Massachusetts Advocates For Children Inc

MASSACHUSETTS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN, INC. ("MAC") IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO REMOVING BARRIERS TO EDUCATIONAL AND LIFE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. WE DO SO BY ADVOCATING FOR AND PARTNERING WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES; TRANSFORMING SCHOOL CULTURES TO BE INCLUSIVE, SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE; AND CREATING SYSTEMIC CHANGE SO ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH CAN LEARN, REACH THEIR POTENTIAL, AND THRIVE. WE FOCUS OUR ADVOCACY ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS, INEQUITIES, AND/OR DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS, DISABILITY, RACE, ETHNICITY/CULTURE, IMMIGRATION STATUS, ENGLISH LEARNER STATUS, AND/OR TRAUMATIC LIFE EXPERIENCES.

PROGRAM 1: CHILDREN'S LAW SUPPORT PROJECT (CLSP) AND THE TRAUMA AND LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE (TLPI)CHILDREN'S LAW SUPPORT PROJECT AND TRAUMA LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE IN ITS ROLE AS A STATEWIDE CENTER FOR THE CIVIL LEGAL AID SYSTEM IN MASSACHUSETTS, MAC COORDINATES A STATEWIDE LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ON BEHALF OF VULNERABLE LOW INCOME CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, DISABLED, AT RISK OF SCHOOL EXPULSION, AND/OR SUFFERING FROM THE TRAUMATIC EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, MAC PROVIDES AN INTAKE HELPLINE, RECRUITS PRO-BONO ATTORNEYS.THE TRAUMA AND LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE ("TLPI") IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MAC AND HARVARD LAW SCHOOL ("HLS") WHICH IS FORMALIZED IN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ("MOU"). IN SEPTEMBER 2021, MAC RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM MANAGEMENT OF THE TLPI PROGRAM BOTH WITHIN MAC AND HLS THAT THEY DID NOT INTEND TO RENEW THE MOU WHICH WAS SET TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 30, 2022, AND THAT THE PROGRAM WOULD BE MOVED FULLY TO HLS AFTER THIS DATE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MOU WAS EXTENDED TO EXPIRE ON JANUARY 31, 2023. MAC AND HLS ARE UNDERGOING NEGOTIATIONS TO FACILITATE AND FORMALIZE THE SEPARATION WHICH WILL INCLUDE A FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION OF VARIOUS ASSETS AND LIABILITIES ATTRIBUTED TO THE PROGRAM. MANAGEMENT OF MAC DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE LOSS OF THIS PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN A MATERIAL IMPACT TO ITS FINANCIAL CONDITION OR THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

FORWARD!~ADELANTE!~AVANTE!~!~AVANSE!~ TIN V PHA TRC!~ ~HOREY! FOCUSES ON ADVANCING THE EDUCATION RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANT AND MULTILINGUAL CHILDREN. WE DO THIS THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY AND PARENT/CAREGIVER TRAINING THAT THEN INFORMS OUR SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, STATE AGENCY, AND LEGISLATIVE LEVELS. MAC'S WORK THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IS DONE IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER MAC PROGRAMS AS WELL AS A MAC-LED MULTILINGUAL AND MULTICULTURAL GROUP OF SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATES AND ATTORNEYS FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT COMPRISE THE IMMIGRANTS AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIES COALITION. STOP THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE PROGRAM ("STOPP")-- STOP THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE (STOPP) PROGRAM DISMANTLES THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE, MULTI-FACETED APPROACH WHICH COMBINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY, THE IMPACT OF A BROAD-BASED COALITION, AND THE POWER OF STUDENT, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION.

PROGRAM 2: DISABILITY EDUCATION JUSTICE INITIATIVE (DEJI)DISABILITY EDUCATION JUSTICE INITIATIVE - MAC CONTINUES ITS HISTORIC AND VISIBLE ROLE WITHIN THE STATE, LEADING MULTI-PRONGED ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO REMOVE INEQUITIES AND ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING CHILDREN OF COLOR, CHILDREN FROM IMMIGRANT AND MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES, AND CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES RECEIVE A HIGH QUALITY AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION. THE FORWARD!~ADELANTE! AND STOP THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE PROGRAMS WERE COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM IN 2021, BUT IN 2022 WERE FORMALIZED INTO SEPARATE PROGRAMS AND NOTED BELOW.

PROGRAM 3: RACIAL EQUITY AND ACCESS PROJECT (REAP) RACIAL EQUITY AND ACCESS PROGRAM ("REAP") WORKS COLLABORATIVELY TO TRANSFORM K-12 EDUCATION INTO A RACIALLY EQUITABLE SYSTEM IN BOSTON. REAP'S WORKS WITH THE DISTRICT AND OTHER BPS STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF RACIAL INEQUITY IN BOSTON'S SCHOOLS.