walking her, she just wants to go say hi to every single new person. Loves to make new friends. She's a lot of fun. She's very active. She's very spunky. She's very playful, and she's going to need a very very active family who's going to do a lot with her." 

But Princess is no stranger to the shelter. She was a puppy five years ago and got adopted quickly, but now she needs a new family to take care of her.

"She was adopted out fairly quickly as a young puppy. She's been in the same home for the past five years. Unfortunately, they were moving out of state somewhere," Olivieri said. "They could not take her with them, so she ended up coming as a return to shelter, and she came back to stay with us."

Princess needs to go to a home as the only animal or with other male dogs that are her size or bigger.

"Her perfect home would be kids eight and up. No cats. No small animals. She has quite a prey drive. She could go to a home with another dog around her size or larger, preferably a male dog. She does a little bit better with male dogs, and she's looking for a home where people are home quite a bit, so that she's not left alone for too long. She has some separation anxiety," Olivieri said. 

She also needs a very active home that can let her use her energy every day, as she is very rambunctious. Especially with playing with her favorite toy, the flirt pole.

"She could use a home where people are going to give her a lot of attention and more than just a few walks a day; she's going to need lots of exercise, lots of playtime, lots of mental stimulation," Olivieri said. "She likes to learn, so someone who would be willing to take her to training classes or work on some training with her, as well as hikes, getting out and about, doing new things, different things. She is very athletic. She'd excel at things like agility, some dog sports. Just someone who is really going to want to engage and do a lot of different kinds of activities with her." 

Once you let her get her energy out, she is a cuddler who wouldn't mind being held like a baby from time to time.

"She's very sweet. She's very cuddly. She's very affectionate, but she is not a couch potato. She will stay on that couch with you for a little bit, and then she's ready to go off and do something else. So she's very busy. She's very active," Olivieri said. "Once all of her exercise needs are met during the day, she will settle down nicely, and she will want to be right by your side, cuddle with you at night on the couch, sleep with you."

Princess is very healthy but does experience some anxiety and is not fully potty trained and might have the occasional accident.

"She does have a little bit of anxiety, so she is on some medication for it right now," Olivieri said. "So a lot of structure, a lot of outlets, and familiarity, getting used to a new routine and everything is gonna be really good for her. I mean, she's just lovely. Like I said, she's very social. She likes to play with other dogs. She likes to meet new people."

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