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Ceremonial Signing of Nicky’s Law

Ceremonial Signing of Nicky’s Law

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.”

To read the full press release, click here.

 

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Enactment Of Nicky’s Law Establishing a New Abuse Registry of Caregivers in Massachusetts — photo courtesy of Mass.gov

Nicky’s Law Is Passed By The House Of Representatives

Nicky’s Law Is Passed By The House Of Representatives

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.

LifeLinks Goes Back to Class

LifeLinks Goes Back to Class

“What motivated you to pursue a career in human services?”

“Who are the people you work with at LifeLinks CLASS?”

“What do I need to do pursue a career in this field?”

Questions like this were the norm on November 7, when members of the LifeLinks CLASS team met with students at Northern Essex Community College in an engaging back-and-forth experiential learning activity. Senior Director of Operations John Whittemore, Director of Residential Services Angie Otieno, and Chief Marketing Officer Dan Esdale were invited by Professor Lisa Fabbri Lopez to be guest presenters in her Community Resources and Client Populations class at the college’s Haverhill campus.

“This field is all about people – whether it’s the people who utilize our services or the people who work in the field,” said Whittemore about his class visit. “It’s really one of the most rewarding careers anyone can have – where you know at the end of the day you’ve made a difference – and sharing that aspect of my career is something I’m fortunate to be able to do!” Whittemore has spent his entire professional career in human services, spanning nearly 20 years.

Students in the program pursue a range of human services disciplines, including social work, mental health and developmental disability services, addiction treatment, and elderly care. They are pursuing certificates and associate’s degrees at the school which enrolls nearly 7,000 full- and part-time students.

“Recruiting talented and dedicated people to join this field is a priority, and it’s wonderful to spend time with the future leaders who will be undertaking this important work,” said Otieno who is in her 15th year with LifeLinks CLASS.

Esdale, who joined LifeLinks CLASS this year after serving as chief marketing officer for Suffolk University, also spent time at Merrimack College, addressing students in Professor Michaele Morrow’s Intro to Business 1100 class in the Girard School of Business.

“Spending time in a classroom with students from the community is so motivating for any professional, and particularly rewarding for students to gain perspective from people in the field,” said Esdale. “My message is a simple one: follow your passion – it’s what brought me to LifeLinks CLASS.”

You can learn more about the human services programs at Northern Essex Community College at https://www.necc.mass.edu/learn/credit-programs/human-services/

Holiday Extravaganza

Our Annual Holiday Party was another night to remember! On Saturday, December 7, nearly 350 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the Greater Lowell area joined us at Lenzi’s. LifeLinks CLASS individuals from day programs and group homes attended, as well as those from the community who look forward to this festive evening every year. The chilly weather didn’t stop partygoers from arriving in their finest holiday attire – everyone was dressed to impress! Once coats were checked and attendees were situated at their tables, the fun began. No time was wasted getting on the dance floor – DJ Ray Tremblay made sure of that. Lenzi’s served a delicious full-course meal, with special thought being given to the dietary restrictions of our guests. A task that is no small feat thanks to the support of our incredible clinical team! The party moved into the lobby area as individuals and volunteers posed for keepsake photos in the accessible photo booth.

It’s important to remember that the LifeLinks CLASS Holiday Party is the highlight of the season for many. It could be they have no living family members to share the holidays with or that their families are not very involved in their lives. For them and for all, our Holiday Party is like being home for the holidays. Thanks to our generous donors who offer their continuous support, we are able to keep this party affordable for the hundreds that attend. With the help of 52 donors, we were able to raise nearly $8,000 to offset the cost of this event. Wow! We couldn’t do what we do without you!

The festivities continued with a Shared Living Meeting hosted at The Establishment in Chelmsford, MA. Our Shared Living providers came together to reminisce, enjoy a delicious meal, swap gifts and face each other in a close game of holiday trivia. What more could you ask for during this special time of year? From everyone at LifeLinks CLASS, we wish you a Happy Holiday!

A Wicked Sight to See

A Wicked Sight to See

 

Beetlejuice family

LifeLinks CLASS ended the month of October on a spooktacular note with costumes, pumpkin contests and loads of candy! On Friday, October 25, our Family Support Center welcomed individuals, family and community members to our Chelmsford location for a Trunk or Treat. Trunk or Treats were created as a safer alternative to trick-or-treating. Rather than walking through neighborhoods, kids and families dress up and collect candy from decorated cars.  For many of the children and individuals that we support, a Trunk or Treat is a less stressful and more inviting way to experience the magic of Halloween. While weaving through the crowds, you could run into a variety of characters: Beetlejuice, Thor, Batman and Cinderella!  Chelmsford Police joined the festivities, handing out “Police Pal’ stickers to everyone in attendance. After families made their rounds for candy, they moved inside to enjoy pizza generously donated by Suppa’s in Billerica and capture a shot of their costumes with the interactive photo booth. The evening wouldn’t be complete without a memory to take home.

The bone-chilling fun continued this week at our facilities in Chelmsford, Lawrence and Wilmington. Halloween dances have been a longstanding tradition in the LifeLinks CLASS community, and this year they were bigger and better than ever. Individuals gathered in the day programs, some joined by family, to show off their dance moves.

 

Left: Suzanna is joined by her mother at the Chelmsford Halloween dance. Right: Tina arrives for the Lawrence Halloween dance in her dazzling costume.

 

It was a wicked sight to see. The Chelmsford Day Habilitation program topped it off with a pumpkin contest. It was a close call but the “Spa Day” pumpkin took home first place! Thank you to the dedicated LifeLinks CLASS team for making these Halloween festivities possible! Most importantly, thank you to the individuals and families who joined us! We can’t wait to do it again next year.

 

“Spa Day” pumpkin – winner of the pumpkin contest.