►
Description
On this episode of Commissioners Corner, host Lois Leonard talks with Marty Martinez, Boston's Chief of Health and Human Services. It is the largest cabinet in City Hall, but Chief Martinez still knows all of the tiniest parts that make the machine work, highlighting everything all of his departments are doing to make Boston a place where everyone can live happy, healthy lives.
A
Hi
and
welcome
to
commissioner's
corner
I'm,
your
host
Lois
Leonard
and
thanks
for
joining
us
today.
Recently
we've
had
discussions
with
directors
from
the
Boston
Public
Health
Commission
the
office
for
immigrant
advancement
and
the
mayor's
office
of
recovery
services.
Today
we
have
the
pleasure
to
meet
with
the
chief
of
Health
and
Human
Services
Marty
Martinez,
whose
job
is
to
oversee
all
these
departments,
as
well
as
a
few
others.
Welcome
to
the
show
chief
Martinez
thanks.
B
B
Absolutely
so,
as
the
chief
of
Health
and
Human
Services,
I
oversee
roughly
eight
different
departments
in
partnership
with
an
amazing
set
of
leadership
department,
heads
staff,
it's
the
largest
cabinet
in
city
government,
and
it
includes
such
exciting
programs
and
we're
gonna
advance
when
Public
Health
Commission
recovery
services,
and
so
it's
really
important
work
I
mean
I
would
suggest
it
is
the
core
of
the
web
of
social
services
that
the
city
provides
and
partners
with
it.
But
it's
an
exciting
place
to
sort
of
work,
an
exciting
place
to
sort
of
elevate.
B
B
A
B
The
common
thread
is
really:
these
are
the
departments
that
are
serving
the
communities
who
need
it.
The
most
I
mean
it's
really
serving
we
lots
of
times.
You
talk
about
vulnerable
populations,
folks,
most
in
need.
We
would
suggest
in
Health
and
Human
Services.
It's
really.
You
know.
We've
talked
a
lot
about
trying
to
get
people
into
the
middle
class.
Before
you
get
people
into
the
middle
class,
it's
really
about.
How
do
you
give
them
those
basic
services?
They
might
need
the
supports?
They
need
access
to
resources.
B
So
really
it's
helping
people
not
only
get
by,
but
we
see
it
more
about
helping
people
thrive
and
ensuring
that
the
different
populations
that
we're
targeting
have
the
supports
they
need,
but
also
people
understand
kind
of
what
resources
are
there,
where
there's
gaps
and
so
for
us,
it's
really
trying
to
make
sure
scabs
get
filled
and
I
think
it's
it's
a
core
piece
of
city
government.
What.
B
I
mean
most
big
urban
cities
have
a
lot
of
these
programs
and
apartments,
but
I
think
one
of
the
unique
things
is
mayor.
Walsh
has
been
so
committed
to
ensuring
that
the
resources
for
Health
and
Human
Services
are
there
to
support
the
community.
I
mean
he's
really
said.
Listen,
this
isn't
just
other
stuff.
We
do.
This
is
core
to
what
we
do
with
city
government.
B
So
not
only
has
he
emphasized
it
throughout
the
administration,
but
he's
also
ensure
that
we're
elevating
many
of
the
issues
we
need
to,
especially
given
some
of
the
changes
in
the
federal
government
and
things
that
are
happening
on
that
front.
These
services
are
really
important
at
the
city
level,
and
so
that's
what's
critical.
You.
A
B
So
the
mayor's
office
of
immigrant
advancement
has
really
been
working
to
make
sure
that
community
understands
we
protect
them.
We
support
them,
but
we
need
to
advocate
to
the
federal
government,
which
has
been
a
huge
piece
for
the
mayor
as
well.
So
as
you
can
imagine
every
day
it's
about
responding
to
issues,
but
also
we
we
want
to
make
sure
we're
bringing
the
mayor's
pro-immigrant.
You
know
proactive
message
to
the
community,
so
people
feel
safe
and
they
have
a
champion
at
City,
Hall
right.
B
Awareness
building
you
know
recent,
the
Greater
Boston
Food
Bank
just
released
a
report
that
said
the
cost
of
hunger
in
Massachusetts
is
over
two
billion
dollars,
I
mean
think
about.
