UPDATE: The Massachusetts dashboard now includes COVID 19 data about congregate care facilities, including DDS group homes. You can find the latest information here. Thanks to everyone for your advocacy efforts!!
Thank you for taking action to protect people with autism and other disabilities who live in congregate care settings, such as group homes!
Please follow these steps to email your state senator and representative:
- If you don’t know the email address for your state senator and representative, click this link to find their emails: https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator
- Copy Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo on your email: Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov Robert.DeLeo@mahouse.gov
- Your subject can read: COVID19 data collection bill must include congregate care facilities
- Copy and paste the letter below into the body of your email, adding any personal information you wish.
Thank you for making your voice heard!
Dear Senator/Representative _:
Thank you for all that you are doing to protect Massachusetts residents, including those with autism and other disabilities, during this terrible time. I truly appreciate your hard work on our behalf!
As you know, the Legislature is currently debating several bills which would require entities such as nursing homes to report the number of known COVID-19 cases and mortalities among residents and employees, and for that data to be released to the public.
I am writing to urge you to include congregate care facilities, including state operated group homes and group homes run by community providers, in the final COVID-19 data collection bill.
Families with loved ones who live in congregate care settings deserve to have full information about COVID-19 testing results and actual death counts in specific facilities. The general public is entitled to data transparency since taxpayers help fund congregate care.
Thank you for advocating to include congregate care facilities, including group homes operated by the state or community providers, in the final COVID-19 data collection bill.
Sincerely,
Your Name