Facts In Action

On February 24, Governor Mitt Romney unveiled his plan to reorganize the Commonwealth's 16 Health and Human Services Agencies. While Massachusetts is facing a severe budget deficit, Romney suggests that the purpose of the reorganization is not to save money. The goal is to increase the efficiency of state agencies, so that more resources can be allocated to actual service delivery.

Another suggested benefit of the reorganization is the potential to simplify the experience of families that receive services. Under Romney's proposal, individuals will enter the HHS system through one portal — the local office of the primary agency providing services to them. From there, a lead caseworker will determine if the family needs services provided by other agencies and will help the family secure those services.

Through the reorganization, the HHS agencies will be divided into four groups:

• Children, Youth and Families
• Disabilities and Community Service
• Health
• Elder Affairs

The Children, Youth and Families division will include the Department of Social Services; the Office of Child Care Services; the Department of Transitional Assistance; the Department of Youth Services and the Office for Refugees and Immigrants.

The restructuring calls for the elimination of two agencies, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy and the Division of Medical Assistance. The functions of these agencies will be transferred to other departments. In addition, the human resources, accounting, legal and technical support positions that now exist in individual agencies will be consolidated, with one office to function for the entire secretariat.

Individuals who receive services may be impacted by state-wide budget cuts. However, the administration claims that no one will lose services as a result of reorganization efforts. Agency staff are more likely to feel the effects of reorganization; layoffs are inevitable as the governor attempts to eliminate duplication and consolidate similar functions across the agencies.

For more information:
look online at www.mass.gov.

Facts in Action, March/April 2003