Bill strengthens oversight, transparency, and accountability within the Commonwealth’s child welfare system
BOSTON – The Massachusetts House of Representatives, with the support of State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn), recently passed comprehensive 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.
“We have a responsibility to make sure every child in the Commonwealth feels safe, has stability and an opportunity to succeed, especially the most vulnerable,” said Representative Haggerty. “This bill helps to make sure children in the Commonwealth’s care get the resources and oversight they need and deserve.”
This legislation expands statutory reporting by DCF to include disability and disaggregated demographic data, breakdowns of 51A reports by reporter role, ADA 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 passed today 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 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish clear enrollment timelines and record transfer standards for children in DCF custody who change schools.
The bill passed today also clarifies the role of the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) as an independent state agency. It further expands the OCA’s authority to examine disproportionality, partner with agencies while safeguarding oversight, maintain a public mandated reporter website, and conduct system-wide reviews of DCF.
Additionally, the bill strengthens the Child Fatality Review System by establishing joint leadership between the OCA and the Department of Public Health (DPH). It further updates the membership to include the Department of Early Education & Care (EEC) and codifies the structure of local review teams.
Lastly, the bill improves timely notifications to children’s counsel following placement changes, hospitalizations, 51A reports or school disciplinary events. It also requires reporting on children who remain in psychiatric care beyond medical necessity, including length of stay and licensure/training requirements for DCF social workers.
The bill passed the House of Representatives 159-1. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
