Governor Patrick Hosts Human Service Summit

More than 300 human service providers from across Massachusetts, many of them Providers' Council members, gathered at the University of Massachusetts-Boston on Tuesday, November 24 for a human service summit with Governor Deval Patrick to address critical issues facing the sector.

Among the topics highlighted were opportunities for social innovation, strengthening the workforce, changes to state government, and strategies for healthy growth of the sector.

Below is a broadcast courtesy of NECN, which features an interview with Providers' Council Board Member & President/CEO of Work, Inc., Jim Cassetta and Council President/CEO Michael Weekes, who highlighted the need for more support for innovations like the work of the Pine Street Inn's Abundant Table social enterprise.

Other featured guests of the summit included Sonal Shah, White House Director of the Office of Social Innovation; Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services;  and other leaders from our sector.

Randal Rucker, Providers' Council Board Chair and President/CEO of Family Service of Greater Boston set the tone for the day with his opening remarks on creating a future, which drew on the challenges of today to identify opportunities in the future. 

While the Council is pleased to continue to support efforts to help the sector diversify revenue sources and continue to innvoate their business practices, these tough times still require ongoing advocacy to protect vital state funding for the essential services our members provide.  Find out how you can get involved in the People First! campaign.