Advocacy Alert: Young Parent GED Program Needs Your Advocacy

Policymakers in Conference Committee are making their final decisions about which programs to fund and at what levels in the fiscal year 2011 Massachusetts state budget. Funding for the Young Parent GED Program (YPP) is at high risk of being reduced and legislators need to hear from you about protecting this program! The Commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance stated she will cut YPP by 33% if the Employment Services Program, which includes YPP does not maintain its current funding level.

Please CALL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS before Friday, June 18 and urge them to maintain funding for the Employment Services Program. Below is contact information for conference committee members and a script for your calls.

Conference Committee Members:

Representative Charles Murphy, House Ways and Means Chair: 617-722-2990
Representative Barbara L’Italien: 617-722-2380
Representative Robert Hargraves: 617-722-2305
Senator Steven Panagiotakos, Senate Ways and Means Chair: 617-722-1630
Senator Stephen Brewer: 617-722-1540
Senator Michael Knapik: 617-722-1415

Script

Hi, my name is ________, and I am calling from _______. I am calling to urge Representative/Senator _______ to adopt the House version of Employment Services (DTA 4401-1000), which allocates $23 million. Commissioner Kehoe has announced that YPP will be cut by 33% if Employment Services is not funded at maintenance level. Without this program well over 300 teen parents will likely not finish their secondary education nor be able to secure a family sustaining wage.  This means increased state costs in health care, public assistance, housing & other social supports.
Thank you