March 15, 2002

Social Workers Meet Counter Protest at State House

The Committee to Save DSS, an organization formed largely by laid-off social workers in order to urge legislators to restore $3.5 million to DSS's annual $700 million budget, held a "Remembrance Vigil" on the steps of the state house earlier this week.

Claiming that budget cuts would put more Massachusetts children in danger of abuse, the group read the names of 100 children who died in the Commonwealth in the past year.

When asked if the 100 children named included the 79 who died while in state care, organizers responded with a yes.

Members of two groups that applaud the legislators' decision to trim the DSS budget, Justice for Families, and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, were also present.

"If 79 out of the 100 that died last year were in state care and 21 died while at home, how can DSS claim children are 'better off' in their custody?" questioned Nev Moore, Executive Director of Justice for Families. "The numbers speak for themselves, she said."

The scene became heated when former foster child Audrey Serrano questioned the Committee why they allowed foster children to be abused in state custody. "I was a foster child. Why don't you ask me what it was like? Why don't you ask any one of us what foster care was like?"

Nev Moore added, "Ask the children, ask the kids you put in foster care," she indicated to the group next to her. "We have several former foster kids that would love to tell you how your wonderful system allowed them to be abused, but you don't really want to hear from the kids, do you?"

Organizers from the Committee asked the state police to remove the demonstrators stating they had a permit to be there and the other groups didn't. The state police responded by informing the Committee that Justice for Families and the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights had every right to be present and exercise their free speech.

Governor Swift has supported the $3.5 million supplement approved by the Senate. The House has not. According to the State House News Services, Charles Rasmussen, spokesman for House Speaker Thomas Finneran said, "There is no money to pay for a supplemental budget. At the present time, it is the understanding of the House that revenues are $450 million under projections" for this fiscal year, which ends in June