State Representative Lipper-Garabedian Joins the Massachusetts Legislature to Pass Bill to Enhance Child Welfare Protections
Strengthens oversight, improves educational support, expands youth rights,
and increases transparency across the Commonwealth's child welfare system
(BOSTON—7/31/2026) Today, State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose) joined the Massachusetts Legislature to pass comprehensive legislation to strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability within the Commonwealth’s child welfare system.
An Act Enhancing Child Welfare Protections strengthens and builds on the work of existing entities including the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Family Resource Center (FRC) network and the Commonwealth’s public schools in order to take a comprehensive approach toward making sure all children receive the support they deserve.
“This legislation strengthens the state systems that serve our must vulnerable children,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian. “The law will advance greater attention on and care for the individuals in the child welfare system with enhanced reporting, cross-agency collaboration, and attention on outcomes. As a former teacher, I recognize the vital nature of improved coordination between school districts with clear enrollment timelines and record transfer standards to support students in DCF custody who change schools. These measures provide essential support for students to experience stability and succeed academically.”
This legislation provides for the establishment of a DCF Education Unit, to be led by an Education Director and staffed with Education Specialists tasked with academic monitoring, support, and coordination with school districts. It also requires that DCF and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) establish clear enrollment timelines and record transfer standards for children in DCF custody who move schools to avoid further interruptions to their education. Additionally, this bill establishes a commission to make recommendations on the creation and implementation of a digital education portfolio system to support the timely transfer of educational records.
This bill creates a Foster Child Bill of Rights to clarify and protect the basic rights and services foster children need to live healthy, safe and fulfilled lives. It also codifies a Youth Engagement program within the OCA to ensure the voices of youth are included to inform relevant policy, oversight and programs. Additionally, the bill allows a child the same ability as an adult to petition the court to extend any abuse or harassment protection order made on behalf of the child.
The legislation also helps keep kids out of the justice system by increasing the diversion of children with behavioral or truancy issues to FRCs. These changes to the Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) process will help ensure children and their families receive the services and support they need, rather than involve them in the court system.
In addition, this bill expands statutory reporting by DCF to include disability and intersectional demographics, breakdowns of 51A reports by reporter role, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation and complaint metrics, and refined placement and permanency measures. It also adds reporting outcomes of youth as they age out of DCF’s care, behavioral health boarding, and education metrics, such as individualized education program counts, attendance, and graduation rates. Additionally, it requires timely notification from DCF to a child’s attorney for certain emergency situations like arrest, expulsion, hospitalization or 51A reports of child abuse or neglect.
The bill passed today also strengthens the independence of the Office of the Child Advocate as an autonomous state agency. It further expands the OCA’s authority to examine systemic disproportionalities, partner with agencies while safeguarding its oversight role, maintain a public website for mandated reporters, and conduct systemwide reviews of DCF. The legislation further strengthens the OCA’s ability to publicly share critical incident reports, allowing for greater public accountability and transparency.
In addition, the bill transfers leadership of the Child Fatality Review System from DCF to a co-chairmanship of the OCA and the Department of Public Health (DPH). It further expands membership to include the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and codifies the structure of local review teams.
Lastly, it tasks the OCA with supporting families and caregivers by providing training materials to mandated reporters and individuals who frequently work with children. Inspired by a family’s story, it also tasks the OCA with creating and maintaining a list of resources for grieving parents who have experienced a sudden unexplained pediatric death.
Governor Healey signed the bill into law on August 7, 2026.
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