Kids
Recent
Relief Is on the Way: Part I—State and Local Funding from the American Rescue Plan
The passage of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the availability of significant new federal revenue gives Massachusetts a once-in-a-generation opportunity. With thoughtful choices, these …
Bringing in the Relief: The Census Counts for Equity (updated)
As far as most of us are concerned, the 2020 Census has been over for months. There have been far more important concerns over this …
Where’s the Relief? The Distribution of Federal Funding in Massachusetts
As difficult as this past year has been, it would have been worse without the more than $70 billion in federal relief to Massachusetts so …
Kids Count Data Center
MassBudget is home to KIDS COUNT in Massachusetts, a national and state-by-state effort funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to track and improve the well-being of children across the United States. With these data, state organizations provide policy analysis based on evidence and shine a spotlight on pressing issues in order improve programs and policies for children and families.
ALL KIDS REPORTS
How will the state government pave our way to an equitable recovery? What to watch this FY 2022 budget season.
1. How will the state generate enough revenue to meet everyone’s needs? Before state lawmakers even begin creating a budget, they need to determine how …
The Pandemic Persists: Pain Points for the Children of Massachusetts
Policymakers have the responsibility and an opportunity to make smart and fair policy choices that will support children and families. This is particularly true now …
Making sense of the Governor’s revised FY 2021 budget proposal
This was a presentation to a coalition of policy advocates, social service providers, and academics, to give members an overview of the Baker Administration’s revised …
Bruised Budgets: A Higher Education Funding History Lesson For An Antiracist Future
A well-funded public higher education system has the power to open up countless opportunities for low-income students and families of all races and backgrounds. For …
Bringing in the Relief Part II: The Census Counts for Equity
More than $3.3 billion in CARES Act funding comes to our Massachusetts communities based on population estimates from the census. Learn how the Commonwealth can get its fair share of power and money through a complete, accurate 2020 Census count in our latest report.
Road to Recovery: How to Safely Reopen Early Education in Massachusetts
As the Commonwealth’s early education and care sector reopens, many providers are at risk of closing permanently unless there is a significant new source of funding. Learn more about COVID-19’s impact on early education in our latest report, and what it will take to safely reopen.
Mass. Raised Revenue in Last Three Recessions, Reducing Cuts
Cutting budgets and failing to invest in communities hardest hit by the pandemic perpetuates the deep racial inequities built into the current system. Learn more about how the Commonwealth has solved the challenges of past economic recessions in our latest report.
Tens of thousands of undocumented, essential workers at risk of lost jobs, lost pay, exposure to COVID-19
Immigrants without status form the backbone of Massachusetts — producing our food, tending to our loved ones, and stocking our supermarkets. But the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread business closures mean many of these undocumented workers have found themselves at risk of losing their jobs, losing income, or being exposed to the virus.
Unemployment Assistance in a Time of COVID-19
The Commonwealth has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences by implementing several bold new federal unemployment policies that are also supported with federal funds. These have provided crucial protection to many workers and the economy, though undocumented workers have been excluded. Since late April, the greatest volume of unemployment claims have been for a new program for workers traditionally ineligible for unemployment insurance. Without new federal legislation, this program will expire at the end of the year. The federally-funded $600 enhancement to weekly benefits will expire at the end of July. The loss of these benefits would hurt many workers and slow the state’s economic recovery.
Testimony Supporting Act to Provide Equal Stimulus Checks to Immigrant Taxpayers
Testimony supporting legislation for state stimulus checks for taxpayers excluded from federal benefits because they pay taxes with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a social security number.
Bringing in the Relief Part I: Federal Fiscal Relief for our State Budget is Critical for a Strong, Just Recovery
For more on federal fiscal relief, read That’s A Relief Part I: Federal Fiscal Relief to Massachusetts in Recently-Passed Legislation and That’s A Relief Part II: Federal Fiscal …
Statement on Reopening the Commonwealth
Read the full statement by Marie-Frances Rivera, president of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget), in response to the Governor’s Reopening Massachusetts plan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
FAQ: Status of the Mass. Early Education Sector During and Beyond the Coronavirus Outbreak
Introduction Quality early education and care (EEC) is not only critical for helping young children to learn and grow, it’s also vital to our economy …
That’s A Relief Part II: Federal Fiscal Relief for Community Development in the CARES Act
Read That’s A Relief Part I: Federal Fiscal Relief to Massachusetts in Recently-Passed Legislation here. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act,” or …
That’s A Relief Part I: Federal Fiscal Relief to Massachusetts in Recently-Passed Legislation
Learn what federal relief though the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Relief Fund, and other recently passed legislation means for the Commonwealth during the public health crisis.
KIDS COUNT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Kathryn Audette
Director of Government Affairs, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Michael Curry, CHAIR
Executive Committee, National Board of Directors NAACP
President & CEO, Mass. League of Community Health Centers
Mass. Budget and Policy Center Board
Suzanne Curry
Co-Director of Policy and Government Relations, Health Care for All
Joe Diamond
Executive Director, Mass. Association for Community Action
Titus dos Remedios
Director of Research and Policy, Strategies for Children
Susan Elsen
Staff Attorney, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba
Executive Director, Children’s HealthWatch
Rebekah Gewirtz
Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers – Mass. Chapter
Marianna Islam
Director of Programs & Advocacy, Schott Foundation
Lisa Lambert
Executive Director, Parent/Professional Advocacy League
Erin McAleer
CEO, Project Bread
Tammy Mello
Executive Director, Children’s League of Massachusetts
Shannon Moore
Director of State Govt. Relations, Children’s Hospital
Kevin Murray
Executive Director, Mass. Advocates for Children
Amy O’Leary
Early Education for All Campaign Director, Strategies for Children
Carlene Pavlos
Executive Director, Mass. Public Health Association
Pam Nourse
Executive Director, Federation for Children with Special Needs
Norma Shapiro
Citizens for Public Schools
Leon Smith
Executive Director, Citizens for Juvenile Justice
