I want to first thank everyone who has reached out as I joined The Arc of Massachusetts team about two months ago. I have had the opportunity to meet with many of you, learn and listen, and think strategically about our advocacy agenda. Our Government Affairs team has been hard at work on many different priorities: finishing the current legislative session, preparing for a new session, and advocating for important investments in the state budget.
Throughout my onboarding, it has been so clear how engaged our community is; we appreciate your advocacy and know that it makes a difference. Especially in this critical election season, we know that your time and energy are likely split among many important causes. But we need your help in this moment.
The budget is one of the most critical pieces of policy that our state government passes each year. The budget is a statement of values, and it funds critical programs that we know provide care and resources to our community. While FY26 may seem far away, now is the time to advocate. The Governor releases her budget annually in January, meaning its bones are being constructed right now. Recently, we submitted a letter to the Governor, advocating for the top priorities of our community – priorities that came directly from the community survey that you all participated in.
Those priorities include:
- Increasing Chapter 257 workforce rates for home and community-based services.
- Improved training for direct care workers.
- Funding increases for critical MassHealth and DDS programs, including day habilitation, PCA, and Turning 22.
- Addressing gaps in programs for unserved and underserved communities, with concerns regarding those with profound autism and other complex needs.
We encourage you to take a moment to participate in this advocacy here. You are welcome to share your own story about why this funding is important to you and your family. Our action alerts are always customizable, and stories are the most effective way to ensure that these issues are top of mind for policy makers.
The creation of the state budget is a long process, and we will need your help throughout to ensure that the values of this community are included. Today is the first step: we want to show strong, passionate support right at the start.
Thank you, and I look forward to continuing to work with all of you.
Nora Bent
Director of Government Affairs & Strategic Partnerships
