Right now, across Massachusetts, families are getting wrongly investigated for neglect because of different cultures or poverty while more children than ever are getting abused and neglected.

   This reality isn’t somewhere far away, these things are happening now, in your community or others nearby. These children will grow into adults with mental and physical health issues that could start a cycle of abuse. Reporters could help prevent this, but without the proper training, the mandated reporters could remove kids from homes and parents that just needed a little financial help, and other kids that need better homes get stuck in a broken foster system.

   According to sources like Western Mass news, Billtrack50, Mass.gov, and BostonGlobe, in 2024 Massachusetts reported 1 out of every 1,000 children were victims of abuse/ neglect, double the amount of the national average . Research suggests that professionals that have special training are more likely to have their reports proven true compared to people without the training.

Massachusetts State Bill 129. This will give mandated reporters like teachers, nurses, and coaches up to date training to spot child abuse more, because it tends to be hard to notice. The training would help make sure that mandated reporters aren’t reporting families because their lifestyle or culture is different from what we call normal, only when the child is actually in danger and needs help.

   By signing, you are showing Paul R Feeney and John F Keenan that our community demands change