Linsky Supports Human Services

By Lindsey Parietti/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Mar 28, 2008 @ 11:26 AM

FRAMINGHAM — MetroWest lawmakers affirmed their commitment to human service agencies and called on local providers to advocate for legislation that would help them retain workers and get fairer compensation from the state, during a breakfast at the Plymouth Church this morning.

At the annual legislative breakfast, hosted by the MetroWest Human Services Advocacy Coalition, staff, clients and families were urged to advocate for a Senate bill that would force the state to follow a rate system when awarding contracts to private human service agencies.

State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, who co-sponsored the bill, said creating a rate formula that would account for inflation and increasing costs would "improve the quality of life not only of the disabled and people who are getting the services, but also for the people providing the services."

Spilka and Reps. David Linsky, D-Natick; Pam Richardson, D-Framingham; Tom Sannicandro, D-Ashland and Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, fielded questions from attendees who worried about the bill’s chances and what a recession would do to the state’s social service budget.

Unlike other industries, the legislative panel said, human services have not seen contract rates increase in 20 years.

"I don’t think there’s any question that 20 years is something we can continue to roll into the future and continue what we do," said Jean McGuire, assistant secretary of health and human services.

"You’re doing work for, Lord knows, very little money, and from the bottom of my heart I have to thank you," Linsky said.