The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) oversees essential health, social, disability, child care, and juvenile crime prevention programs for residents of the Commonwealth. EOHHS and its 15 agencies provide these services through state-operated programs, contracts with private organizations, and direct benefit payments.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1999, EOHHS will provide oversight and policy support to:

• implement an initiative targeted at high-risk youths in urban areas where adolescent problems such as teen pregnancy, truancy, drug abuse, and youth violence appear particularly entrenched;
• implement the federal welfare reform law;
• coordinate continued implementation of health care expansion initiatives and recent health care legislation; and
• address domestic violence through initiatives stressing prevention and targeted intervention.

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Executive Office will develop a special initiative to target high-risk youths. In partnership with community leaders, the Secretary will identify strategies to combat high school drop-out rates, teen pregnancies, and youth violence. To support this initiative, a reserve has been established to allow the Executive Office to develop court-based assessment teams to evaluate the needs of high-risk youths, and to coordinate substance abuse and mental health services for these youths. In addition, the Executive Office will work with the Department of Education to expand after-school programs, including job training and recreational activities, at schools, community organizations, and human service agencies.

Starting December 1998, the first group of TAFDC recipients will face their two year time limit and loss of their benefits. The Executive Office will work closely with the Department of Transitional Assistance to support efforts to help TAFDC recipients obtain the skills necessary to gain employment before termination of their benefits. The Executive Office will work with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to allocate federal Welfare-to-Work funds for employment support services for TAFDC recipients. The Executive Office will also coordinate a multi-agency initiative to identify programs, such as substance abuse, mental health, and family support services that will help TAFDC recipients who face multiple barriers to employment.

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) anticipates serving 129,000 children and adults made eligible for comprehensive health care coverage under the Health Care Access Improvement Act of July, 1996. As a result of legislation signed by Governor Cellucci in November, 1997, an Act Expanding Access to Quality Health Care for Working Families, Children, and Senior Citizens, an estimated 39,000 uninsured children will gain comprehensive health coverage as the family income ceiling for MassHealth eligibility is raised from 133% to 200% of the federal poverty level; an additional 25,000 senior citizens will become eligible for Senior Pharmacy Program benefits, as the income eligibility ceiling is raised and the range of covered prescriptions expanded; and DMA will begin implementation of the Insurance Reimbursement Program to increase private health care options for 59,000 low- and moderate-income adults and children.

In partnership with the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the Victim and Witness Assistance Board, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary will play a coordinating role in implementing the recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Domestic Violence. Those recommendations stem from targeted strategies to reduce domestic violence through shelter and counseling services, teen dating violence services, and pilot programs for children who witness violence.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1999 recommendation for the administration of EOHHS is $6.2 million, which includes a reserve of $3 million to fund the Secretary's initiative targeting high-risk youth in selected urban neighborhoods.

This budget recommendation includes a $15 million reserve in the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (1599-6897) to improve salaries for the lowest paid contracted provider staff delivering direct care services to the Commonwealth's citizens.