Legislative Breakfast – Caring for Those Who Care

On September 27, at Peabody City Hall, community members from Bridgewell, Centerboard, Key Program, LifeLinks, Class, NFI Massachusetts, Northeast Arc and Wayside hosted the Northeast Human Service Advocacy Legislative Breakfast: Caring for Those Who Care.

The breakfast discussed the pay inequity in the community-based human services sector between state and private workers. An entry-level state social worker with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn a starting salary of $54,300. A worker at a community-based agency can make up to $15,000 less because of state reimbursement rates, making it difficult for those organizations to recruit and retain talent.

Beginning with a welcome by Jo Ann Simons of the Northeast Arc and Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr.  Bridgewell President & CEO Christopher Tuttle introduced Bridgewell’s Assistant Program Director Daniel Nadeau who shared his remarks about the fair pay act and his experience working in human services.

Read Daniel’s full speech here.

Shannon Kaiser, Assistant Director of Family Support, LifeLinks/CLASS and Dennis Everett, former Assistant Program Director, NFI MA both shared their powerful experiences working in human services, and the need for comparable pay for comparable work. After the human service speakers presented, each legislator was given an opportunity to share their remarks and thoughts on the issue.

Thank you to Senator Joan Lovely,  Representative Daniel Cahill, Representative Theodore Speliotis,  Representative Paul Tucker,  Representative Thomas Walsh and Representative Bradley Hill for joining us at this important legislative breakfast.

NORTHEAST HUMAN SERVICE ADVOCACY LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST SPONSORS: