Desi's Story: Improving Student Success and Mental Health Through Appropriate Educational Support | | |
Desarai is an introverted 15-year-old who loves to cook and volunteer in her community. Since Desi was in first grade, she struggled to keep up with her peers in school. Her mother, Eve, was concerned about her falling behind and asked for Desi to receive an educational evaluation to determine what kind of extra support she needed to succeed. Year after year, Desi's school denied that she needed additional support and kept pushing her along to the next grade.
“For many years, I fought by myself,” Eve says, “They kept pushing her through, but I don’t want her going [to the next grade] if she’s not passing.”
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After years of advocating on her own and facing rejections, Eve looked elsewhere for help. She reached out to the Everett Family Resource Center who referred her to HLA’s Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids (MHAP for Kids). Attorney Stephanie Ozahowski started working with Eve to get Desi an evaluation for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Despite the school repeatedly finding Desi ineligible for an IEP, Stephanie suspected that the testing was not uncovering the whole picture.
“It was a huge help to have someone come in and see what I’m seeing,” Eve describes, “The school didn’t take me seriously until [MHAP for Kids] got involved.”
Desi’s academic struggles and lack of support led to growing anxiety around school, sometimes causing her to have panic attacks in the classroom. She started to stay home from school on days when her anxiety was unbearable.
“[Desi] is a good kid who wants to do well, but can’t for some reason,” Stephanie explains, pushing back against the school’s claims that Desi was simply not trying hard enough.
During the process of securing an evaluation, Desi’s mental health continued to decline, and eventually she stopped attending school entirely. Because of her frequent absences, the school filed a Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) case in Juvenile Court, threatening to take Desi away from her mom. This case is an example of how children who need therapeutic support in school are too often sent to juvenile court according to a 2025 report by the Office of the Child Advocate.
Stephanie attended the CRA hearing to advocate for Desi to stay with Eve. At the CRA hearing, Stephanie explained Desi’s circumstances to the judge, arguing that it was “one of the worst cases of educational neglect I have ever seen.” After hearing Stephanie’s argument, the judge indefinitely suspended the CRA.
Stephanie continued to advocate for an independent evaluation for Desi and eventually the school agreed. The evaluation found that Desi has a dyslexia diagnosis and her reading ability was far behind that of her peers. An additional evaluation found that she also had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The school initially rejected the findings of the evaluation, so Stephanie swiftly filed an appeal at the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA). Through meticulous advocacy, Stephanie secured summer services for Desi to support her reading progress.
After completing her in-person summer course, Desi decided to finish her high school degree through taking classes online. She has a better understanding of how her brain operates and what she needs to support her learning moving forward. She has not experienced any panic attacks since starting online courses.
Eve is grateful that Desi is in a better place now and wishes that more families could get the support that she found with MHAP for Kids.
Learn more about MHAP for Kids here.
| | Fernanda's Story: HLA Partners with Providers to Access Lifesaving Care | | |
Fernanda* came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2022 for a professional opportunity she had landed. Fernanda had been dealing with health issues for years, but it wasn’t until she became pregnant and received prenatal care that she discovered the root cause. An MRI scan she received in connection with pregnancy complications revealed that she had a mass in her liver. Her doctors diagnosed her with a rare form of liver cancer.
“I was so scared,” Fernanda remembers, “I didn’t want to leave my son.”
After she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, her health insurance coverage was downgraded from MassHealth Standard to MassHealth Limited, which only covers treatment for emergency medical conditions. Her care team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) informed her that her new plan would not cover a life-saving liver transplant or treatment of the disease. Fernanda spoke to her social worker at DFCI who referred her to Health Law Advocates through our Medical-Legal Partnership for Immigrants (MLPI) with DFCI.
Staff Attorney Mindi Greenberg started working with Fernanda and her providers to reverse the termination of her comprehensive insurance coverage. Mindi coordinated with Fernanda’s medical team and carefully assessed Fernanda's legal eligibility for health insurance coverage. HLA's MLPI specializes in working with hospitals and health centers to navigate the complexities of health insurance coverage for their immigrant patients. These complexities often lead immigrants to be enrolled in coverage with far few benefits than they are eligible for.
Mindi provided her legal analysis and a letter from Fernanda's oncologist to MassHealth officials who agreed that she was eligible for reinstatement in comprehensive coverage. Now, her health plan will cover the life-saving health care that Fernanda needs.
“I feel so grateful for the opportunity to receive help, and for the opportunity to be with my son,” Fernanda says.
Thankfully, Fernanda learned about her rare condition and connected with Mindi early enough that treatment is possible. However, Mindi has shared that many of her immigrant clients are scared to visit the hospital because of the increase in oppressive immigration enforcement by federal agencies. As a result, some delay care past the point of viable treatment.
