Massachusetts Senate Passes Landmark Child Welfare Bill
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation that safeguards the well-being of children, particularly those in state care and foster care; increases access to community support for children at risk of court involvement; and strengthens investigations of abuse cases.
By establishing a Foster Child Bill of Rights, the bill — S.3111, An Act enhancing child welfare protections — guarantees certain basic rights for children in foster care related to their safety, education, and healthcare.
This legislation also expands the diversion of children dealing with behavior or attendance problems to Family Resource Centers (FRCs) instead of the court system.
FRCs provide accessible, confidential support to children and families in crisis close to home and have proven successful in helping kids and teens stay in school, connecting families with services such as mental health or substance use treatment, housing aid, and legal help, and — most importantly — avoiding the need for the child to obtain a court record just to access assistance.
The bill further strengthens the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to support robust investigations into reports of harm or abuse to a child. It places the Child Fatality Review Team within the OCA and explicitly empowers the OCA to review cases of indecent assault and battery, abuse, or rape of a child.
“The Senate is standing firm in its commitment to improve safety, stability, and well-being for children across the Commonwealth, with special attention to protecting children in foster care,” said state Sen. Jo Comerford, lead Senate sponsor of the Foster Child Bill of Rights legislation. “This legislation includes a Foster Child Bill of Rights, which clarifies and affirms that every child deserves to be heard, supported, and treated with dignity. It recognizes the importance of supportive and affirming placements, preserving family and kinship connections whenever possible, maintaining educational continuity, honoring cultural and gender identities, and ensuring children with disabilities receive the accommodations they need.”
Click here for a fact sheet with full details of the legislation.