Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee - MHLAC

10/16/2026

MHLAC is hiring for two positions: an Advocacy Director and a Legal Advocate (Attorney or Paralegal)!

For the job descriptions and more information on how to apply, visit our website: https://mhlac.org/employment-opportunities/

Applications can be submitted to [email protected]. The search for an Advocacy Director is open until filled, and the deadline to apply for the Legal Advocate position is October 30th, 2026.

10/02/2026

Staff Attorney, Ivy Moody, quoted in MassLive's article on a young man's su***de in a max-security prison,

“There is certainly what appears to be a culture at Souza of minimizing and dismissing mental health concerns"

Newly obtained records, photos and eyewitness accounts raise questions about ignored pleas for mental health care before Zahkuan Bailey-Sweeting died at Souza-Baranowski.

09/14/2026

Attention Springfield: MHAP for Kids and MHLAC are hosting a School Bullying Training this Wednesday Sept 16,2026 5pm-7pm at Gandara Family Resource Center (1095 Main St.)

Please spread the word!

07/31/2026

MHLAC filed a recent lawsuit against the state's department of correction, claiming it was denied access to data about health services provided in one state prison by a private contractor.

M. Claire Masinton, a staff attorney for the MHLAC, told Law360 that the agency felt it was necessary to sue the DOC not only to secure the information it has requested, but also to ensure that state agencies cannot hide behind private contractors to keep records out of public view in the future.

Read more below:

A Massachusetts mental health legal advocacy committee has filed a lawsuit against the state's department of correction, claiming it was denied access to data about health services provided in one state prison by a private contractor.

07/16/2026

We need your support! The Senate is voting on amendments to the Healthcare Workplace Violence bill THIS Thursday.

Use the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH)'s action alert link to easily email your State Senators to co-sponsor amendment 8. https://secure.everyaction.com/cdU8yZgTTUOJu5ugu_8KvA2?emci=4d97e711-937f-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&emdi=bd9b3056-967f-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&ceid=4298276

We'd really appreciate it if you take a few minutes to take action. The sooner the better!

07/14/2026

Schools cannot require students to choose between receiving help learning English and special education services. We want to hear from families who have experienced:
- Pressure to choose one service over the other
- Reduced language support after an IEP was developed
- Delays in evaluations or services
https://mhlac.org/free-legal-clinic/

Email "[email protected]" or call (617-391-9712) to let us know your story. For more information, visit https://mhlac.org/free-legal-clinic/

Las escuelas no pueden exigir que los estudiantes elijan entre recibir ayuda para aprender inglés y servicios de educación especial. Queremos escuchar a las familias que han experimentado:
- Presión para elegir un servicio en lugar del otro
- Reducción del apoyo para aprender inglés después de que se desarrolló un IEP
- Retrasos en las evaluaciones o servicios

Envía un correo electrónico a "[email protected]" o llámanos a (617-391-9712) para contarnos tu historia. Para obtener más información, visite https://mhlac.org/clinica-legal-gratuita/

07/14/2026

Were you or your student affected by elevator outages at Springfield Sci-Tech? If yes, please tell us your experience!

Email "[email protected]" or call (617-391-9712) to let us know your story. For more information, visit https://mhlac.org/free-legal-clinic/

¿Usted o su estudiante se vieron afectados por las fallas en los ascensores en Springfield Sci-Tech? Cuéntanos tu experiencia.

Envía un correo electrónico a "[email protected]" o llámanos a (617-391-9712) para contarnos tu historia. Para obtener más información, visite https://mhlac.org/clinica-legal-gratuita/

07/13/2026

Are there things that happened with school police in your district that you want people to know about?

The Model SRO MOU Review Commission is currently updating the Model MOU and wants to hear from you. (MHLAC is a member of the Commission.)

You can:
· Respond to this survey - https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8879170/2026-Model-SRO-MOU-Public-Input-Survey-Language-Selection
· Join an online listening session by registering here (https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ONCanCK1SQa7LbXsMZi-rA #/registration) for:
o Tuesday, July 7, 2026: 7-8 PM
o Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 8-9 AM
o Tuesday, July 21, 2026: 12-1 PM
· Submit written comments to [email protected].

Comments and survey responses must be submitted by July 31, 2026

About the SRO MOU:

Massachusetts requires all school districts with school resource officers (SROs) to adopt its Model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with their local police. The Model MOU requires schools and police to:
· Publicly report school-based arrests
· Prohibit SROs from using police powers for school discipline
· Annually review their SROs’ compliance with these laws

06/22/2026

residents: don't forget to read and sign the petition to demand transparency in what police are doing in our schools. You have until tomorrow, Tuesday June 23rd, to sign the petition. Sign here: https://forms.gle/cwpy7TGmi9eS79g1A (or scan the QR code to sign)

Sign the School Policing Transparency Petition to urge the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to make rules for how schools report arrests and students’ interactions with police at school!

https://forms.gle/cwpy7TGmi9eS79g1A

We need as many signatures as we can get by Tuesday, June 23. Signers must be current Massachusetts residents.

Massachusetts residents deserve transparency on school policing. With our partner Citizens for Juvenile Justice, we advocate for clearer instructions on reporting school policing data throughout Massachusetts.

06/12/2026

Sign the School Policing Transparency Petition to urge the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to make rules for how schools report arrests and students’ interactions with police at school!

https://forms.gle/cwpy7TGmi9eS79g1A

We need as many signatures as we can get by Tuesday, June 23. Signers must be current Massachusetts residents.

Massachusetts residents deserve transparency on school policing. With our partner Citizens for Juvenile Justice, we advocate for clearer instructions on reporting school policing data throughout Massachusetts.