It
was
like
two
billion
dollars
in
loss.
You
know:
lost
attainment
of
young
people's
educational
values
in
medical
services,
special
education.
If
you're,
if
you're
hungry
you
can't
you
can't
learn
if
you're
hungry,
you
can't
work
if
you're
hungry
thinking
about
those
basic
things.
You
have
a
tough
time.
Thinking
about
other
other
resources.
You
may
need
so.
B
B
B
Yeah
absolutely
I,
think
public
awareness
and
I
also
think
the
mayor
said
this
time
and
time
again
understanding.
You
know
a
basic
necessity
that
people
need
to
live,
which
is
food
and
knowing
that
many
families
struggle
with
it.
And
then
hunger
is
an
issue
that
we
have
to
work
at
every
day.
So
it
is
not
only
building
awareness,
but
it's
making
sure
that
there's
gaps
in
the
community
that
we're
creating
programs
to
fill
those
gaps.
B
B
Our
neighbor
or
we
think,
oh,
that's,
people
who
are
dealing
with
hunger
or
those
kinds
of
people,
so
I'll
tell
you
that
our
community
health
centers
are
a
great
example
that
we
partner
with
with
the
Health
Commission
almost
every
Community
Health
Center
has
a
food
pantry
and
20
years
ago.
That
wasn't
the
case
and
they
have
them
now,
not
just
because
it's
a
good
idea.
They
have
them
now,
because
people
need
that
people
are
coming
to
employments,
where
we
don't
know
where
we're
gonna
eat.
Today
we
don't.
A
B
B
I
think
it's
it's
an
important
piece
and
I'm,
not
sure
that
we
think
enough
about
it,
and
so
you
know
one
of
the
things
I'll
just
share
with
you.
One
of
the
pushes
around
for
advocacy
is
the
notion.
Then,
when
you
go
to
the
doctor's,
no
matter
what
you're
going
to
the
doctors
for
no
matter
where
you
live,
you
should
be
checked
for
food
insecurity.
Your
doctor
should
be
asking
you
about.
A
B
A
B
B
B
B
There
was
one
of
our
annual
are
kind
of
multiple
times
a
year
when
it
happens
where
we
go
door-to-door
and
we
thank
veterans
for
their
service
and
it's
not
only
to
say
thank
you
and
to
make
sure
they're
appreciated,
but
it's
also
that
to
connect
them
to
resources
and
opportunities,
those
who
might
need
financial
systems,
job
training
or
they're
struggling
with
housing.
It's
really
incredibly
valuable,
I'm.
B
B
A
B
Launched
several
years
ago,
which
was
really
about
making
sure
all
Bostonian
young
people
have
the
mentors
and
relationships
in
their
life
to
be
successful,
I
sort
of
see
the
work
and
as
leveling
the
playing
field
for
some
youth.
They
have
those
relationships
at
home,
they
have
them
in
school
or
they
have
them
through
extracurricular
and
some
youth
don't
have
them,
and
so
it's,
how
do
we
make
sure
they
have?
The
right
supports
to
be
able
to
get
get
to
have
those
relationships,
help
them
get
what
they're
trying
to
accomplish,
but.
A
B
Right
now,
for
example,
every
Wednesday
I
go
to
the
Burke
in
the
morning
before
this
workday
starts
and
connect
with
the
student,
my
student,
that
I
work
with
that
I've
been
working
with
I'm
doing
this
for
four
years
there
and
we
spend
time
talking
about
school
in
class
and
jobs,
and
you
know
building
that
connection.
So
maybe
later
in
the
day
when
I
have
a
meeting
with
a
hospital
CEO
or
with
the
mayor,
I
have
his
words
in
my
head.
B
B
Yeah,
so
we
have
a
great
partnership
with
a
CBO,
an
organization
I
used
to
run
that
and
they're
doing
amazing
work,
mass
mentoring,
it's
a
mass
mentors
or
there's
a
list
of
a
bunch
of
programs
all
over
Boston
and
really
connected
to
the
mayor's
mentoring,
movement
and
Boston
mentors
org
they're.
All.
