ELDER PROTECTIONS

As part of the FY14 state budget (Chapter 38 of the Acts of 2013), the Legislature created the Elder Economic Security Commission. This commission was tasked with evaluating housing, healthcare, and long-term care needs for Massachusetts seniors, and making policy recommendations to improve their financial stability and ability to age in place. In addition to presiding over its creation, I served as the House co-chair of the commission from its creation in 2013 through the completion of its work in 2016 that culminated in a comprehensive report: https://malegislature.gov/Reports/3226/sd2550.pdf Section 186 of Chapter 38 (2013) established a special Commission on Elder LGBT Support, one of the first in the nation to focus on aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults. Due to my role as Chair of Elder Affairs, I was also appointed as chair of this historic commission that held public hearings and prepared recommendations on how to enhance the quality of life for LGBTQ older adults in Massachusetts. This commission helped catalyze meaningful policy changes like increased data collection and statewide LGBT-awareness training for aging services providers. https://www.macommissiononlgbtqaging.org/s/MA-LGBT-Aging-Commission-Report-2015-FINAL-1.pdf In addition to serving on special legislative commissions, as House Chair, I helped advance significant legislation to reduce costs for seniors and their families.

MATERNAL HEALTH

The Ellen Story Postpartum Depression Commission was established by the legislature with the mission of assessing current research on postpartum depression, reviewing current policies, collaborating with the Department of Public Health and other state agencies to develop public education materials, and advocating for maternal mental health. I was humbled to serve on the Commission as the House-Chair for over five years. During that time I secured state dollars in the state budget process for the purpose of facilitating postpartum depression programs at community health centers across the state, one of which was here in Worcester. Further, in collaboration with the Departments of Mental Health and Public Health I ensured over $600,000 in funding for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project for Moms and Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts. With this funding, the organizations were able to continue their work of improving data collection, care coordination, and service quality for postpartum parents and providers; ultimately improving health outcomes for mothers, newborns and families. Today I remain dedicated to advancing legislation that will continue to positively impact parents in our Commonwealth. I have filed again this session An Act relative to the well-being of new mothers and infants which recognizes the complexities that arise when hormone-triggered mental health crises and crimes collide, while also taking into account the inequities of our health care and judicial systems.