麻州政府撥款410萬資助6機構辦幼兒精神健康諮詢服務

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $4.1 Million in Grants 

 to Support Mental Health Among Young Children 

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that they are awarding $4.1 million in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grants to organizations that support the social-emotional development and behavioral health of children in early education and care programs across Massachusetts. This funding will go to six organizations that serve early education programs by training providers and improving program processes to promote the developmental, social-emotional, and behavioral well-being of infants and young children in their care. The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s investment will support the healthy development of our youngest students, reduce the suspension and expulsion rate in early education and care settings, and promote school success and community health 

 

“We have a mental health crisis that has only been made worse by the pandemic, particularly for our youngest kids,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration is continuing to help break down the stigma behind seeking treatment while ensuring that Massachusetts residents know how they can access the health care and support they deserve—no matter how small. These grants will provide early education and care programs with the tools and resources needed to help educators identify kids struggling and support families in accessing help.” 

 

“Early education and care programs play a vital role in supporting the foundation for infant and child mental health that will serve our students throughout their lives. With the state’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grants, our early educators can access the resources they need to help young children learn about and manage their feelings, fostering environments to support healthy social and emotional development in their classroom and beyond,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.  

 

Examples of the services and supports these grantees provide early education and care programs include  improving policies, procedures and practices to be trauma-informed and center the social-emotional and behavioral well-being of children; developing strategies for staff self-care; strengthening skills to identify children with or at-risk for behavioral, developmental, or mental health difficulties and supporting the implementation of positive behavior interventions and supports using evidence-based practices. These mental health grantees will also help early education and care programs build stronger relationships with families to support children both in the classroom and their homes, including with individualized behavior support plans for children and referrals to other community-based services. 

 

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is focused on healing, stabilizing, and transforming our education system that is still recovering from the lasting impacts of the pandemic. With these early education mental health grants, we can support the critical infrastructure of mental health service providers that uplift our youngest children, their families, and their educators.,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “The path to well-being and stability is a slow one, but with this funding we will make inroads in our pursuit to improve mental health for all of our students.” 

 

“I hear often from educators and parents as I travel around the state about the growing social-emotional needs of young children in our early education and care programs and the impact this is having on the wellbeing, as well as recruitment and retention, of staff. These grants will help provide early education and care programs, and their staff, with the tools they need to meet the individual needs of children and families while also creating environments that enable children to learn and thrive,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.  

 

The 2023 Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grant Awardees: 

 

Organization	Cities/Towns Served	Award Amount
Behavioral Health Network, Inc.	Adams, Agawam, Alford, Amherst, Ashfield, Athol, Becket, Belchertown, Bernardston, Blandford, Buckland, Charlemont, Cheshire, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Clarksburg, Colrain, Conway, Cummington, Dalton, Deerfield, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Egremont, Erving, Florida, Gill, Goshen, Granby, Granville, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Hadley, Hampden, Hancock, Hatfield, Hawley, Heath, Hinsdale, Holyoke, Huntington, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Leverett, Leyden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Middlefield, Monroe, Monson, Montague, Monterey, Montgomery, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, New Salem, North Adams, Northampton, Northfield, Orange, Otis, Palmer, Pelham, Peru, Petersham, Phillipston, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Richmond, Rowe, Royalston, Russell, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Southampton, Southwick, Springfield, Stockbridge, Sunderland, Tolland, Tyringham, Ware, Warwick, Washington, Wendell, West Springfield, West Stockbridge, Westfield, Westhampton, Whately, Wilbraham, Williamsburg, Williamstown, Windsor, Worthington	$772,706
Community Health Link, Inc.	Ashburnham, Ashby, Auburn, Ayer, Barre, Bellingham, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Fitchburg, Franklin, Gardner, Grafton, Groton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Pepperell, Princeton, Rutland, Shirley, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Townsend, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westminster, Winchendon, Worcester	$602,242
Enable, Inc.	Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Belmont, Boxboro, Canton, Dover, Foxborough, Framingham, Hingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Concord, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Millis, Littleton, Natick, Newton, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwell, Norwood, Plainville, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Watertown, Wayland, Westborough, Westwood, Wrentham	$457,994
Justice Resource Institute, Inc.	Abington, Acushnet, Aquinnah, Attleboro, Avon, Barnstable, Berkley, Bourne, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Chatham, Chilmark, Dartmouth, Dennis, Dighton, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Eastham, Easton, Edgartown, Fairhaven, Fall River, Falmouth, Freetown, Gosnold, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Harwich, Holbrook, Kingston, Lakeville, Mansfield, Marion, Marshfield, Mashpee, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Nantucket, New Bedford, North Attleborough, Norton, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Provincetown, Raynham, Rehoboth, Rochester, Rockland, Sandwich, Seekonk, Somerset, Stoughton, Swansea, Taunton, Tisbury, Truro, Wareham, Wellfleet, West Bridgewater, West Tisbury, Westport, Whitman, Yarmouth	$744,340
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children	Amesbury, Andover, Bedford, Beverly, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Boxford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Essex, Everett, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lexington, Lincoln, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, Marblehead, Medford, Melrose, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Stoneham, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Waltham, Wenham, West Newbury, Westford, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn	$953,221
Walker, Inc.	Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Cohasset, Dedham, Hull, Milton, Needham, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Somerville, Weston, Weymouth, Winthrop, and Wellesley

