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Center for Social Policy
McCormack Graduate School
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Phone: (617) 287 5550
Fax: (617) 287 5544
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Protecting and Caring
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Author(s):
Editorial
Source(s):
Boston Globe, Page: E10 Section: Editorial
Date: February 16, 2003
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IT'S NAP TIME at the Horizons Initiative day care program, but one toddler is up, banging on
his classroom door and flashing a megawatt grin at visitors. He's too young to know that he's
homeless or that he's in day care, where the staff works to provide the kind of early
development that all children need, especially homeless children.
Parenting is already tough. Factor in homelessness and parents can be overwhelmed by the
stresses of poverty and navigating state assistance programs. Children also feel the strain.
They are more likely to face illness, emotional problems, and developmental delays. Sometimes
Horizons staff members care for 2-year-olds who can't walk because it was safer or easier for
parents to keep them in car seats. Sometimes 3-year-olds can't speak because distressed
parents didn't spend time talking to them. Staffers are trained to spot problems such as
"parentification" - children as young as 3 who think they have to care for younger siblings.
These children may be bossy or hoard food, saving it for themselves or family members.
Horizons responds on several levels. It has two child care centers in Dorchester and Jamaica
Plain that care for 126 children from 2 months to 5 years old from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. They get
appropriate developmental care. Parents participate in job training as well as GED and
parenting classes. Plans are in the works to open a third center.
In addition, Horizons runs "Playspace" programs, taking rooms in homeless shelters and
converting them into playrooms with books, toys, and arts supplies. Some 600 volunteers
staff the 50 play spaces in Greater Boston.
Horizons also sponsors cross-training for providers in homelessness and early-childhood
development to improve the quality of services children receive.
Concerned and compassionate describe Horizons' effort. But more is at stake. Homeless children
who go to Massachusetts's public schools will have to pass the MCAS exam to graduate from high
school. No matter where they live, these children will have to compete in a high-tech economy.
More than ever, they need to keep up developmentally.
Given drastic state budget cuts, it seems unrealistic to call for more and better programs.
But according to researchers at the McCormack Institute at UMass-Boston, an estimated 10,000
children under 5 years old are homeless for at least part of each year in Massachusetts.
This large community deserves Governor Romney's attention. There's only a short time to make
sure that the youngest children will be able to keep up developmentally. Romney's administration
should assess how many homeless children are in high-quality day care programs and how state
and federal money can be used to create more of these opportunities.
Childhood is a terrible thing to waste.
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