MA Initiative to Reduce Child Neglect
A Community Approach to Child and Family Wellbeing
About Massachusetts’ initiative to reduce child neglect
A statewide coalition that brings together leaders from state agencies, family-serving organizations, individuals with lived experience, and communities working together to shift the way the Commonwealth supports families.
Learn More
Watch one of our two webinar recordings giving background on the Massachusetts’ Initiative to Reduce Child Neglect, or review overview slides.
Coalition Files:
Coalition Overview – who we are and what we stand for
Menu of Alternative Pathways – updated 12/10/25
This menu is a list of strategies, programs, and ideas on ways to better support families and mandated reporters.
Want to Get Involved?
Questions? Email us at ReducingNeglect@ChildrensTrustMA.org.
Coalition Meeting – December 11, 2025
On Thursday, December 11, 2025, state agency leaders, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience came together in person to turn conversations into action and explore alternative pathways to better support family wellbeing.
Full Presentation – 12/11/2025
Timeline of Child Wellbeing Policy – presented by Matthew Kincaid
Data Walk
- Lived Experience Interviews
presented by kate warren barnes- Massachusetts Mandates, Missteps, and Missed Opportunities: Family-Led Insights to Prevent Unnecessary Reports of Neglect (2025)
- American Federation of Teachers (AFT): MA Education Data
presented by Chelsea Prax - Health Law Advocates: Parent Survey Data
presented by Marisol Garcia - Casey Family Programs: What’s Working in Other States
presented by Dimple Patel
Steering Committees
The coalition is guided by two steering committees (state and community) whose members serve as decision-makers and sector representatives. The Children’s Trust serves as the backbone to build collaboration amongst partners, provide “behind the scenes” support, and guide work forward between meetings.
Community Steering Committee
Parent Leadership and Engagement: Sue Covitz, Executive Director, Families First
Family Members with Lived Experience: Charles Lerner, State Director, Massachusetts CASA Association
Legal Representative: Marisol Garcia, Deputy Director, Health Law Advocates
Human Service: Nancy Allen Scannell, Executive Director, MSPCC
Education: Chelsea Prax, Program Director, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Healthcare Representative: Heather Forkey, MD, Director of FaCES at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center and Professor of Pediatrics at the UMass Chan Medical School
First responder: TBD
Philanthropy: TBD
Backbone Team
Jennifer Valenzuela, Executive Director, The Children’s Trust
Maggie Holland, Program, Policy, and Workforce Work Group Project Manager, The Children’s Trust
Matthew Kincaid, Founder & CEO, Overcoming Racism, to provide equity expertise
Delbar Mamedzade, Community Work Group Project Manager, The Children’s Trust
Liz Marotta, Director of Marketing and Events, The Children’s Trust
Melissa Oomer, Strategy Consultant, to provide strategy and coalition-building expertise
Dimple Patel, Director of State Policy, Casey Family Programs, for MA/National policy and coalition-building expertise
kate warren barnes, Senior Advisor for Wellbeing and Systems Transformation, to provide child welfare and partnership expertise
State Steering Committee
Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities (EOHLC): Chris Thompson, Undersecretary, Division of Housing Stabilization
Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS): Mary McGeown, Undersecretary of Human Services
Dept. of Children and Families (DCF): Jesenia Collado, Assistant Commissioner for Protective Operations
Dept. of Early Education & Care (EEC): Joseph Rucker, Deputy Director, Field Operations
Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE): Rachelle Engler Bennett, Associate Commissioner, Student Family Support
Dept. of Mental Health (DMH): Funmi Aguocha, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention | Andrea Oliveira Goncalves, IECMH Statewide Policy and Initiatives Lead
Dept. of Public Health (DPH): Elaine Fitzgerald Lewis, Director, Bureau of Family Health & Nutrition, State Title V Maternal and Child Health Director | Beth Bostic, Division Director for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs, Bureau of Family Health & Nutrition
Dept. of Transitional Assistance (DTA): Delrose Newman, Assistant Director of Family and Community Engagement
Dept. of Youth Services (DYS): Cecely Reardon, Commissioner | Lisa Belmarsh, Assistant Commissioner for Support Services
Office of Attorney General (AGO): Liza M. Hirsch, Director, Children’s Justice Unit | Flora Chang, Children’s Justice Unit
Office of the Child Advocate (OCA): Cristine Goldman, General Counsel | Melissa Threadgill, Sr Director of Policy & Implementation