Two members of The Caring Force joined Providers’ Council President/CEO Bill Yelenak in May to testify in support of legislation filed on behalf of the Council that would create a student loan program for community-based human services workers.
The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony on An act relative to a student loan repayment program for human services workers (H.283 | S.119). Yelenak urged the committee to build upon the success of $16.5 million in one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that were used for human services student loan repayment and distributed last year.
Yelenak was joined by two members of The Caring Force: Jawaan Kellam, a clinician at The Home for Little Wanderers, and Elaina Schreckenberger, an operations manager at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD).
Kellam’s spoke about the needed investment in a sector that is performing life-changing work every day: “This bill is not a handout — it’s a hand up. It says: We see you. We value you. Your work matters. Because if we lose our workforce, we lose our impact.”
Schreckenberger, who spoke at a Caring Force Rally in 2023 about student loan repayment, was one of the recipients of last year’s funding. “While this job can be very rewarding when we are able to assist clients, it is hard when I and my
staff are not able to have our own needs met,” she said, adding the student loan repayment funding has allowed her to remain in the sector doing what she loves.
Reps. Jeffrey Roy and Sean Garballey, as well as Sen. Sal DiDomenico, are the sponsors of the bill.
Video of Yelenak, Kellam and Schreckenberger delivering testimony is available to watch on The Caring Force’s YouTube channel. link
The Joint Committee has 60 days to take action on this bill, where it will either be sent to study or favorably reported out to another committee. For more information, please contact Caroline O’Neill at coneill@providers.org.
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