Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 505: Creating the Governor's Child and Youth Readiness Cabinet

Date: 10/28/2008
Issuer: Deval L. Patrick
Mass Register: No. 1117

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth must comprehensively address the needs of each of its children and youth and provide the understanding, encouragement, support, services, and knowledge necessary for each to exceed the state's high expectations and rigorous academic standards and master the skills and competencies that work, life and active citizenship require;

WHEREAS, personal and educational attainment still correlate too closely with economic status yet every child deserves the best possible opportunity for academic, career and life success in a world economy and global society;

WHEREAS, the education and development of children occurs not only in schools but also in families, neighborhoods, communities and our broader society;

WHEREAS, our success in fostering children's healthy development and family well-being will depend, to a substantial degree, on the extent to which the Commonwealth can provide for the consistent, efficient and effective coordination of effort between and among the government agencies whose services, programs and delivery systems must collectively address the needs of the whole child and his or her family.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, Part 2, c. 2, § I, Art. I, hereby order as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established the Governor's Child and Youth Readiness Cabinet ("the Cabinet").

Section 2. The Cabinet shall foster and coordinate efforts to enhance the level of cooperation and collaboration across the state departments and agencies that serve the Commonwealth's children, youth and families. Among other things, the Cabinet shall set the strategic direction for interagency policy planning, development and implementation, thereby working to advance the health, well-being and education of the Commonwealth's children and youth, and prepare them to be successful and contributing citizens.

Section 3. The Cabinet shall have the following responsibilities:

  • Establish a shared vision for how best to establish a network of state services and supports for children, youth and families in the Commonwealth;
  • Identify priority areas for collaborative state action;
  • Establish baseline goals and benchmarks for assessing the extent to which state agencies successfully strengthen their cooperation and collaboration in providing services to children, youth and families;
  • Direct the development and monitor the progress of targeted inter-agency projects as defined by the Cabinet; and
  • Address such other topics and initiatives relating to children and youth readiness as the Governor or his designee shall direct.

Section 4. The Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services shall serve as Co-Chairs of the Cabinet. The Cabinet shall also include the Secretaries of Administration and Finance, Housing and Economic Development, Labor and Workforce Development, Public Safety and Security and the Child Advocate, and such other members as the Governor may, from time to time, designate.

Section 5. All members of the Cabinet shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Cabinet will meet at such times and places as the Co-Chairs of the Cabinet shall determine.

Section 6. The Cabinet may function through established or ad hoc committees, task forces or interagency working groups. Additionally, all state agencies and departments in the Executive Branch, whether or not represented on the Cabinet, may be called upon to facilitate and implement the Cabinet's policy agenda and objectives. All such agencies and departments shall cooperate with the Cabinet and shall provide such assistance, information and advice to the Cabinet as permitted by law.

Section 7. This Executive Order shall continue in effect until amended, superseded or revoked by subsequent Executive Order.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 28th day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and thirty-two.

DEVAL L. PATRICK, GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth

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