紐英崙中華公所夏日燒烤感謝治安巡邏隊

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn趕到活動現場和華埠治安巡邏隊隊員及出席者合影。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange) 紐英崙中華公所在9月3日的勞工節週末，以牛肉串、雞翅膀、玉米、西瓜，豆漿及啤酒，感謝華埠治安巡邏隊為維持華埠治安所付出的心力。中華公所主席雷國輝和多名中華公所董事親自上陣燒烤，以行動表達謝意。

BBQ這天出席的華埠治安巡邏隊隊員，右起，李翠屏、關美玲，阮鴻燦，劉文哲，
余麗媖，羅銘朝、雷國輝，劉皓，李耀培、劉樹榮、劉華權、以及
左起鄺坤珍、陳家驊等人。 (周菊子攝)

              波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連(Ed Flynn)應華埠治安巡邏隊隊長阮鴻燦之邀，在其助理盧善柔陪同下，來到現場，讚許華埠治安巡邏隊員們的為社區服務，並一起享用燒烤。波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮也在助理張小慧陪同下，應邀出席。

              紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，財政陳余寶愛，以及李伍碧香，李盧蓮馨、陳黃海蘭、阮謝少珍，陳秀珍，朱瑞生，朱健威等許多人，早早趕到會場，擺出桌椅，架起燒烤爐，一盤盤的美味燒烤，就上桌了。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn (左起) 應阮鴻燦、雷國輝之邀出席華埠治安巡邏隊的BBQ。
(周菊子攝)

              中華公所麾下的華埠治安巡邏隊，創始於2005年，歷任隊長包括黃國威、翁宇才、阮鴻燦。其中阮鴻燦前前後後擔任過的時間最長。這巡邏隊原則上每晚5到8點，有2名以上志工，巡邏華埠街道約3小時，發現流民滋事，毒販交易或吸毒者當街注射，橫豎睡在路當中稅等情況，立即通知警察。早年最活躍的巡邏志工發叔和謝中之，都有和滋事份子交手，追逐的經驗。後來警察為顧及這些平民百姓志工的安全，要求志工們別和肇事者直面對決，只要遠距觀察，並立即通知警察即可。

中華公所董事陳秀珍(右起)、李伍碧香，李盧蓮馨，陳黃海蘭、
陳建立等人在現場燒烤。 (周菊子攝)

              近年來，中華公所為犒勞巡邏隊員們，還編列了一年3600元預算，讓巡邏隊員在巡邏那天到糕餅店買個麵包，飲料，夏天來次燒烤，冬天來次感恩聚餐。

              不過，巡邏隊隊長阮鴻燦慨言最近有點困擾，因為財政小組要求巡邏隊提交每次拿取麵包，飲料的人名。他認為，巡邏隊員都是志工，沒有薪水，不應該管得太細，從今年3月迄今，糕餅店交給他們的帳單，約每個月120到200元，在今年以來物價高漲，連一個麵包都要3到5元的實際環境下，這數額應不算離譜。

中華公所主席雷國輝(左二)以實際行動來表達對巡邏隊員的感激。
(周菊子攝)

              阮鴻燦和鄺坤珍坦言，他們並沒有確切紀錄哪名志工在哪個時段巡邏，或者幾點到，幾點離開，原則上參加巡邏的人都有自己固定的巡邏時間。例如中華公所主席雷國輝大約每週四會和余麗媖一起巡邏，綽號山東仔的劉文哲會和劉皓、姚英倫等年輕人在週末巡邏，關美玲夫婦更是巡邏得很勤。