In addition to their individual advocacy, HLA's MLPI team has advocated for policy changes to expand coverage for immigrants and led trainings for providers on protecting patient safety and privacy (read this issue's Training Round Up section to learn more!).
“Everyone is making an effort to improve the system [for immigrants],” Mindi emphasized, sharing that she feels encouraged by the hard work of our allies in Massachusetts fighting against barriers to health care imposed by federal policies and actions.
Learn more about MLPI here.
*Name changed for privacy
| | Federal Attacks on Immigrant Health Care Intensify | |
HLA, along with our partners in the fight for equitable health care access, is committed to ensuring populations targeted by the federal Administration are protected, represented, and empowered.
In July 2025, the President signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which provides steep tax cuts for the very wealthy, while significantly cutting funding for health care, food assistance, and education.
As a result, tens of thousands of lawfully present immigrants across Massachusetts with income below the poverty line recently received notice that they no longer qualify for federally-funded comprehensive insurance coverage provided through the Massachusetts Health Connector. This policy change, and others in the OBBBA yet to take effect, threaten to undo decades of progress in our fight for universal health care access.
But, HLA and our allies are mobilizing to protect health care access for the 30,000+ lawfully present immigrants who are the first to become uninsured due to the OBBBA.
From our experience working with thousands of uninsured/underinsured immigrant clients over the years, we know that carefully reviewing their eligibility for coverage often results in finding they are eligible for benefits. This is why we have advocated for proactive, coordinated outreach efforts to the tens of thousands of immigrants who recently lost coverage due to the OBBBA to determine if they remain eligible for coverage due to a change in circumstances. In the past several weeks, more than 7,500 immigrants who lost coverage due to the OBBBA have been found eligible for other comprehensive coverage, and we believe others can as well.
HLA also supports using state resources to maintain coverage for immigrants with income below the poverty line who lost coverage due to the OBBBA and are not eligible for other coverage. Doing so will not only protect the health of this population, but it will provide other significant benefits to the residents of Massachusetts.
First, it would lower health insurance costs for others who receive insurance through the Health Connector (U.S. citizens and immigrants). Second, it would prevent additional overcrowding at hospital emergency departments and health centers where those newly who've lost coverage must seek care. Third, it will eliminate the need to spend an additional hundreds of millions of dollars in the next few years for the state's Health Safety Net which pays for some health services for the uninsured.
We are encouraged by recent steps the state has taken to counteract some of the major health care barriers imposed by recent federal policies. There is much more work to do and HLA will continue fighting for health care coverage, particularly for those who have been historically left behind.
Beyond Coverage Terminations: More Threats to Immigrants' Access to Care
The devastating effects of the OBBBA are coupled with other recent federal developments threatening to cut off access to care for immigrants. On December 29, 2025, a federal court ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may access personal data of undocumented immigrants, including names and addresses, from Medicaid databases. Massachusetts is one of 22 states that tried to block this action by filing a lawsuit, which HLA supported by contributing to an amicus brief filed by the National Health Law Program and signed by HLA.
But despite these efforts to curb ICE’s reach, the intended result is taking shape. As described in a recent Boston Globe piece, which featured comments from the Director/Lead Attorney of HLA's Access to Care and Coverage Practice (ACC) Andrew Cohen, immigrant patients are cancelling appointments, unenrolling from health care coverage, and putting off necessary medical treatment for as long as possible.
“The whole purpose is to sow fear and confusion,” says Andrew. The ruling will have a chilling effect on health care access, leading to delayed treatment, overcrowded emergency rooms, and higher costs.
Anxiety among immigrant residents is further fueled by potential changes to federal “public charge” rules, which could allow immigration officials greater discretion to deny visas or Green Cards to people deemed likely to rely on public benefits. On December 19, 2025, HLA and Health Care For All (HCFA) submitted comments, co-authored with attorneys from Foley Hoag, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opposing the proposed changes to the federal public charge rules. If not withdrawn, the new rules would discourage people from seeking health care, undermine decades of health policy, threaten health coverage for some of our most vulnerable communities, and give immigration officers unchecked authority to determine public charge decisions.
“The end result will be far fewer immigrants. A significant portion of the population of skilled and manual laborers – certified nursing assistants, home health aides, farmworkers – will be forced to leave,” says Andrew, “And Massachusetts will suffer for it.”
Put simply, the federal Administration's agenda to "sow fear and confusion" is not only immoral and racist, but it harms us economically and diminishes access to health care for everyone. It is imperative that HLA, standing with our partners in health care and immigrant advocacy, continue to pay attention, work together, and fight for the health of our community.
