On Friday, May 1, The Caring Force held its first-ever rally in the South Coast region, gathering human services workers, advocates, legislators, and people served at White’s of Westport in Westport, MA. The event marked the launch of the 2026 regional rally series and set the tone for advocacy efforts ahead of the 14th Annual State House Rally & Lobby Day on May 13.
A Historic First for the Region
The South Coast rally was organized by seven regional human services organizations: Better Community Living, Community Connections, Justice Resource Institute, Kennedy-Donovan Center, LifeStream, People, Inc., and Seven Hills Foundation. Kennedy-Donovan Center President and CEO Lisa Morgan served as emcee and Representative Carole Fiola of the 6th Bristol district delivered the keynote speech.
Attendees heard from workers and individuals served about three key legislative priorities:
- Full funding for the Chapter 257 Rate Reserve (line item 1599-6903) in the FY’27 budget. The administration has said $260 million is needed to maintain rates at the 53rd percentile. The House 2 budget proposes $175 million — The Caring Force is advocating for the remaining $85 million to be carried forward from FY’26 reserves to close the gap.
- An act relative to a livable wage for human services workers (S.119 | H.283), which would eliminate the pay disparity between community-based nonprofit workers and state employees performing similar work.
- An act relative to a loan repayment program for human services workers (S.130 | H.223), which would provide student loan repayment to workers who deliver essential services across the Commonwealth.
Voices from the Sector
Five speakers brought these issues to life:
Jennifer Long, a registered nurse at Kennedy-Donovan Center, described the stark pay gap between community-based nursing roles and clinical positions — and her journey as a single mother who put herself through nursing school only to find the wages still weren’t enough to get ahead.
Marta Ortiz, a Case Manager at LifeStream with 13 years in the field, shared that she once lived in her car with her children while working full-time because her wages were too low to secure housing. “The same person caring for others every day couldn’t secure a safe place for her own children at night,” she said.
Amanda Nee, an Intensive Care Coordinator at Justice Resource Institute, spoke about how low reimbursement rates push providers out of the field — and how families bear the cost through high turnover, long waitlists, and disrupted care relationships.
Ben from LifeStream shared how his five years in the program have given him confidence, community, and the support to try new things. “The staff are like family to me,” he said.
Amber and Alexis, introduced by KDC Assistant Director Hilary Gabbia, spoke about the transformative impact of Kennedy-Donovan Center services on their independence, health, and daily lives — from getting an apartment to competing in a first horse show.
Legislative Panel
Representatives Lisa Field, Steve Ouellette, Justin Thurber, and Mark Sylvia alongside aides from the offices of Chairman Michael Rodrigues, Senator Kelly Dooner, Representative Antonio Cabral and Representative Alan Silvia participated in a Q&A panel with rally organizers. Legislators were asked directly about their commitment to fully funding Chapter 257 and supporting the livable wage and loan repayment bills.
What’s Next
The 2026 rally season is just getting started. Join us at the 14th Annual State House Rally & Lobby Day on May 13 — our biggest advocacy moment of the year. RSVP here.
See photos from the event:
The Caring Force is the grassroots advocacy initiative of the MA Providers’ Council. To get involved, contact Isabella A. Lee at ilee@providers.org.
Back to All Blog Posts