              中華公所唯一聘任的全職員工鄺坤珍提供的華埠治安巡邏隊隊員，約20人，隊長為中華公所英文書記阮鴻燦，隊員包括鄺坤珍，羅銘朝，陳家驊，余麗媖，雷國輝，Maggie Law，翁宇才，李翠屏，李奇舜，黃兆祥，謝中之，關美玲，李耀培，劉樹榮，姚英倫 (Charlie Yao)，張俊亭，黃麗玲，劉皓，劉文哲，劉華權，發叔等。

朱瑞生另起爐灶燒烤。 (周菊子攝)

中華公所主席雷國輝(右)和波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮利用機會交換意見。

發叔從2005年華埠治安巡邏隊創立時，就參加巡邏了。
(周菊子攝)

麻州公共設施處批准電力公司購買及訂定費率時間表

New schedule separates the most expensive winter months into two periods, which is expected to reduce large swings in seasonal electric supply rates  

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has issued an Order approving changes to the schedule used by Eversource and National Grid to purchase and set rates for basic service electricity supply. The schedule change is expected to mitigate large seasonal changes in basic service electricity supply prices and differences across electric distribution companies.  

In January 2023, the DPU opened an investigation into the procurement and pricing of basic service supply in response to the significant increases that Massachusetts electricity customers experienced in basic service supply rates during 2022. These rate increases are the result of wholesale energy market dynamics, including the conflict in Ukraine, regional natural gas transportation constraints for electric generation, the uncertainty of basic service customer load, and the inclusion of the coldest winter months of January and February in the same procurement period.  

This Order requires Eversource and National Grid to change their current basic service periods for residential and small business customers to six-month periods of February through July and August through January. Unitil already follows this schedule. For large business customers, the Order requires the following three-month fixed rate periods: February through April, May through July, August through October, and November through January.  

“Due to our current reliance on fossil fuel generation, customers can experience significant volatility in electric supply prices,” said DPU Chair James Van Nostrand, “Today’s decision is an important step towards minimizing significant price swings for basic service customers, while we transition to clean energy sources that will not only help stabilize energy rates but also lower emissions and improve air quality.”  

Under Massachusetts law, electricity supply is procured in a competitive market. The Massachusetts electric distribution companies are required to contract for an electric supplier on behalf of customers who do not select their own supplier (a competitive supplier or a municipal aggregation program). Basic service is procured through a competitive bidding process, and the distribution companies pass that cost on to their customers without profit to the distribution company.   

波士頓體育會秋季補助計畫 9/26截止收件

(Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓體育協會（B.A.A.）今天(9月5日)宣佈，秋季給非牟利機構的補助項目，即日起開放申請，9月26日截止。

這是雙年計劃的第二輪，支持那些經由運動，特別是跑步等，推廣健康生活型態，以建立健康社區，進一步實踐BAA使命的非牟利機構。

            春季時，整個麻州有14個機構的各種健身項目獲得補助，包括阿喀琉斯 (Achilles)國際、巴頓 (Barton) 糖尿病教育中心、261 新英格蘭無畏 (Fearless) 俱樂部、大步邁進(Stride for Stride)和青少年充實服務(Youth Enrichment Services Inc)。

波士頓體育會的發展主任Nicole Juri說，B.A.A的回饋補助是地方組織獲得額外資金幫助他們實現目標的好資源。他們從首批獲贈者那裡得到很多正面反饋，他們表示這些補助款幫助他們歡迎新成員參加他們的夏季活動；購買新設備；培訓了新教練等等。

波士頓體育會希望麻州有更多人知道這補助款項目，以期有更多人申請。

申請標準：所有符合以下標準的非營利組織都可以申請：

• 組織是註冊的501（c）（3）或公家機關。
• 組織是非政治組織。
• 組織的項目經由運動，特別是跑步等，推廣健康生活型態，以建立健康社區。
• 組織位於麻州，並為麻州居民服務。

如何申請：有興趣的組織可以在此申請鏈接 (https://baa.my.site.com/s/grant-application?language=en_US)。

B.A.A. Gives Back Grants Open for Applications

Fall edition of Boston Athletic Association grant program open to nonprofit organizations September 5-26.

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today announced the opening of applications for the fall edition of B.A.A. Gives Back Grants. Eligible organizations have from today until September 26 to apply.

 

This is the second round of the biannual program which supports nonprofits that advance the B.A.A.’s mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running, in order to build healthy communities.

 

There were fourteen recipients in the spring iteration, with organizations covering a range of health and wellness programs across Massachusetts including Achilles International, Barton Center for Diabetes Education, 261 Fearless Club New England, Stride for Stride, and Youth Enrichment Services Inc.

