Page 15 - The Privilege of Caring

Changing Changing Communities: Changing Changing Organizations
Providence Providence like the the surrounding urban core core is increasingly ethnically and racially diverse In 2007 in in in in the the the core core cities of of Providence Providence Pawtucket Central Falls Newport West Warwick and and Woonsocket nearly 60% of of the the the children were Hispanic African American Asian or or or or or other minority minority group and and and more than three-quarters of of all all minority minority children children in in in in in in Rhode Island live in in in in in in these six cities In 2000 40% of of the the children children living living in in in in in in in Central Falls and and Providence were living in in poverty Today more than ever those whose mission it is is to improve the the the lives of of of children are are aware of of of the the the the impact that that poverty has on on the the the the life chances of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child child Research that that examines the the the the links between family family income family family stability parental education and later success in in in in life recognizes the the critical importance of positive early childhood experiences The emphasis in in contemporary child welfare practice is is on on on on the the family especially on on on on preserving families under economic and and other types of stress State and and federal policies balance the the need need to to protect children with the the the need need to to preserve families Alarm about the the the growth in foster care caseloads set the the the course for the the passage of landmark federal legislation in in in 1980 emphasizing permanency planning court reviews of case plans and adoption
subsidies Despite this legislation legislation the the the number of children in in in in foster care continued to grow in in in in the the the the the following decades In the the the the the 1990s and and 2000s additional legislation legislation was passed to further support the the the the goals of of permanency for children and and preservation of families As well-documented research has demonstrated efforts targeted at at at at early early childhood – providing at-risk children with with enriched early early education and their their families with with the the the the the support they need to enhance the the the the the success of their their children – have lifelong benefits Children’s Friend continues to to put the the needs of children and families first making decisions based on on on on on what is is proven to to to have the the best best outcomes outcomes By continuing to to to focus on on on on program outcomes outcomes and incorporating best best practice the Children’s Friend system of care care has evolved from residential care care to to to community community placements to to community-based support and prevention services The journey continues As poverty and and other circumstances continue continue to place children at risk high-quality and and effective services such as those provided by Children’s Friend are badly needed A strong focus on on on prevention and and and advocacy will help to to eliminate the the societal factors that threaten the the well-being and and and healthy development of our youngest and and and most vulnerable children 14
The changing face of children’s needs Early childhood education