This year in the United States, 1 in every?45 children will experience homelessness. Family homelessness is currently the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population.?
For young children living in homeless situations, the threat of developmental delays is serious. Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC) is dedicated to serving homeless children and their families by providing early childhood education and?opportunities for play. Through their Community Children?s Centers, we are able to help children living in homeless shelters become school-ready when they enter kindergarten. The agency also offers support for parents through enrollment assistance in GED courses, higher education courses, English language classes and parenting classes which help them stabilize their families as they work towards self-sufficiency.
HHC accomplishes these goals through three direct service programs: Playspace Programs,?three Community Children?s Centers (CCC?s) and Family Partnership Programs.??
Since 1994, several thousand children have been served by the Community Children?s Centers. CCC?s offer full-time, high-quality early childhood education to pre-school children who live in homeless shelters. Currently, 175 children each week receive this NAEYC-accredited care at the hands of early childhood professionals who specialize in the needs of homeless children.
Through HHC?s Playspace Programs, approximately 150 Playspaces (recreational and educational spaces) have been installed in family homeless shelters across the state. ?Staffed? by a corps of 1,400 Playspace Activity Leader volunteers (PALs), who spend 2 hours a week with the children, these Playspaces are stocked with toys, books, games and art supplies and offer a place for over 2,200 children living in homeless shelters each week a place to play, learn and just be kids.
Through its Training and Technical Assistance program, HHC offers training sessions for service providers in Massachusetts and throughout the country and participates in local and national conferences. They also partner with organizations across the U.S. who use the HHC Playspace as a model for similar programs in other states. This year HHC held its 7th National Conference that featured workshops led by speakers who are experts in their disciplines.
Finally, HHC?s Policy and Advocacy department works with public officials in state and federal government to increase the resources available to young homeless children and to change the conditions that lead to family homelessness.
Horizons for Homeless Children is supported primarily by private funding and donations?are always greatly appreciated. The agency is also constantly recruiting caring individuals to serve as PALs in homeless shelters across the state of Massachusetts. For young children living in homeless shelters, a consistent and positive adult influence devoted to their healthy growth and development is absolutely vital.
For more information about Horizons for Homeless Children, visit http://www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org/.
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Source: http://softeachusa.com/2012/07/25/july%E2%80%99s-featured-charity-horizons-for-homeless-children-2/
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