Legislation would promote the health and well-being of children in our state

BOSTON – This week, Senator Sal DiDomenico hosted a briefing on his legislation, An Act to Establish a Massachusetts Children's Cabinet (S. 79/H.189), alongside House bill, sponsors Representative Kay Khan and Representative Antonio Cabral, and the Children and Adolescent Health Initiative (CAHI) coalition. DiDomenico’s briefing highlighted how this bill will empower child-serving state agencies to better communicate and coordinate with each other and more effectively use resources to advance the health and well-being of children across the Commonwealth.

This legislation would create a Children’s Cabinet comprised of executive office Secretaries and Commissioners serving children. The Cabinet would be tasked with tracking progress on key child health measures, gathering feedback from children, addressing racial and economic disparities, and reporting to the legislature annually on the status of children and youth in Massachusetts. The bill also establishes an advisory committee to guide the cabinet, which will be made up of child-serving health care professionals, early childhood educators, teachers, school administrators, child welfare professionals, parents, youth, and other relevant experts.

“I am proud to sponsor this legislation so we can ensure the wellbeing of our children is prioritized and elevated across the most powerful cabinets of state government,” said Senator DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “Children across our state were some of the hardest hit individuals throughout the pandemic. I look forward to working with my cosponsors, Representatives Kahn and Cabral, to pass this bill so we can coordinate government agencies to use every lever of power to feed, house, and protect our kids.”

"Growing up is getting harder,” said Greg Hagan, a Cambridge pediatrician and CAHI member. “Just talk with parents, teachers or anyone working with kids. If children are our future, we need to do a better job.  Massachusetts doesn’t have a way to plan for kids’ needs across its many departments and programs. By creating a Children’s Cabinet, we can make sure that we do right by kids: planning, coordinating, and communicating effectively to better meet the needs of children and families."

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BOSTON - This week, Senator DiDomenico and Representatives Joe McGonagle, Dan Ryan, and Judith Garcia hosted an undefeated and two-time-championship-winning 5th grade traveling basketball team from Everett. DiDomenico and his colleagues showed the excited students around his office, the Senate chamber, the State House balcony, and the House chamber. “I want to congratulate all the players and coaches for winning every single regular season game and the State and New England basketball championships this year. I was so impressed by this talented group of Everett kids who had an incredible basketball season and were so kind and respectful to everyone they met,” said State Senator Sal DiDomenico.

Last week, Senator DiDomenico hosted the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative of Harvard Law School as they held a legislative briefing entitled “Students Speak: Rebuilding Community in our Schools” with State Representative Ruth B. Balser. Students from several communities, including Chelsea, shared personal stories about the need and importance of the Safe and Supportive Schools initiative. “After the briefing, I was happy to meet with Chelsea students in my office and the Senate Chamber and listen to more of their suggestions to make our schools even better for their classmates and teachers,” said State Senator Sal DiDomenico. "I was impressed by their passion, and our future is in good hands."