In this week’s episode, Jennifer welcomes Jaclyn Corriveau, a dedicated foster parent, court advocate with CASA Boston, and passionate supporter of vulnerable children in Massachusetts. Jaclyn has opened her heart and home to teens in the foster care system and has firsthand experience with the challenges facing both children and the system meant to protect them. A single woman with a strong record of public service and advocacy, Jaclyn now dedicates her energy to CASA Boston, supporting kids who are caught in the bureaucracy of state care, while promoting community engagement as a solution to systemic failures.

Jennifer and Jaclyn dive into the alarming issue of missing children in Massachusetts, spotlighted by the Boston Globe’s “Lost Children of Massachusetts” article. They unpack shocking statistics about kids, particularly teenagers, who go missing from state care every year and examine the disproportionate impact on minority populations. The conversation confronts the failures of the system, the lack of mental health and social work resources, and the real dangers faced by runaway youth, including higher risks of drug abuse and sex trafficking. Jaclyn offers personal insight on why so many teens run, from lack of trust to being overwhelmed by a system stacked against them. They explore the necessity for immediate and preventative reforms, emphasize the importance of funding and volunteers, and encourage listeners to become part of the solution.

“We have too many kids in the system, and we could have prevented a lot of it by giving resources to families that really needed it.” ~Jaclyn Corriveau

This week on Political Contessa:

• 600 children go missing from Massachusetts state care each year
• One in seven teens in state care will run away
• Disproportionate representation of Hispanic and Black youth among runaways
• Direct links between missing foster youth and sex trafficking
• Department of Children and Families is critically underfunded and understaffed
• Mental health and trust issues are major factors in teens running away
• Preventative family support programs are essential to stop removals before they start
• Volunteering with CASA and fostering can be life-changing for kids and advocates alike

Connect with Jaclyn Corriveau and Mentioned Resources:

CASA Boston Volunteer information

The Wonder Fund – Supports children in DCF care

Boston Globe “Lost Children of Massachusetts”

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