Massachusetts social workers 'at breaking point' over explosion of migrant families

Massachusetts services are said to beryllium astatine a breaking constituent amid a surge of migrant families successful West Springfield.

Social worker Jackie Willemain, 44, told nan Boston Globe her agency has been overwhelmed by nan needs of nan caller residents who are mostly staying successful shelters successful nan organization of astir 29,000.

The area's schools person been reportedly requesting items specified arsenic wipes, underwear and pants for nan migrant and exile students who are homeless. 

Willemain said that her caseload has gotten 5 times heavier complete nan past 2 years - pinch much than half of nan students being from migrant families.

One 13-year-old student was reportedly near suffering from headaches from squinting to spot nan board, but was acrophobic to show her mother complete her fearfulness that glasses would beryllium excessively costly - moreover though she was eligible for free glasses.

The number of English learners successful Massachusetts's schoolhouse grew by astir one-fifth, astir 16,000 students, from 2022 to 2024.

Many of nan migrant children travel from struggling nations specified arsenic Venezuela and Haiti and person ne'er received charismatic schooling aliases had their acquisition interrupted by warfare aliases agelong journeys to nan US. Some had ne'er held a pencil aliases sat astatine a desk, according to Willemain. 

The West Springfield district, pinch astir 4,000 students, has received complete $2.2 cardinal of nan $46 cardinal successful emergency assistance fixed by nan authorities to schoolhouse districts.

It has hired much English connection teachers and another homeless-family liaison to support up pinch nan caller arrivals.

However, nan assistance received by nan West Springfield territory only amounts to $104 per student per time - an magnitude societal workers opportunity is not astir enough.

State officials person sent dozens of migrant families to West Springfield arsenic it houses them successful its hotels and motels which person been turned into shelters.

The territory received a ample group of migrants successful October, 2022, astir of whom were fleeing unit successful Haiti.

The town’s mayor, William Reichelt told nan Globe that authorities officials ne'er informed section authorities of their scheme to nonstop nan families to West Springfield.

The influx of migrant families has led immoderate for illustration municipality councilor Daniel O'Brien to lobby against supply further resources for nan migrants. 

O'Brien tried, unsuccessfully, to trim $1 cardinal from nan schoolhouse fund earlier this year, saying his 'constituents are tired, they’re angry, and they’re fed up pinch being dumped on.'

Immigrant populations person strained schools successful galore communities successful nan US, arsenic nan occidental hemisphere deals pinch various humanitarian and governmental crises successful countries for illustration Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba. 

Though much than 2,000 miles from nan confederate border, Massachusetts has seen immoderate 50,000 newcomers since January 2021.

Some joined relatives, others sought jobs successful Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and different large cities.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, successful January joined 8 counterparts from different migrant-hit states, asked nan White House and Congress for action astatine nan separator and billions of other dollars to support services running.