A
B
B
So
the
super
teen
program
is
really
intended
for
those
young
adults
who
are
not
old
enough
to
get
a
job,
and
so
it's
really
saying
we
know
that
you're,
yet
you're
too
old
to
go
to
a
summer
camp
for
kids,
but
you're,
not
yet
immediately
old
enough
to
get
a
job
at
a
park
or
a
grocery
store.
Whatever
so
there's
about
250
slots
already
filled
up,
they
filled
up
very.
B
It's
a
population
that
needs
support,
there's
a
waitlist
already,
but
these
young
people
get
enrichment
programs
they'll
get
engagement
and
activities
through
the
summer
and
then,
if
they
complete
the
full
summer,
I
think
it's
at
eight
I
think
it's
a
seven-week
program.
They
end
up
getting
a
stipend,
so
they
also
do
get
some
money
at
the
end.
But
it's
a
it's
a
it's
a
great
part
of
that
acknowledges.
B
A
B
There
is
a
waitlist
and
we
encourage
you
to
check
out
BC
way
up
side
something
they're
showing
to
over
20
across
the
city
that
have
different
versions
of
these
programs
and
there's.
There
might
even
be
some
pieces
at
some
of
those
centers
individually,
but
go
to
Boston
gov
and
you'll
be
able
to
access
the
center
website
and.
B
Right
he's,
like
I,
miss
my
last
year
at
this
yeah.
This
is
my
last
year,
my
camp
program
I'm
ready
for
a
job,
and
it
really
does
it's
a
nice
fit
to
feed
into.
What,
ultimately,
is
you
know
we
employ
with
private
partners,
almost
11,000
teens
through
the
summer,
so
this
is
a
nice
launching
pad
to
just
sort
it
out
and.
B
A
Know
more
about
the
cities,
yeah
efforts,
okay!
Well,
we
recently
also
had
the
pleasure
of
talking
with
the
director
of
the
mayor's
office
of
recovery
services.
We
were
speaking
with
Jennifer
Tracy
and
we
were
updated
on
the
many
programs
and
all
the
good
work
that
they're
doing
there
they're,
also
helping
to
shape
policies.
B
B
B
The
kind
of
its
in
the
nation
created
at
the
municipal
level
and
I
think
that
was
never
one
reason
it
was
created.
It
was
not
only
active,
you
know,
big
break
down
barriers,
create
more
access
to
services,
but
to
focus
on
what
that
individual
person
can
do,
which
is
getting
rid
of
anything
that
creates
stigma
for
people,
I
mean
addiction
and
and
the
path
of
the
recovery
is
negatively
impacted
by
this
stigma
all
the
time,
meaning.
How
do
we
talk
about
people
dealing
with
substance,
use
thats,
a
disorder?
It's
a
disease.
B
B
How
do
we
think
about
what
we
say
when
we
think
of
people
who
are
dealing
with
the
disease
and
that's
really
what
it
is,
and
people
have
an
addiction
and
they
need
treatment
and
the
in
the
path
to
recovery,
so
the
average
person
can,
you
know,
really
think
about
what's
happening
in
their
neighborhood
in
their
community.
Almost
every
health
center
CBO
Hospital
has
some
program
targeting
people
in
addiction
and
recovery,
and
primarily
because
it's
we're
sort
of
at
an
epidemic
place
right
now,
weird.
B
B
B
B
We
talk
about
somebody
having
having
a
disorder
or
having
a
ánewá
disease
right,
I
mean.
So
it's
that's
what
it's
about
right!
It's
it's
your
your
have
an
illness
and
you're
not
well,
and
you
need
treatment,
you
need
support
and
it
has.
It
focuses
on
your
behavior
and
that
it's
your
fault
and
once
you
get
an
addiction.
Unfortunately,
it's
no
longer
it's
so
much
out
of
your
control
and
that
we
need
to
create
those
wraparound
services
and
resources
to
do
it.
B
But
I
don't
need
to
tell
you
that
and
I'm
sure
this
was
mentioned
through
Jen
Tracy.
You
know
the
mayor
has
said
we're
committed
to
this
we're
going
to
do
everything
we
can
do
to
create
resources
opportunities.
