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MCOA Membership:
We have been contacted by the Grandparents Commission about the omission of the funding for the Grandparents Commission in the SWM FY18 budget proposal. MCOA strongly supports their work because we know first – hand how successful and necessary they are.
We need each COA to contact their Senator to ask for their support of
Budget Amendment ID: FY2018-S3-473
EHS 473
Commission on the status of grandparents raising grandchildren
Messrs. deMacedo and Cyr and Ms. L’Italien moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by adding the following new line item: “0950 – 0030  For the commission on the status of grandparents raising grandchildren……$111,714”
Senators deMacedo, Cyr and L’Italien are leading this effort.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
David P. Stevens
MCOA
Dear David,
It has been some time since we have been in touch.
I’m reaching out to people I know who understand and appreciate the work of the Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The Governor and the House appropriated $ 111,714 for the Commission in their FY 2018 budgets.  I was dismayed to discover that the Commission was not included in the Senate Budget. Senators Vinny deMacedo and Julian Cyr have jointly filed amendment # 473 to provide the above amount. If you are comfortable doing so, please contact the Senate and
advocate for this amendment.
The Grandparents Commission has worked hard to provide information and resources to grandparents and kinship caregivers as well as providers throughout the Commonwealth.  The Commission has seen the number of support groups expand to 45. It provides assistance to new groups just starting out. The Commission has  sponsored 14 workshops and forums throughout the State during the last year alone, meeting with over 500 grandparents, kinship caregivers, and providers during that time. The Commission continues to provide legal information, an updated website, and recently sponsored legislation to improve legal resources for relative caregivers.  For the last six years the Commission has sponsored a very successful conference which provides an opportunity for over 200 grandparents and relative caregivers, as well as
providers, to gather and share information and resources.
Thank you for your continuing efforts to support grandparents and kin caregivers.
Best regards,
John
John A. Lepper, Chair
Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Massachusetts Councils
on Aging

116 Pleasant Street, Suite 306
Easthampton, MA 01027
 
Telephone: 413-527-6425
Fax: 413-527-7138