Press Release: 12/30/2025
Providers’ Council marks 50 years with major advocacy wins and record-breaking engagement in 2025
DECEMBER 29, 2025
As 2025 is coming to a close, the Providers’ Council reflects on a year marked by significant progress and meaningful impact. From major policy advances to a robust slate of educational opportunities, the Council is proud of the strides it has taken to further its mission of advancing the interests of the human services sector and providers through advocacy, education, and engagement of diverse stakeholders for collective impact.
This year also marked the Council’s 50th Anniversary – an important milestone not just for the Council, but for the human services sector. Throughout 2025, the Council celebrated its legacy with a series of articles in The Provider highlighting its contributions over the past five decades. It also unveiled a timeline chronicling its half a century and showcased it during its 50th Anniversary Celebration in April where members came from across the state to celebrate the organization.
Advocacy remained a top priority in 2025 as the Council worked to advance its two legislative priorities, An act relative to a loan repayment program for human service workers and An act relative to a livable wage for human services workers. The Senate version of the Council’s livable wage bill was reported favorably to the Senate Ways and Means Committee after a hearing on September 22, at which the Council and several of its members testified before the Joint Committees on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. The Council’s student loan repayment bill has been reported to both the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees.
These achievements would not have been possible without the support of the Council’s grassroots advocacy group, The Caring Force, which hosted five regional rallies in 2025 to not only support the Council’s bills, but also to celebrate the work of direct support staff across the state. This year, The Caring Force brought back its regional rally series, hosting rallies South of Boston, in Merrimack Valley and for Western Massachusetts; it also supported advocacy efforts in MetroWest, Central Massachusetts and the Berkshires. TCF hosted its 13th Annual Caring Force Rally at the State House in May, gathering over 600 Caring Force members together to celebrate the sector.
The Council’s commitment to providing high-quality, affordable and varied learning opportunities for members was also a top priority in 2025. This year the Council hosted about 70 training courses, webinars and workshops annually covering a wide variety of topics, including its popular Success as a New Supervisor Series. The Council also continued its partnership with Suffolk University to offer the Certificate in Nonprofit Human Services Management. The program has graduated about 750 human services professionals, including the 44 future leaders who graduated in 2025.
The Council also hosted its 50th Annual Convention & Expo, 50 Years Together: Celebrating Today, Shaping Tomorrow, bringing together a sold-out crowd of nearly 1,200 attendees connected to Massachusetts’ community-based human services sector. Held on October 6 at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel in Boston, the event marked the Council’s golden anniversary. Cait Donovan, host of “Fried: The Burnout Podcast” and author of The Bouncebackability Factor, gave this year’s keynote address. In addition to her keynote address, Donovan also hosted two workshop sessions on burnout.
This year, the Council added some new elements to its annual convention including adding a third workshop block, allowing attendees an opportunity for additional learning across 39 workshops – a record number for the event. To honor the dedication of individuals and organizations across the Commonwealth, the Council presented 12 awards, including 10 Awards of Excellence and 2 Peer Provider awards, to individuals and organizations celebrating their tremendous contributions. The Council also recognized scholarship awardees with its 50k for 50 Years Scholarship Fund, providing a record amount of scholarship funding to nine Providers’ Council member employees.
The Council is thankful to its members and all who helped make this year a success, and we look forward to continuing to build on these accomplishments in 2026.