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| Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren | |
|---|---|
| Name | Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren |
| Formation | 2000s |
| Type | State advisory commission |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Region served | Massachusetts |
| Leader title | Chair |
Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is a state advisory body established to assess and address the needs of grandparents and other relatives who serve as primary caregivers for children in Massachusetts. The commission engages with stakeholders from entities such as the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, University of Massachusetts Boston, and municipal agencies in Boston. It produces studies, policy recommendations, and outreach tools to inform officials in the Massachusetts Legislature and administrators in executive offices like the Office of the Governor of Massachusetts.
The commission's mandate centers on identifying barriers faced by kinship caregivers in accessing supports administered by agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Medicaid (United States), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Commissioners consult with advocates from organizations including AARP, Children's Defense Fund, and the National Association of Social Workers to align proposals with federal statutes like the Foster Care Independence Act and state laws enacted by the Massachusetts General Court. The commission works alongside legal services providers from entities such as Greater Boston Legal Services and clinical partners at institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital.
The commission was formed amid rising national attention to kinship caregiving highlighted by studies from the U.S. Census Bureau and reports from the Administration for Children and Families. Legislative interest from members of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives prompted statutory creation and formal charge with reviewing programs linked to the Department of Public Health (Massachusetts) and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (Massachusetts). Early convenings drew testimony from scholars at Harvard University, Tufts University, and Boston College as well as nonprofit leaders from Family Service of Greater Boston.
Membership includes appointees from the Governor of Massachusetts, leaders from the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, and representatives from regional bodies such as the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Seats are populated by individuals with backgrounds at institutions like Boston University School of Social Work, Suffolk University Law School, and advocacy groups including Legal Services Corporation. Chairs have worked with federal officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and policy experts linked to think tanks such as the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution.
The commission sponsors webinars in partnership with Massachusetts Health Connector stakeholders, convenes summits with municipal agencies from cities including Worcester, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Lowell, Massachusetts, and issues guidance utilized by offices like the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. Collaborative projects have involved community partners such as Boston Public Health Commission and research centers at Northeastern University and Clark University. Services promoted include navigational assistance for benefits from the Internal Revenue Service, enrollment support for programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and legal clinics modeled after initiatives by Volunteer Lawyers Project.
The commission recommends statutory and regulatory changes to state policymakers in coordination with advocacy coalitions including Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and national networks like the National Kinship Alliance for Children. Policy focus areas have included support for guardianship processes overseen by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, alignment with federal funding streams administered by the Administration for Children and Families, and proposals to expand access to services funded by the Children's Health Insurance Program. Testimony has been presented before committees chaired by legislators such as members of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
Funding streams for commission activities have combined appropriations from the Massachusetts Legislature, grants from foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation, and research contracts with universities like University of Massachusetts Amherst. Partnerships extend to statewide nonprofits including United Way of Massachusetts Bay, municipal departments such as the Boston City Council Office, and federal partners like the Administration on Aging.
The commission has produced white papers, needs assessments, and strategic plans cited by agencies including the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (Massachusetts) and service providers like Family Resources. Reports have informed legislative initiatives in the Massachusetts General Court and programmatic adjustments at the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Impact is documented in data compilations drawing on sources such as the American Community Survey and evaluations conducted with partners at institutions like Brandeis University and Mount Holyoke College.
Category:Organizations based in Massachusetts Category:Child advocacy organizations in the United States