Scope and Content: In its statutory role as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in privately funded and particularly public programs, evaluating and monitoring programs in departments and agencies within the Executive Office of Human Services and other executive offices (MGLA c 28A, s 4). Through FY1991 the office’s advocacy unit in its Help for Children Program provided comprehensive information, referral, and advocacy services to assure children appropriate social, health, or financial support, administered on a community basis through ca. 43 area offices. These offices, grouped under ca. six regional offices, were supported by volunteer area-based councils for children, which were given technical assistance by the central office’s Community Development Program and were mandated (MGLA c 28A, s 7) to evaluate local services for children, identify related needs, and review for the office proposals for state or federal funding of such services. Series was created to administer and document monthly meetings of area council boards of directors and annual meetings of entire council memberships.
Arrangement: Arranged numerically by region, thereunder alphabetically by area, and then chronologically
Notes: Scheduled as: Council for Children board meetings. Files for Region II lacking
Related Catalog Records:
Advocacy unit area council minutes [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Advocacy unit regional interagency team minutes [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Scope and Content: In its statutory role as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in privately funded and particularly public programs, evaluating and monitoring programs in departments and agencies within the Executive Office of Human Services and other executive offices (MGLA c 28A, s 4). Through FY1991 the office’s advocacy unit in its Help for Children Program provided comprehensive information, referral, and advocacy services to assure children appropriate social, health, or financial support, administered on a community basis through ca. 43 area offices grouped under ca. six regional offices. Cases involving such service needs not resolvable on a area level were referred to an interagency (interdepartmental) childrens’ services team convened by the office from human services (public health, mental health, mental retardation, social services) and education agencies, first at the regional office level and then if necessary at the central office level, to identify needed services and to designate appropriate provider agencies (MGLA c 28A, s 6A). Series was created at the regional office level to administer and document team disposition of such cases and review of team procedures.
Arrangement: Arranged numerically by region, thereunder chronologically in reverse order
Restrictions: Personal data restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Scheduled as: Minutes of team meetings
Related Catalog Records:
Licensing unit regulation development files [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Scope and Content: In its statutory role as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children establishes regulations for licensing or approval of day care and substitute care providers (MGLA c 28A, s 4(c)). Series is created by the office’s licensing unit to develop and obtain such regulations.
Arrangement: Arranged by program, thereunder chronologically
Related Catalog Records:
Commissioner’s regional reportage files [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Scope and Content: In its statutory role (MGLA c 28A) as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in public and privately funded programs and regulates providers of day care and substitute care for children. Functions are carried out through the office’s ca. six regional offices: advocacy programs (through FY1991–notably Help for Children) were additionally administered on a community basis by ca. 43 area offices grouped regionally and supported by volunteer area-based councils for children. Series has been created to provide quarterly reports from regional offices to the office director (commissioner from 1987) and to coordinate regional and other local activities with central office policy.
Arrangement: Arranged numerically by region, thereunder by area, and then chronologically. Arranged numerically by region, thereunder by subject
Restrictions: Personal information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Formerly part of: Commissioner’s central office unit administrative files ((M-Ar)346)
Related Catalog Records:
Commissioner’s correspondence [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Scope and Content: In its statutory role (MGLA c 28A) as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in public and privately funded programs and regulates providers of day care and substitute care for children. Series consisting of incoming/outgoing correspondence and memorandums of the office director (commissioner from 1987) is created to administer the office. Typescript, photocopied, and manuscript materials relate to the development, policies, and procedures of the office, as well as planning and budgeting functions.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year
Restrictions: Personal information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Files salvaged from offsite storage. Files for 1976 and 1980 lacking
Related Catalog Records:
Commissioner’s central office unit administrative files [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Scope and Content: In its statutory role (MGLA c 28A) as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in public and privately funded programs and regulates providers of day care and substitute care for children. Series consisting of correspondence and reports to the office director (commissioner from 1987) from components of the agency’s central office is created to develop and implement policy and to administer the activities of the office.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by subject. Arranged alphabetically by unit (administration, advocacy (through FY1991 only), communications, legal, licensing), thereunder chronologically
Restrictions: Personal information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Additional 1982-1985 files transferred to: Commissioner’s regional reportage files ((M-Ar)349)
Related Catalog Records:
Commissioner’s policy and procedure memorandums [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Scope and Content: In its statutory role (MGLA c 28A) as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in public and privately funded programs and regulates providers of day care and substitute care for children. Series is created for the office director (commissioner from 1987) to govern internal functioning of agency operations and relations with other agencies providing services to children.
Restrictions: Personal medical information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Related Catalog Records:
Communications unit legislative review files [Massachusetts Office for Children]
Scope and Content: In its statutory role (MGLA c 28A) as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children proposes, supports, or opposes legislation that would have an impact on the welfare of children and families. Series is maintained by the office’s communications unit (legislative liaison) to track agency actions on and progress of such legislation in the General Court.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year, thereunder in part by subject
Notes: Scheduled as: Passed legislation files; Unpassed legislation files. Files for 1980 lacking
Related Catalog Records:
Official visitor register [Bridgewater State Hospital (Mass.).]
Scope and Content: Chronically insane male paupers were transferred from Massachusetts almshouses and lunatic hospitals in 1887 to an asylum opened at the State Workhouse in Bridgewater, renamed shortly thereafter the State Farm. Mentally infirm inmates from the State Prison were also admitted to the asylum beginning in 1890, and constituted the only admissions from 1894. The State Asylum for Insane Criminals was then officially established at the State Farm in 1895, and was renamed Bridgewater State Hospital in 1909. In 1919 the State Farm, including the State Hospital, was transferred from the State Board of Charity to the Massachusetts Bureau of Prisons (later Dept. of Correction), although as of 1923 the Dept. of Mental Diseases (later Dept. of Mental Health) retained the power to commit non-criminal insane to the institution. The State Farm was reorganized in 1955 as Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater. The State Hospital remained as a unit within the larger entity until 1987, when it was separated with its own superintendent.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Related Catalog Records:
Mental health patient case files [Bridgewater State Hospital (Mass.).]
Scope and Content: Chronically insane male paupers were transferred from Massachusetts almshouses and lunatic hospitals in 1887 to an asylum opened at the State Workhouse in Bridgewater, renamed shortly thereafter the State Farm. Mentally infirm inmates from the State Prison were also admitted to the asylum beginning in 1890, and constituted the only admissions from 1894. The State Asylum for Insane Criminals was then officially established at the State Farm in 1895, and was renamed Bridgewater State Hospital in 1909. In 1919 the State Farm, including the State Hospital, was transferred from the State Board of Charity to the Massachusetts Bureau of Prisons (later Dept. of Correction), although as of 1923 the Dept. of Mental Diseases (later Dept. of Mental Health) retained the power to commit non-criminal insane to the institution. The State Farm was reorganized in 1955 as Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater. The State Hospital remained as a unit within the larger entity until 1987, when it was separated with its own superintendent.
Arrangement: Arranged numerically/chronologically by admission
Restrictions: Mental health client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 123B, s 36. Personal medical information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Related Catalog Records:
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