May is National Foster Care Month and we know that girls of color are over- represented in the system. It’s critical that those working with foster youth be culturally competent so as to best serve our young people in the child welfare system.

"Mandated reporting in Massachusetts disproportionately targets families of color, who, state data show, are more than twice as likely to have reports of suspected abuse and neglect filed against them than white ones."

When DCF takes the benefits, the children lose money that could be spent for their long-term benefit. “This is legally and morally questionable, and it’s simply terrible public policy“ bostonglobe.com/2023/07/12/opi… via The Boston Globe

Mass incarceration takes an enormous toll on our nation’s fiscal, physical and mental health. Reforms to promote a more effective, more humane criminal legal system can save and lengthen lives, especially for those from marginalized communities. thehill.com/opinion/crimin…

Thurgood Marshall became the first Black person confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice #OTD in 1967 where he served for 24 years. An influential leader of the civil rights movement, his tremendous legacy lives on in the pursuit of racial justice. naacpldf.org/about-us/histo…

Thanks to author Roxanna Asgarian @strawburriez for an important discussion!  You can view it here: CAFL Racial Justice Task Force Fall Meeting vimeo.com/868302046/8c3c…

Mass. bill looks to provide more racial diversity in state’s judiciary masslive.com/politics/2023/…

How Saugus police skew citation data by mislabeling drivers with Hispanic last names usatoday.com/story/graphics…

Latino children more likely to enter foster care in Mass. than any other state bostonglobe.com/2023/11/27/met… via The Boston Globe

Further comprehensive evidence that the "child welfare" system is racist to its core. This is not a subject that anyone should be debating. The evidence is vast. nyclu.org/en/campaigns/r…

"All of the students in the first class identify as Black/African American or Hispanic." x.com/DotNews/status…

Mass General Brigham to stop filing neglect reports solely because a baby is born with drugs in its system. This is a really big deal!! Thank you ⁦Sarah Wakeman⁩ ⁦Davida Schiff, MD⁩ and many more for pushing these changes. bostonglobe.com/2024/04/02/met…

Today, on the steps of the Massachusetts State House, Deputy Chief Counsel Duci Goncalves, of CPCS's Youth Advocacy Division, spoke at the Raise the Age rally alongside James Mackey with @mtwyouth and @Repmannycruz. #Raisetheage

State definition of ‘juvenile offender’ should follow the science bostonglobe.com/2024/04/24/opi… via The Boston Globe

Congratulations to RJTF Steering Committee Members Cris Cristina Freitas and Deb Deb Freitas Freitas on receiving the CPCS 2024 Margaret Winchester Award for Child Welfare Advocacy!

Congratulations to RJTF Steering Committee Member Anna Kelly Anna Kelly on receiving the CPCS 2024 Jane Addams Award for Outstanding Social Service Accomplishments!

On Friday, hundreds of incredible partners and supporters gathered with us at Roca’s Annual Breakfast to celebrate young people taking steps away from violence and toward peace. Continue to support Roca and our mission here: hubs.la/Q02wpmsR0

Congratulations to Jeannie Rhinehart and Andrew Hoffman who have been nominated by Gov. Maura Healey to be Juvenile Court judges. Both nominees have had extensive careers representing CPCS clients in our Children and Family Law Division.

Child custody hearings are often delayed after agency removal bostonglobe.com/2025/02/28/met… via The Boston Globe