UMass Memorial Health Receives Second $30,000 Gift from United Way of Central Massachusetts to Support the Foster Children Evaluation Service (FaCES) Clinic
United Way of Central Massachusetts has awarded UMass Memorial Health a $30,000 grant to continue supporting the Education Navigator Program with its mission to connect children in foster care with the educational support they need for academic success and overall well-being.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2026
Contact: Kristy Lee
617-388-5555
Kristy.lee@umassmemorial.org
Worcester, MA – UMass Memorial Health today announced it has received a $30,000 gift from United Way of Central Massachusetts for the second consecutive year to support the Education Navigator Program within the Foster Children Evaluation Service (FaCES) Clinic at UMass Memorial Medical Center.
FaCES provides medical evaluations to children entering foster care in Massachusetts. The Education Navigator within the clinic works directly with child welfare staff and foster families to support the academic needs of children in foster care.
“We are grateful to United Way of Central Massachusetts for their ongoing support of FaCES and the Education Navigator position,” said Justin Precourt, President of UMass Memorial Medical Center. “Children in foster care face significant educational challenges and the support of United Way of Central Massachusetts helps us provide critical services to a vulnerable population.”
In Massachusetts, approximately 6,800 school-aged children are in foster care. Statistics show they are 3.5 times more likely to receive an in-school disciplinary action, four times more likely to receive an out-of-school suspension and 10 times more likely to repeat a grade. Their four-year high school graduation rate is only 55%, far below the Massachusetts average of 88%. To address these disparities, FaCES created the Education Navigator position.
“These stark differences reflect the many educational disparities experienced by children in foster care,” said Heather C. Forkey, MD, Director of FaCES. “Because children spend so much of their time in school, academic difficulties often reflect challenges in other areas of their lives. We are grateful to United Way of Central Massachusetts for helping us address these issues and support the well-being of these children.”
The Education Navigator receives referrals from the FaCES clinic and members of a child’s care team, providing individualized support for students facing academic challenges. Working closely with foster families and schools, the navigator helps address educational needs and connect students with available resources. Because these services are not reimbursable through Medicaid, support from United Way of Central Massachusetts is essential to ensuring children in foster care receive the educational support they need.
About UMass Memorial Health
UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts with more than 20,000 caregivers and 2,400 physicians. Our comprehensive system includes UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional and UMass Memorial Medical Group. We are the clinical partner of UMass Chan Medical School. For more information, visit www.ummhealth.org.
About United Way
In 1920, the United Way of Central Massachusetts (UWCM) was established as the Welfare Federation of Worcester. What began as a collective effort to address local needs has grown into the cornerstone of philanthropy and community support. For over a century, the organization has continually evolved to meet the ever-changing challenges faced by our community, always guided by a mission to connect people to resources for the betterment of all. A transformative moment in our history came with an extraordinary $5 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, forever changing the scope of our impact. This unprecedented gift expanded our ability to support vulnerable populations, fund critical nonprofit initiatives and invest in innovative solutions to promote youth opportunities, financial security and a healthy, resilient community. Today, the UWCM continues its legacy of service with renewed capacity to create lasting change for generations to come. For more information visit www.unitedwaycm.org.