 

Nicole Juri, Director of Development at the B.A.A. said, “The B.A.A. Gives Back Grants are a wonderful resource for local organizations to gain extra funding to help them achieve their goals. We have received a lot of positive feedback from our inaugural recipients about how the grants have helped them welcome new members into their summer programming; with the purchasing of new equipment; the development of new coaches and many more.

 

“We hope that news of this program can spread across Massachusetts, and we are looking forward to receiving many applications and awarding a new set of organizations later in the fall.”

 

Entry Criteria:
The competitive application process is open to all nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria:

• Organization is a registered 501(c)(3) or a public agency.
• Organization is not political.
• The organization's program advances the B.A.A.'s mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running, in order to build healthy communities.
• The organization is located in and serves residents of Massachusetts.
  
  

How to apply:
Interested organizations should apply HERE.

More information:
A full list of spring recipients and more information on the program can be found HERE.
Learn more about some of our round one recipients HERE.

麻州民主黨總結拜登總統勞工節發言

BOSTON -  Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan released the following statement celebrating Labor Day: 

“The organized labor movement is celebrated today because it set a new standard for how the American workforce is valued and treated,” said Chair Kerrigan. “Our country is fortunate that President Biden is the most pro-union and pro-worker president in American history. Time and time again, Republicans have pushed failed trickle-down economic policies that benefit big corporations and leave the middle class behind. President Biden and Vice President Harris are true champions of the American worker and will always have their back.”

Here are a few highlights of how President Biden has delivered for workers and organized labor:

· More than 13 million jobs created — including 800,000 new good-paying, manufacturing jobs created — many of which don’t require a four-year degree,

· Wages are higher than last year and higher than before the pandemic, accounting for inflation—with lower wage workers seeing the largest gains,

· Sparked over $480 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments,

· Hundreds of thousands of auto industry jobs created, including more than 120,000 auto manufacturing jobs,

· Strengthening, modernizing, and expanding apprenticeship programs to help connect Americans to good paying union jobs,

· Raised the minimum wage for federal workers and contractors,

· Helped save the pensions of hundreds of thousands of union workers and retirees,

· Ensuring the overwhelming majority of the investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act are covered by Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements,

· Appointed a general counsel and board members to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) who are committed to protecting the right of workers to organize.

4名波士頓市議員要求宣佈「美沙酮英里」進入緊急狀態

波士頓市議員Erin Murphy
在社交媒體上貼出來的聯名信。

               (Boston Orange 綜合編譯/報導) 波士頓市4名議員在9月1日聯名發信給波士頓市公共衛生局 (BPHC)，呼籲該局在9月13日的董事會議中投票，宣佈「美沙酮英里」進入緊急狀態，並稱尚莫維爾市 (Somerville) 也在考慮宣布類似的緊急狀態。

              波士頓市議員Erin Murphy 在推特上，以及她個人的網站上，公佈了這封信。Michael Flaherty，Frank Baker，以及波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn)這4名白人市議員，也都在信上簽了名。

這封信稱，根據波士頓市府資料，在「美沙酮英里」那兒接受吸毒治療 (substance use treatment) 的人數，從今年6月到7月間，飆升57%。2022年1月十，波士頓警察局的事故報告，只有76宗，但在8月13日的這個星期，事故報告案件飆升至170宗。非政府的醫療護理供應商顧及員工安全，已撤離該地區。那兒的商家，生意也都大受影響，青少年活動也受損害。

這封信指出，諸如精神疾病及毒癮等社會病態，已超出波士頓公共衛生局的控制能力以外，他們相信延緩重大實質行動，人們要付的代價太大。

波士頓環球報 (Boston Global) 及波士頓前鋒報 (Boston Herald)都指出，這封信儘管要求宣佈緊急狀態，卻未就如何更好的處理「美沙酮英里」問題，提出任何具體指導，或如何利用這”緊急狀態”。

兩份英文報章都指出，Erin Murphy是波士頓市議會公共衛生、流民及恢復委員會的主席，Frank Baker是副主席。Michael Flaherty則是公共安全及刑事犯罪委員會主席。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 在8月中才宣佈要縮減「美沙酮英里」暴力的新策略，要項市議會遞案，申請訂立條例，賦予警察權力來拆除紮在街道、人行道上的帳篷，容許市府更容易清掃該一地區，另外在南端 (South End) 邊界闢出最多可容30人的安全睡眠空間。吳弭市長的這一提案，據說波士頓市議會預定在10月份的會期中討論。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn 9月3日出席波士頓華埠治安巡邏隊BBQ時，不願意就此事表示任何意見。