Berkshire County Kids' Place

06/09/2026

As Massachusetts prepares to host the world, we can also prepare to protect children.
Know the signs. Trust your concern. Speak up.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
To report suspected exploitation involving youth 18 and under, call the DCF Child-at-Risk Hotline: 800-792-5200.
To report suspected online exploitation or child s*xual abuse material, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Brian Eseppi, recipient of the 2026 Sheri L. Quinn Outstanding Volunteer Service Award! 🏆

Presented by Kids' Place Board Vice Chair Robert Maxwell at our conference, this award honors volunteers whose dedication and generosity embody the spirit of Kids' Place.

Brian, owner of Eseppi & Associates, is an exceptional engineer who has generously shared his time, expertise, and talents with Kids' Place for many years. From helping us navigate complex building projects to providing critical engineering support, Brian has always been willing to step in and help.

Brian's commitment to giving back extends far beyond Kids' Place. He is deeply dedicated to his community, and we are all better off because of his generosity, leadership, and willingness to serve others.

Thank you, Brian, for all you do. Your impact on Kids' Place and Berkshire County is truly appreciated.

💙 Please join us in congratulating Brian on this well-deserved honor!

05/22/2026

What a beautiful evening celebrating the Northern Berkshire United Way 90th Anniversary! The room was filled with warmth, kindness, and community spirit, 🫶🏻 a reminder of how special Northern Berkshire truly is.

A special shoutout to Executive Director Patti Messina, for her incredible leadership and heart. She brings so much passion to this work, and it shows in every detail. Congratulations on 90 wonderful years of impact!

05/18/2026

Please read and act NOW!

Massachusetts is about to cut victim services by 35%, and lawmakers are deciding this week.

Since 2019, MACA has worked to place a specialized child trafficking and exploitation coordinator at each of our 12 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the state. Last year alone, that program served 1,257 children. It was written into Massachusetts’ own five-year plan to address s*x trafficking as a program worth sustaining.

Now it faces a 30% cut.

This is happening as the Massachusetts State Police reported more than 23,000 CyberTipline reports about child exploitation in 2025. That is a 77% increase in a single year.

As our Executive Director, Tom King, put it: “If we lost this funding, we would be crippled in our ability not only to respond, but we’d have no hope in keeping up with this online wave of exploitation and this assault to children.”

Senator Moore’s Amendment #240 would restore $13.8M through the TRUST Line and keep this work alive. Beacon Hill needs to hear from you today.

👉 Read the full story, then contact your senator: https://buff.ly/TUxhPvB

Call or email and ask them to co-sponsor Amendment #240. Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance's toolkit has everything you need to take action: https://buff.ly/p8Y0n4P

The professionals doing this work cannot advocate and serve children at the same time. That is a role all of us can play.

04/29/2026

Today, Kids' Place was honored to welcome the Berkshire United Way for a site visit.

Since our inception in 1993, Berkshire United Way has been a strong and consistent supporter of Kids’ Place and the children and families we serve throughout Berkshire County.

Today’s visit was especially meaningful as it also falls on Denim Day, a day of awareness and solidarity in support of survivors of s*xual violence. Staff proudly wore denim to stand with survivors and help raise awareness about the importance of prevention, education, and support services in our communities.

Thank you, Berkshire United Way!

KidsPlaceOnline.org

04/24/2026

We’re resharing an important message from our partners at The Children's Cove.

This week’s arraignment in Berkshire County highlights a serious gap in Massachusetts law. There is still no enforceable protection against authority figures engaging in inappropriate relationships with students aged 16 and older.

This loophole has been known for decades, and it continues to put young people at risk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it’s time to pass H.4538. Our youth deserve better.

State Rep. Leigh Davis
Berkshire District Attorney's Office
KidsPlaceOnline.org

A Gap in Child Protection in Massachusetts August 18, 2024 by Jacob Stapledon Facebook1Twitter1Linkedin0Email0X Back to Posts A Gap in Child Protection in Massachusetts Jacob Stapledon August 15, 2024 As we move deeper into August, back to school shopping is underway while parents search for schedul...

04/23/2026

We proudly stand with Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance and Massachusetts Children's Alliance on this Digital Day of Action in support of Amendment #1704. Stand with us in support of a state investment serving victims and survivors of crime Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, State Representative John Barrett, State Rep. Leigh Davis, and State Senator Paul Mark.

MACA is proud to join the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance's Digital Day of Action in support of a $13.8 million state investment in the TRUST Line for FY27.

This investment is critical to sustaining stable, equitable, and trauma-informed services for underserved victims and survivors of crime throughout Massachusetts.

MOVA is advocating for the TRUST Line to be included as a dedicated line item in the FY27 state budget, and Representative Marjorie Decker has filed amendment #1704 to establish that funding.

We encourage our partners, advocates, and community members to take action today by:
• Contacting your legislators and urging support for amendment #1704
• Using MOVA’s TRUST Line Advocacy Toolkit for messaging and outreach resources
• Raising awareness on social media by sharing posts and tagging legislators
• Speak to one of MOVA's Policy and Legislative Affairs Specialists. Email to learn more about how you can help: [email protected]

Sustaining victim services requires collective advocacy. We are proud to stand with MOVA and the broader victim service community in support of this critical investment.

04/22/2026

The courage of survivors deserves recognition first.

Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon have come forward publicly with their allegations, showing extraordinary strength in speaking out against someone in a position of authority. Their voices matter not only for their own pursuit of justice, but for every survivor who has yet to be heard.

Today, Matthew Rutledge was arraigned on r**e charges in Berkshire County.

This moment is about accountability and the systems that must do better at protecting young people.

Let’s be clear:
When a teacher, coach, or trusted adult engages in a s*xual relationship with a student, it is not consent. It is abuse. It is exploitation.

At Kids’ Place, we see the real and lasting impact of this kind of trauma. Survivors deserve more than our support; they deserve laws that protect them.

That is why we are calling on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to act now and pass H.4538, the “Persons in Positions of Authority” bill. Close the dangerous gaps in the law and ensure that adults who misuse their power are held fully accountable.

We stand with Melissa. We stand with Hilary. We stand with every survivor.

And we will not stop advocating until protections are stronger and children are safer.

Berkshire District Attorney's Office
State Rep. Leigh Davis
KidsPlaceOnline.org

04/22/2026

If you missed your chance to grab a seat at our 50th anniversary gala on May 14, you're in luck! We're extending the deadline for ticket purchases to Thursday, April 30.

Join us at Barrington Hall in Great Barrington for a plated meal by chef Sabrina Tan, complimentary signature cocktail, beer and wine, inspirational speakers, live music, and more. All proceeds benefit EFC.

To purchase your tickets, visit bit.ly/EFC50thGala.

Hope to see you there!

04/17/2026

Kids’ Place was proud to join Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.for their annual Step Up for Kids event on the steps of Pittsfield City Hall - City of Pittsfield. 💙

As always, the event was well attended by the incredible legislators Berkshire District Attorney's Office Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier State Rep. Leigh Davis Mayor Peter Marchetti State Representative John Barrett, and community partners, Elizabeth Freeman Center Healthy Families of Berkshire County, who work tirelessly to raise awareness of child abuse during April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month.

We are grateful to stand alongside so many dedicated individuals committed to protecting children and supporting families across Berkshire County. Together, we make a difference.

Thank you, The Children's Trust

KidsPlaceOnline.org