Are you a lawyer and interested in providing needed legal assistance to immigrants seeking access to health care? Learn more about HLA's Pro Bono Legal Network.
| | Sharing HLA's "Unique Knowledge" of Immigrant Health Care Access in Recent Trainings | | Supervising Attorney Jen Cedor, Staff Attorney Mindi Greenberg, and Executive Director Matt Selig visited Worcester RISE for Health this month to kick off a partnership with RISE and other regional health care providers to protect immigrants' access to health care. | | With the passage of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and relentless targeting of immigrant communities by the federal Administration, HLA has seen an increase in requests for trainings on immigrant health care access. Our Immigrant Health team has been busy facilitating trainings for our Medical-Legal Partnership for Immigrants (MLPI) partners and other community-based organizations across Massachusetts. | | In recent months, Supervising Attorney Jennifer Cedor and Staff Attorney Mindi Greenberg have led several trainings on the basics of immigrant eligibility for MassHealth and other coverage programs. In each training, they shared an overview of immigrant eligibility and what materials patients need to submit to the state to obtain or upgrade their coverage. Some of their trainings covered additional challenges that impact immigrants' access to care, such as federal public charge rules or protecting patient safety and privacy in the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). | | |
The goal of these trainings is to empower community-based organizations and providers by giving them tools to more effectively help their patients and clients. While HLA cannot provide individual representation to everyone, these trainings ensure “more people can benefit from the unique knowledge about immigrant access to health care that HLA has,” describes Mindi.
“We can share what we know and clarify for providers what they should be telling their patients,” explains Mindi.
By connecting with providers and community-based organizations in these trainings, HLA's team is able to ensure that state officials hear their additional perspectives on what fears and obstacles communities are facing.
Sharing accurate information about immigrants' health care access has been a key part of HLA’s strategy for combatting deliberate misinformation and fearmongering geared towards immigrant communities.
Learn more about our Immigrant Health Care Access Initiative here.
| | Celebrating Three Decades of Advocacy at the 30th Annual Benefit Breakfast | | Jad Abumrad, featured speaker of the 30th Annual Benefit Breakfast | | |
This past November, HLA commemorated 30 years of advocating for accessible health care. We celebrated at the 30th Annual Benefit Breakfast and welcomed more than 700 health care lawyers, providers, advocates, and other supporters to the Sheraton Boston Hotel, setting a record high attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic.
After an hour of networking, guests settled into their seats for the program. Emcee and host Abbey Niezgoda, News Manager at NBC-10, kicked off the event and introduced HLA's Executive Director, Matt Selig, who gave us a glimpse of the challenges ahead in the context of HLA's 30-year history of advocacy.
We heard from Fransis and Rachel about how HLA helped them access mental health care for their loved ones at critical moments in their lives (watch Rachel's story here). Dr. Michael Curry, CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, spoke from a provider perspective and shared how HLA is integral in enhancing health care equity.
Our Breakfast Co-chairs, Lois Dehls Cornell, Executive VP of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and Mark E. Reynolds, CEO of CRICO, continued their months-long ambassadorship by sharing the necessity of HLA's work and emphasizing a core belief that we all share: health care is a human right. Mala Rafik, member of HLA's Board of Directors, gave a touching tribute to Steve Rosenfeld, HLA's founder and life-long health care advocate, ending in a standing ovation for Steve.
Then, award-winning journalist and podcast producer, Jad Abumrad, took the stage. Through a multi-media presentation filled with humor, sound effects, and his unique perspective, Jad asked the question: how do we build meaningful connections? This was a class on how to have productive, impactful interactions, complete with audience participation. When we communicate effectively, we can advocate effectively.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, partners, and guests, we were able to exceed our fundraising goal and ensure that HLA has a strong start in 2026.
Look out for details on the 31st Annual Benefit Breakfast in the next few months!
| | Watch Rachel & Michael's Story, which premiered at the 30th Annual Benefit Breakfast, to learn more about the impact of the Mental Health Access Program for Kids. | | |
HLA seeks an experienced, self-motivated, creative plaintiffs' litigator to enhance its in-court practice.
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Staff Attorney
HLA seeks a highly qualified, motivated lawyer with knowledge of the juvenile court, mental health, and/or education systems to join the talented MHAP for Kids team as our Staff Attorney based in Fitchburg.
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HLA seeks law students who are interested in public interest law and passionate about alleviating barriers to care to support our Access to Care and Coverage Practice and Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids.
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Call to join HLA's Pro Bono Legal Network!
Our staff attorneys work hard to represent every client who needs our help, but the demand for our services is high. Help us reduce the waitlist and ensure anyone who comes to HLA for help has access to an attorney. For free.
Learn more about becoming a member of the Pro Bono Legal Network.
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