You
know,
be
creative,
we're
gonna,
rebuild
a
Long
Island
Bridge
to
create
more
recovery
opportunities
back
again
on
the
island,
the
city,
the
city
is
a
strong
leader
in
this
and
we're
going
to
keep
doing
it
and
help
people
get
the
resources.
Thank.
A
B
I
mean
I,
think
I
think
it's
really
about
who
we
serve
and
who
we
want
to
get
the
word
out
to
right.
So
there's
lots
of
targets.
One
target
is
the
actual
individuals
right.
So
if
it's
the
Commission,
that's
focused
on
the
elderly,
how
are
they
targeting
elders,
who
need
supports
or
I'm
a
good
advancement
or
people
with
disabilities
or
veterans?
You
know
their
individual
target
populations,
but
the
theme
is
really.
We
want
to
break
down
any
barriers
to
accessing
services
that
anyone
has.
B
It
really
is
making
sure
that
people
have
what
they
need
to
truly
have
a
healthy
community
in
the
broadest
sense,
not
just
physical
health
but
I'm.
Getting
what
you
need
to
you
know
to
make
it
so
that's
really
how
they
cut
across
and
I've
only
been
here,
I
guess
it's
four
months,
but
what
I'll
say
is
I.
Think
our
departments
do
an
amazing
job
and
can
only
do
even
more
work
to
kind
of
break
down
silos
that
exist
and
ensure
that
people
get
their
needs
met.
Communication.
A
B
That's
good.
The
Commission
does
a
great
job
with
Commissioner
Shea
and
really
ensuring
that
the
elderly
have
access
to
the
services
they
need
with
its
nutritional
programs,
whether
it's
connecting
them
to
opportunities
and
resources
to
you
know
give
benefits,
need
transportation,
whatever
it
might
be,
they're
really
working
to
ensure
that
people
have
those
resources.
B
One
of
the
things
that
really
that's
exciting
is
thinking
about
kind
of
an
aging,
friendly,
City
and
so
they're
thinking
bigger
than
just
services
and
resources,
but
how
we
make
sure
that
I'm
all
elderly
as
folks
are
getting
older
in
the
community
understand?
Where
are
the
businesses
that
want?
You
know
want
them
to
go
to?
Where
are
the
resources
in
the
community
centers?
B
So
there's
this
age-friendly
plan,
that's
very
broad,
but
it's
by
making
sure
that
Boston
is
really
a
place
where
you
can
age
in
a
way
where
you're
welcomed
and
supported,
and
so
the
Commission
does.
Some
really
amazing
work
around
it
and
is
only
gonna
continue
to
grow.
Given
the
aging
population
that
we
have
right.
A
B
B
B
B
A
B
They
are
I
mean
there
I,
say
it
every
day
and
when
I
stay
with
my
cabinet
colleagues,
that
are
doing
great
work
too,
but
I
would
say
we're
the
most
important
cabinet
in
the
city,
because
we
are
the
we
are
for
some
people,
the
the
place
where
they
their
voice
has
to
get
heard
or
their
needs
need
to
get
met,
or
we
need
to
step
into
them
to
make
sure
in
the
community.
The
advocacy
is
there
so
that
they
get
what
they
need.
B
So
it's
so
critically
important
and
I
tell
you
every
day
when
we're
thinking
about
the
issues
that
challenge
us
and
we
think
about
the
issues,
the
challenge
than
they
are
about
the
city.
A
large
chunk
of
it
lives
with
the
great
work
that
the
departments
are
doing
to
make
sure
people
have
what
they
need
again
to
thrive.
I
want
to
keep
going
that's
about.
A
B
B
A
Boston
is
strong,
but
it's
only
as
strong
as
its
weakest
link,
and
our
city
recognizes
this
as
they
focus
on
promoting
the
health
and
well-being
of
our
most
vulnerable.
The
departments
that
we
discussed
today
also
need
your
individual
support.
If
you
have
comments
or
concerns,
you're
welcome
to
send
an
email
to
chief
Martinez
at
Mardi
Martinez
at
Boston
gov
and
we'll
continue
to
keep
you
updated
on
the
city's
progress
right
here
on
commissioners
corner
I'm,
Louis,
Leonard
and
I.
Look
forward
to
our
next
conversation
together.