Connecting Families to the Support They Need

Originally published in The Boston Globe. 
By Jennifer Valenzeula

While it is indeed a positive sign that the number of Massachusetts children involved with the Department of Children and Families is declining, it should be alarming that the longstanding racial disparities in our system continue to grow (“Fewer children in Mass. with DCF,” Metro, Feb. 9).

Today, we still see mandated reporters call DCF because a young Black girl doesn’t have a winter coat or because the mother of a Latina fourth-grader hasn’t yet saved up enough to buy her daughter’s needed eyeglasses. Despite all of the resources Massachusetts has for families in need, too often our first instinct is to report families of color rather than direct them to the supports they need.

When educators, social workers, medical professionals, and other mandated reporters know how to connect families to available services rather than defaulting to a report, we move closer to a system that addresses need without causing harm.

Child neglect isn’t a Black or brown issue. At its root, it is a green issue, as in money. We are fortunate to live in a state that directs funds to do something about these challenges. Now we need to ensure that all families in need have access to the benefits those funds provide.

Jennifer Valenzuela
Executive director
The Children’s Trust
Boston