Council panel reviews child abuse resources

Select Board · Meeting of April 28, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield City Council committee reviewed child abuse reporting and funding gaps Tuesday. A representative of Helix Human Services, identified only as Mark, told members Massachusetts confirms roughly 14 child abuse cases per 1,000 children, compared with seven per 1,000 nationally, and walked the panel through the state's 51A and 51B reporting process. City Council President Tracy Whitfield, a former kinship foster parent, said of DCF, "they tend to side with the parents a lot." Elizabeth Rogers of the Bay State Family Advocacy Center said federal VOCA funding fell from about $42 million to $30 million statewide while applicant agencies grew past 100, and said her center's waiting list runs about six months.

Councilor Victor Davila pushed to add social media bullying to a future agenda. No votes were taken.

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• Springfield's community access TV: Select Board meeting, April 28, 2026
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Source: the Select Board meeting of April 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.