Two years ago my friend Paul Scott and I wrote an op-ed urging our legislators to invest in the Choices for Independence (CFI) waiver. Paul was one of thousands of medically vulnerable people in New Hampshire, ages 18 to over 100, who qualify for nursing homes but choose to remain in their own homes.

Paul suffered a catastrophic injury many years ago and it was through the CFI waiver that he was able to remain at home. Despite our plea, CFI is currently failing people like Paul.

Home and community-based care cost a fraction of what a nursing home does. Unfortunately, these programs have been underfunded for over a decade, so badly that New Hampshire ranks 50th in the amount of Medicaid funding it spends on home and community-based care.

How does a small staff of nine help guide over 80 individuals with developmental disabilitiesthrough a year of the pandemic? They do so through dedication, patience, bravery and ingenuity. Read more

After George Floyd’s murder, a symbolic line was drawn in the sand and we were expected to choose a side. Stand on the side that turns a blind eye to the actions of racist police officers against Black people or, in the name of justice and humanity, stand with Black people who are far too often targeted by and victims of racist police practices.

We knew there was but one side. Our values at Ascentria – courage, compassion, and integrity - guide that choice. Read more

Overcoming Challenges Together.

As we reflect back on this past year, it cannot be denied that it was extremely emotional in so many ways. We were, and still are, a nation coping with a pandemic, struggling with racial inequity, and dealing with political divisiveness. 

We’ve felt fear, despair, and uncertainty. But we are also starting to see new possibilities. Possibilities in new conversations, new commitment to change, and not just “returning to normal” but building a new, more equitable, more compassionate, more sustainable future. 

Thousands of Granite Staters depend on the CFI program. These are low-income, medically vulnerable individuals ages 18 to 100 who qualify for nursing homes, but who choose to remain in their own homes. Home and community-based care cost a fraction of what a nursing home does. Unfortunately, these programs have been underfunded for over a decade - so badly that New Hampshire ranks 50^th in the amount of Medicaid funding it spends on home and community-based care. Read more

Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that organizations in Boston, Holyoke, and Worcester will each receive grants to design career pathway programs that aim to promote financial stability for unemployed or underemployed adults. These grants are being awarded through the Learn to Earn (LTE) initiative which seeks to support individuals who are receiving assistance from public benefit programs in gaining and retaining employment in occupations for which employers have persistent demand.

Ascentria Care Alliance in Worcester, JRI/STRIVE Boston in Boston, and Holyoke Community College in Holyoke will work with partners to prepare jobseekers for in-demand careers in the healthcare industry such as residential supervisor, sterile processing technician, and community health workers.

Along with the vast majority of the American public, we are appalled, saddened and angry about the attack on our nation on Wednesday by a minority group of extremists with a narrow disruptive agenda. The disparate law enforcement treatment of a largely white mob caused further pain to people of color who have experienced much harsher protest responses. It is an unfortunate reminder that we remain a nation very much divided along political and racial lines. While healthy and peaceful political discourse is and always will be a welcome part of our society, there will never be a place for what happened at the US Capitol, and all participants need to be held accountable. Read more

An agent of change

Through roles in city government, education and Mechanics Hall, Stacey Luster’s impact on Worcester continues to reverberate.