Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services

Fifth annual White Ribbon Day campaign culminates March 1

By DCF Commissioner Angelo McClain

 “From this day forward, I promise to be part of the solution in ending violence against women.” -- Massachusetts White Ribbon Pledge 

On December 6, 2011, Jane Doe Inc., a statewide coalition against sexual assault and domestic violence, launched the 5^th Annual Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign, calling on men to step up and be part of the solution in ending men’s violence against women. I am honored to join Paulo Pinto, MPA, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, and my Co-Chair of the 2012 White Ribbon Day Campaign.

On March 1, 2012, Jane Doe Inc. will host the fifth annual statewide White Ribbon Day Event, calling upon men to stand up and be counted as allies in the fight against violence against women. An event will be held at the State House to commemorate White Ribbon Day, at 1:00 p.m., in the Great Hall. All are invited and encouraged to attend.

As part of the Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign, men and boys are invited to take the White Ribbon Pledge, and sign up to be ambassadors. Ambassadors are men who have taken the Pledge to stand up against sexual and domestic violence and have committed to serving as examples for other men and boys.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

• Take the pledge and sign up to be an ambassador at www.janedoe.org/whiteribbonday; when you sign up to be an Ambassador you are agreeing to recruit at least five men or boys to join you to take the pledge and to help raise awareness.    
• Wear the White Ribbon as a symbol that you are against violence against women; 
• Attend the fifth annual White Ribbon Day event at the State House on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 1:00 p.m;
• Get involved with a local White Ribbon Day event; and/or
• Host a White Ribbon Day event.

The campaign is targeted at raising awareness and action among men, but women can participate by spreading the word to men they know and encouraging them to become ambassadors.

I was proud to join men from the leadership team at the Department of Children and Families (DCF) on January 23, when we stood together to take the pledge, committing to be part of the solution in ending violence against women. As men, it is our responsibility to set an example for young men and boys who look up to us which is why it is so important that men sign up as ambassadors and join this cause. We all have an important role to play in promoting awareness and prevention regarding sexual assault and domestic violence against women. 

Great strides have been taken toward reducing sexual and domestic violence, but there is still important work to be done to ensure that women are safe in their homes and in their relationships. On March 1^st, and throughout the year, let’s all stand together to reduce, and eventually eliminate, all forms of violence against women.

To find out more about White Ribbon Campaign in Massachusetts and internationally visit: www.janedoe.org/whiteribbonday .

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State undertakes a new initiative to improve the quality of health care

By Commissioner of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy Áron Boros and Commissioner of Public Health John Auerbach

Firmly established as a national leader in guaranteeing health coverage for all its residents, Massachusetts is turning to the next phase of innovation, improving value in the health care system by further increasing quality and reducing cost. While the Commonwealth has long had a reputation for high quality care, a new undertaking offers the promise of sustained, public focus on quality in certain key areas by establishing a minimum set of quality measures to be uniformly reported across the state. This set of measures will ultimately be available for adoption by hospitals, clinics, primary care providers, accountable care organizations (ACOs), and insurance carriers, to help enhance decision making in health care delivery. As was true with Massachusetts Health Care Reform, this effort to transparently focus on quality measurement and improvement may offer a model for the rest of the nation. 

The quality initiative is guided by legislation that directs the Department of Public Health and the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy to form and chair a Statewide Quality Advisory Committee (SQAC) to recommend measures for inclusion in a Standard Quality Measure Set.  The Department of Public Health will later develop regulations advised by these recommendations, requiring uniform public reporting of the Standard Quality Measure Set for a variety of purposes, including driving quality improvement and facilitating informed consumer decision making to ensure that the right care is delivered at the right time, in the right place.

The Committee, which includes representatives from a variety of stakeholders (the full list of members is available at the Committee’s website) met for the second time in mid-February, and is in the process of considering four national measure sets (required by statute) that apply to inpatient hospital and ambulatory settings.

In order to help broaden the recommendations beyond these sets, the Committee is currently soliciting input from the public. The SQAC is currently looking to address three specific priorities identified by the Department of Public Health:

• efficiency and system performance
• care transition and coordination
• high-priority setting and clinical focus areas: 
  • behavioral health
  • post-acute care
  • community and population health. 

All proposed measures will be made public, and the Committee will review the proposals at a future meeting. Any Committee member will then have the opportunity to request that the SQAC formally consider any of the proposed measures for inclusion in the Standard Quality Measure Set through a nomination process. The formal consideration will involve an evaluation of how well a measure meets the priorities described above, as well as an evaluation of the measure’s validity and practicality (the review process and principles are outlined in the Committee Bylaws). 

If you are interested in proposing a measure for consideration, please submit ideas before March 16^th on this website: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SQACNomination1.  The site outlines the required information, including technical information about the measure, and information about how the measure is currently being used. 

Stakeholder participation in the nomination process and the work of the SQAC more broadly will help ensure the success of the overall initiative.  We thank you very much for your contributions to this collective effort.   Please email sqac@massmail.state.ma.us if you have any questions and we look forward to reviewing your submissions. 

