From NeilESL at aol.com Mon May 5 21:41:42 2008 From: NeilESL at aol.com (NeilESL at aol.com) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 21:41:42 EDT Subject: [WestMALocals] Modernize the human services system - Senate bill 65 Message-ID: Click on this url to contact your local state senator and representative. _http://www.strengthenhumanservices.org/_ (http://www.strengthenhumanservices.org/) THE PROBLEM An Executive Office of Health and Human Services report found that two decades of neglect and lack of funding have imperiled the human services provider industry and put the industry ?at risk?. The state?s outdated procurement system has not changed to reflect the escalating costs of providing care. This neglect has placed the industry near bankruptcy, created high turnover among caregivers of our children, seniors and people with disabilities, and produced a lack of continuity of care. Serving nearly 1 million people, the human services industry is an important economic engine that is in peril: 185,000 workers are employed in the field More than $100 million in state and local tax revenue generated A payroll exceeding $2 billion Among the fastest growing sectors of the economy THE SOLUTION Modernize the human services system Senate bill 65 will modernize the outdated procurement system of the Commonwealth?s human services industry. This legislation will reform decades-old funding systems to more appropriately reimburse human service providers for the care they provide. **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)