Second Chances & Clean Slates

July 18, 2023

 

The LiveWell Springfield Age Friendly project with New North Citizen’s Council’s Debra Hunt Center and Men of Color Health Awareness have received a one-year grant from the Point32 Health Foundation to continue changing policies and systems that will support decisions that impact older adults who have criminal records. Our Second Chance Initiative aims to help people who are eligible to seal their Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) to have more equitable access to housing, jobs, education, and more. This work will focus on three paths concurrently: 


  1. Informing people about when and how to seal a CORI with the help of nonprofit legal clinics;
  2. Partnering with local housing authorities to clarify who are viable applicants; and
  3. Advocating for state legislation that would automatically seal CORIs when individuals are eligible so that Paths 2 and 3 are no longer essential.


This work builds on the health impact assessment we conducted with financial support from the Massachusetts Community Health & Healthy Aging Fund and Tufts Health Plan Foundation. We will continue partnering with the New North Citizen Council (NNCC) and Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) in Hampden County, along with the statewide Massachusetts Clean Slate Coalition. Twelve states already have second chance/clean slate laws, and we need Massachusetts to join those ranks to advance health equity and racial justice.

 

share this

Related Articles

Upcoming Webinar Sept 26 About Vaping & Nicotine Pouches

September 12, 2025
Vaping & Nicotine Pouches: Understanding the New Landscape Date: Friday, September 26, 2026 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm Join us for an informative webinar as we explore the evolving landscape of tobacco and nicotine use, with a special focus on vaping and nicotine pouches like Zyns. This session will offer a high-level overview of emerging products, usage trends, and potential mitigation strategies—especially relevant for youth, families, community-based organizations (CBOs), and municipalities. Featured Speakers: Dr. Nicole Porther, Chair of the Department of Health Professions, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Heather Warner, MPH, Hampshire Franklin Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Coordinator, Collaborative for Educational Services Moderator: Jessica Collins, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western MA

New Report! Rural Realities: Financial insecurity and health inequities in our rural communities

September 10, 2025
Check out our new report, Rural Realities: Financial insecurity and health inequities in our rural communities—insights from the 2023 Community Health Equity Survey - Western MA and Statewide . We created this report as part of our work as a Regional Data to Action Provider for the Community Health Equity Initiative . Rural communities have unique needs. It is important to understand how inequities and challenges manifest in rural areas in our Western MA region to support action based on assets and unique needs.

The Many Steps to Getting a Question on MA’s Statewide Ballot

August 19, 2025
2025-26 Ballot Question Timeline Initiative Petition for a Law