Press release from the Office of Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, dated 3/03/2020.
BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Commissioner Jane Ryder today joined advocates, legislators and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities for a ceremonial signing of An Act To Protect Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities from Abuse, also known as “Nicky’s Law.”
Administration officials were joined by Nancy Alterio, Director of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director of the Arc of Massachusetts, family members of the law’s namesake Nicky Chan, and other advocates and legislators to celebrate the enactment of the law, which establishes a new abuse registry of caregivers in Massachusetts.
The registry will be administered by the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) – the agency tasked with protecting adults with disabilities from the abusive acts or omissions of their caregivers – who will maintain the registry’s list of any providers or caregivers with histories of substantiated abuse. Effective January 31, 2021, any individual listed on the registry cannot be hired or work for DDS or any of its licensed or funded providers throughout the state.
“Protecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is vitally important, and I want to thank the family members, advocates and our legislative colleagues for their work to pass this bill,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The new registry established in Nicky’s Law will provide an additional safeguard against abuse and further improve the safety and quality of services provided to some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents.”
Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Enactment Of Nicky’s Law Establishing a New Abuse Registry of Caregivers in Massachusetts — photo courtesy of Mass.gov
On Wednesday, January 15, Nicky’s Law was unanimously passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives with a vote of 154-0. This marks a true milestone in the disability community as it is the first law of its kind in Massachusetts that establishes a registry consisting of caretakers who have had substantiated reports of abuse brought against them.
“As a human services provider, our first responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of the individuals who we support,” says LifeLinks CLASS CEO Jean Phelps. “And it’s a responsibility that we do not take lightly.”
The newly-created registry is now a necessary tool for providers during the hiring process – allowing providers like LifeLinks CLASS to effectively screen applicants before they are given the chance to work with such a vulnerable population. “This registry completes a robust suite of pre-employment reviews, including fingerprinting, national background checks, CORI and OIG registry checks, and E-Verify. All of which help providers be able to assert that our workforce is credible and fully-vetted,” says Phelps.
This reform was inspired by the Chan family and is a story of perseverance. In 2014, the family was notified that their son, Nicky, who is on the autism spectrum, had been abused by a worker at his day program. His alleged abuser was fired and prosecuted, but ultimately found not guilty. When Nicky’s family was told that, without a conviction, there was no way to stop the caretaker from being hired at another human services agency, they tirelessly worked with community advocates and legislators to make a change.
Nicky’s Law was unanimously passed by the Senate last year, and the House revised the bill to include certain protections for those who may be wrongly accused. Once the Senate approves the new language, the bill will be passed onto Governor Baker’s desk for review.
The bill establishes a new process:
The Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) begins an investigation once an allegation of abuse is made.
The caretaker in question is notified and given the opportunity to go through a formal appeal process.
During the appeal process, the DPPC is expected to notify The Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the victim and their family as well as the caregiver’s employer.
If the report of abuse is substantiated, the caregiver’s name will be added to the registry.
The Abuse Registry Bill is an important step in breaking the unfortunate cycle of abuse that exists within the services provided to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most importantly, this bill offers a beacon of hope for all of the Nicky’s of our world – that they may receive the supports they need from trusted providers without any fear. Read the full bill here.
Photo courtesy of The Arc of Massachusetts: Linda Cox, far left, is a passionate advocate for disability rights as well as being part of the Family Support team at LifeLinks CLASS.
One of the joys of any employment program is the palpable sense of pride that participants express when they are given the opportunity to learn new skills and earn a paycheck. It is what motivates us! However, these programs are not only about access to employment. A successful program is rooted in transformational experiences that have a profound impact on the people we serve and their employers in the community. The prolonged success enjoyed by Rosanna, Chris, and Dennis – all participants in the LifeLinks CLASS employment program – warrant recognition.