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The role of the Office for Human Rights (OHR) at the Department of Developmental Services

By DDS Commissioner Elin Howe

Many of you may be familiar with the mission and work of the Department of Developmental Services but may be less familiar with the Department’s Office for Human Rights (OHR). This important office oversees a system of safeguards to affirm, promote and protect the human and civil rights of the people that the Department supports. OHR ensures that DDS clients are engaged to the greatest extent possible in directing their own lives and is dedicated to helping individuals overcome obstacles so they may lead vibrant, satisfying lives. OHR provides support and oversight to the Department's human rights agenda, and works with other offices and divisions across state government to identify and clarify rules and regulations that affect individual human rights.

The core values of our Human Rights agenda include rights of:

• Dignity
  
• Self-determination
  
• Habilitative Care and Competent Treatment
  
• Communication
  
• Relationships
  
• Privacy
  
• Personal Safety
  
• Personal Property
• Education
  
• Employment
• Compensation
  
• Community Membership

OHR stands firmly on the principle that individuals have the right to be treated with respect and must have the opportunity to make meaningful choices and informed decisions about their lives. Individuals have the right to privacy in numerous areas including: during care of their personal needs; in all forms of communication; during personal visits within one’s home and personal space, and confidentiality with the exchange of their individual information. All DDS clients have the right to equal access to opportunities for education and employment; and all individuals who are employed have the right to be fairly compensated for the work that they do.

Each DDS client is appointed a Human Rights Officer who is responsible for managing trainings and support for the client and his or her family on issues related to community living and issues at home. These officers also offer advice, information, and guidance to direct DDS staff on human rights issues. The Department also works within Human Rights Committees to help service providers determine how they will affirm, promote, and protect the human and civil rights of DDS clients. These committees also monitor and review the activities of providers to ensure that these rights are preserved. Human Rights Committees are fully empowered under Department regulations to take action as needed to uphold these rights, particularly as they relate to any limitation of an individual’s movement, or other restrictions being placed on an individual. There is also a statewide Human Rights Advisory Committee (HRAC) that advises me, as well as the OHR Director on efforts to fulfill the obligations of the office to protect human rights.

If you would like more information about OHR, please email the Director for Human Rights at DDS, Tom Anzer: Tom.C.Anzer@state.ma.us

 

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Commonwealth’s Safe and Successful Youth Initiative advances with powerful public service message

By Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families Marilyn Anderson Chase

The Patrick-Murray Administration’s $10 million Safe and Successful Youth Initiative is designed to end youth violence in communities throughout the Commonwealth. As part of this initiative, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) today unveiled an online public service announcement entitled: “Stop. Think. Let it Go.” The public awareness campaign is designed to encourage youth to think and reconsider the consequences of their actions before engaging in violent activity. The PSA follows a related radio campaign which began last summer to promote the state’s Safe and Successful Youth Initiative.

“We are working alongside municipal leaders, local law enforcement and community groups to focus on those young people most likely to be affected by violence,” said Governor Patrick. “I hope the stories in this video will help our young residents realize that peace is possible in our communities.”   

At the core of this initiative are partnerships between state and local government and the communities in which we are targeting youth violence. The testimonies in this video illustrate the devastating impact of youth violence; we’re confident that its message will reach our target youth audience and beyond.

The Initiative specifically targets young men between the ages of 14 and 24, identified as potentially high risk for becoming either perpetrators, or victims, of violence. The “Stop. Think. Let it go.” viral video includes authentic testimonies from family members of youth who have been victims of violence and from youth who had previously engaged in violent acts. 

“She didn’t have to die. She was stolen. Not from me, from her mom or her dad, but from everyone who loved her," said Bayholla Jacobs, one of the subjects of the video who lost her niece to gun violence. "Don’t take your pain out on other people. Don’t lose yourself to violence.” 

This video reflects the dedicated efforts of EOHHS, the Executive Office of Public Safety, municipal leadership and community partners who are all working together to end youth violence in the Commonwealth. It also sends the message in an incredibly powerful way that violence is preventable and reinforces our commitment to the youth of Massachusetts, all of whom are invaluable assets to our communities.

View the “Stop. Think.” video:

State plan for managing Alzheimer’s advances

By Elder Affairs’ Secretary Ann Hartstein

Last week the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders State Plan was released by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) and the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts /New Hampshire chapter. The plan provides recommendations, resources, goals and strategies to improve the lives of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s. The report was developed over the past two years by a statewide Advisory Committee that convened advocates, caregivers, participants with early stage Alzheimer's, stage agency representatives, and institutional and community agencies working with men and women with this difficult disease.  The recommendations reflect enduring concerns as well as priorities that were developed out of four listening sessions and seven focus groups convened throughout the state, collectively involving more than 400 participants.  “Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia-causing illness and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “Massachusetts alone has 120,000 seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease which doesn’t include the many thousands with younger-onset Alzheimer’s or other related dementias.” 

