The Massachusetts Permanency Practice Alliance at the State House

On April 9, our Executive Director Bob Gittens represented CFCS at the State House for a discussion on permanency and the child welfare system, hosted by the Home for Little Wanderers. In addition to the Home and CFCS, all the members of the Massachusetts Permanency Practice Alliance (MPPA) were there, including the Justice Resource Institute, Plummer Youth Promise and Youth Villages. Representative Kay Kahn and representatives of Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz were there to hear from the MPPA and discuss what we can do to cultivate and enhance permanency in the lives of every child in the Massachusetts foster care system.

Along with Bob, CFCS was proud to be represented by one of our own residents at Teens Learning Choices, Jay Jay (pictured). Jay Jay spoke on what permanency means to her as a young adult aging out of foster care. She was heard by Representative Kahn as well Representatives Paul Donato, Jack Patrick Lewis, Maria Duaime Robinson and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, among others. We are glad Jay Jay got to share her story with so many Massachusetts legislators!

The MPPA strives to create a pathway to permanence that enables every child to be united (or reunited) with a caring adult in a reasonable amount of time. The principles of the MPPA permanency initiative are to ensure children can stay home, go home or find a home. You can read more about the MPPA’s proposed permanency plan in the Herald News, here.