Just last summer Rosanna reached her five-year anniversary at Merrimack Valley Credit Union. With Ken Masson, her LifeLinks CLASS career coach, and her supervisor Nancy Pierce by her side, she was destined for success. Her responsibilities include coordinating mailings, creating reports or sorting in the mailroom.
Chris has been employed by a local Stop & Shop for nearly four years as a front-end clerk and porter. You can find him collecting carts in the parking lot and making sure the aisles are clear for shoppers. Management has expressed their appreciation for Chris’ work ethic, as he arrives for every shift and dutifully completes his responsibilities.
Dennis has been with Sodexo USA Careers at Merrimack College since May 2018. He spends his time sweeping, cleaning tables and stocking drinks, fruit and other supplies. It would be easy for most people to be distracted in such a fast-paced university setting. But not Dennis. As he tells it, once his apron goes on, he is “in the zone.” In fact, he does his job so well, that management has consistently requested him to be scheduled more often.
These programs are a community-wide effort in Greater Lawrence and Greater Lowell. The employers participating in the program should be lauded not just for their commitment to the LifeLinks CLASS program, but for their commitment to inclusion in their community.
Of course, research and testimonies have shown that employees with disabilities bring unmatched value to the workplace. Michael McGee, general manager at NORDSON Medical, had this to say about their partnership with LifeLinks CLASS, “Diversity is one of the key components of enhancing and expanding our organizational capability. Collaborating with LifeLinks CLASS to identify and place qualified workers has helped us succeed both operationally and in our commitment to our communities.”
Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do at LifeLinks CLASS. We look forward to continually fostering professional independence within our individuals and creating meaningful and lasting connections in our community. Visit www.lifelinksclass.org/employment-services for more information on how to pursue a career pathway or if you are interested in becoming an Employment Services partner.
Rosanna, Chris and Dennis are thriving in their job placements – the sky’s the limit!
At this special time of year, we extend our warmest wishes to all of you in the LifeLinks CLASS community. Thank you for your unwavering support, and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year!
The end of 2019 is upon us, and we closed it out in true LifeLinks CLASS style at our annual Holiday Party this past weekend! Most would use this as a time to reflect; after all, it was a particularly memorable year highlighted by the merger of two incredible agencies. But the truth of the matter is, I’m far too excited about the year ahead for LifeLinks CLASS to look back!
Why is that? Well, we are in the midst of creating the first-ever LifeLinks CLASS strategic plan for our newly merged agency. It’s an inclusive and collaborative process, as the Board of Directors, leadership team, and staff have been working full throttle to develop recommendations that focus on fulfilling the needs of the people we serve through our program portfolio, agency brand, facilities, and community presence. The final strategic plan will be released in January and will focus on honoring our past while plotting our future as a full-service agency that serves the “whole person.” In other words, I’ll soon have a very clear answer to the question I’ve received most often since we announced the merger on July 1: ”Okay…now what!?!?”
The discussions around the plan have been invigorating, as the passion the community has for the work we do has been on full display. One thing is clear: the focus isn’t on us; it’s on you! We’re constantly asking ourselves, “how can we do it better?” And I think that’s one of the great things about the LifeLinks CLASS culture.
So as incredibly successful as this merger has been – highlighted by yet another exemplary CARF review of our AFC programs in November and a very impressive Survey and Certification review of DDS funded services in the summer – I know that the best is yet to come! 2020 is shaping up to be a memorable year. We will have a new agency mission statement. A new strategic plan. A new combined agency brand. And we’ll continue to welcome new people into our growing service portfolio across Greater Lowell and Greater Lawrence. And yes, you’ll be hearing from us quite a bit as we put these plans into place!
Now as you read this, I’ll actually be taking some vacation to spend quality time with my family for the holidays; something my husband and I have been looking forward to all year. But to my LifeLinks CLASS family, I want to wish each and every one of a safe and happy holiday season and a prosperous new year. It’s an honor to be the CEO of such a dynamic agency where people come together every day to make our corner of the world a better place.