The Advisory Committee identified five major areas of concern and ways that Elder Affairs and the Alzheimer’s Association will work with state wide and local agencies,  medical groups and advocacy groups  as well as and interested citizens to implement recommendations in those areas. The Advisory Committee recommendations are designed to address these concerns and include strategies to accomplish these goals. The key recommendations from the State Plan are:

• Improve access to services and information for people with Alzheimer’s;
• Improve and expand support and education for family caregivers;
• Develop an infrastructure for enhanced quality of services within the medical community;
• Improve public awareness surrounding risk factors and risk reduction for Alzheimer’s disease;
• Create a set of statewide recommendations, guidelines and minimum standards surrounding quality of care in all care settings.

I very am pleased about this report and invite you to read it in its entirety. The recommendations provide a framework for the entire Massachusetts plan around Alzheimer’s and the future for all of us as we work together to meet the needs of  the increasing number of people affected by this disease.

 

To read the full report visit: http://www.mass.gov/elders/

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A smart step toward reducing alcohol use among our youth

By Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby

There’s no question that underage drinking is a serious public health problem in communities across the nation. Here in Massachusetts, we’ve made progress in reducing rates of alcohol consumption among our young people, but there’s still much more to be done.

That’s why I’m so encouraged by the recent announcement by the MBTA to no longer allow advertising for alcohol on any of its property, including subway cars and stations, buses and bus shelters, and commuter rail trains.

Why is this so important? We already know that young people are especially vulnerable to peer pressure when it comes to drinking alcohol. What may come as a surprise is just how influential alcohol advertisements are on youth.

Here, the science is clear: the more alcohol ads that young people see, the more likely they are to drink. For example, one recent study showed that each alcohol advertisement that a teen sees above the monthly average (23) causes an increase in alcohol consumption of 1%. That same study indicated that youth in markets with greater alcohol advertising expenditures drank more.

That’s troubling – especially when we consider just how much young people are bombarded by alcohol messages. In 2008, for instance, alcohol advertisers spent close to $8 billion nationwide on outdoor advertising. One recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health showed that in urban areas, young people are exposed to alcohol advertisements almost as soon as they walk out their front doors. What’s more, there is substantial evidence that alcohol advertisements are disproportionately located in African-American neighborhoods.

We know the impact that alcohol advertising has on youth. So it’s important that we do everything we can to reduce the influence of advertising in environments where young people congregate.

For many young people in greater Boston, MBTA buses, subways and trains are a vital part of everyday life; in many cases the MBTA is their school bus. Our children deserve to ride to school, work, and social activities without being encouraged to consume alcoholic beverages.

What’s more, the MBTA is not alone in working to support underage drinking prevention efforts. With its recent decision, the T joins transit agencies in Chicago, Washington DC, San Diego, Philadelphia and San Francisco in rejecting these advertisements and supporting healthy development among our youth.

Working together, we can continue our forward movement in the battle against underage drinking in Massachusetts. I’m proud that the MBTA has joined us in this fight.

 

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Providing enrichment and support to 40,000 children every day: DCF Kids Fund

By DCF Commissioner Angelo McClain

For many children in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), there is a need for additional support and services in order to meet their basic and life-enriching needs. Fortunately, these children have the support of the DCF Kids Fund to help provide the activities that many children take for granted. The DCF Kids Fund serves as a support system, with the goal of providing not only basic necessities but opportunities for development as well to the more than 40,000 children served by DCF. There are approximately 7,500 children in foster care, 2,000 children in residential care, and more than 30,000 children living with their families who receive DCF services. The DCF Kids Fund helps to provide and care for all of these children.

When the DCF Kids Fund was established in 1998, it supplied emergency items such as diapers, hot meals, warm clothes, and toothbrushes to children entering DCF care. They were able to provide gifts to children during the holidays and even send some children to camp during the summer. Today, the DCF Kids Fund still supplies critical and emergency items needed by children entering DCF care, but the program has grown exponentially. As efforts and contributions to the Fund have grown, more and more foster children are able to attend summer camp and participate in a variety of life-enriching activities such as music, dance, and sports.

Here are several examples of DCF Kids Fund support and services:

• Emergency Placement Project – Many of the 8,000 children who enter foster care each year often come to the Department hungry, without adequate clothing, and in need of a bath. The Kids Fund provides every child entering care with necessary items such as infant formula, clothing, toiletries, diapers, toys, duffel bags, backpacks and meals to make the transition to foster care as comfortable as possible.

 

• Enrichment and Education Initiative – The Kids Fund helps to give children the opportunity to participate in sports, music, dance, art, SAT college preparatory programs, and other after school programs – vital activities that help build a child’s confidence and broaden his or her horizons.

 

• Holiday Gift Drive – Every child in DCF care receives a gift, making sure they have a special and memorable holiday season.

 

• Summer Camp – Every summer, the Kids Fund sends hundreds of children to camp. The formative experience of attending camp aids in a child’s development and provides memories that last a lifetime.

 

For more information on how the DCF Kids Fund helps children in DCF care, please visit: http://www.dcfkidsfund.org/

The DCF Kids Fund is a 501c3 entity; 98 percent of donations go to helping the children. Larry Begley serves as Board Chairman and Saf Caruso serves as the Executive Director, for more information please contact Saf Caruso at 617-748-2368 or Saf.Lerman-Caruso@state.ma.us