Message From Co-Chairs
Children and youth across the Commonwealth need our help and support to become caring and productive members of our society. As Co-Chairs of this Special Commission, we welcome your input as we work together with our 36 members to craft recommendations on how best to support the healthy development of children and youth when they are in and out of school.
In addition to the Commission meetings about this critical issue, we intend to hold at least nine public hearings across the Commonwealth. We are aware that not everyone will be able to attend and and invite you to use this blog to communicate with us about your issues and concerns. We look forward to your comments.
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Special Commission Announces Locations for Remaining Public Hearings
The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time announces the locations for its three remaining public hearings. Please click the gray links, which will open up in new windows, for the hearing flyers and directions.
Tuesday September 18, 2007 Special Commission Public HearingJoin us from 5 PM - 8 PM at the Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Tuesday September 18, 2007 Public Hearing Flyer.
Tuesday September 18, 2007 Public Hearing Directions.
Thursday September 20, 2007 Special Commission Public HearingJoin us from 5 PM - 8 PM at the North Shore Community College in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Thursday September 20, 2007 Public Hearing Flyer.
Thursday September 20, 2007 Public Hearing Directions.
Tuesday September 25, 2007 Special Commission Public HearingJoin us from 5 PM - 8 PM at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School in Boston, Massachusetts.
Tuesday September 25, 2007 Public Hearing Flyer.
Tuesday September 25, 2007 Public Hearing Directions.
4 comments:
I have two specical need children, I have not able to find a after school program that have proper staffing and objective to address the need of special need children.
STATEMENT TO THE MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL COMMISSION
ON AFTER SCHOOL & OUT OF SCHOOL TIME
Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) is one of the largest human service agencies in the City of Boston, serving over 90,000 residents each year through our network of 46 community centers that include 21 pools and one beach. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for Boston residents by supporting children, youth, and families through a wide range of comprehensive programs and services.
In support of our mission, we are committed to providing quality after-school and out-of-school time programs that nurture our children to learn and grow. We believe it is vitally important for children and youth to have safe places to extend their learning time and to participate in multi-dimensional programs that are engaging, and most importantly, fun.
Last year, BCYF community centers offered 285 structured OST programs that served more than 5,000 children and youth. These programs ranged from tutoring and homework assistance to arts and leadership development opportunities. In addition, more than 10,000 children and youth participated in 300 different after-school sports, fitness and recreation programs.
For many children, these programs provide important access to arts, cultural, enrichment, leadership development and recreational opportunities that are not available during the school day. Our programs supplement and enhance their school-day learning and nurture their creative, emotional and social development.
There are thousands Boston children, youth and families, in addition to those we serve, who need access to quality after school programs. The City of Boston is committed to serving every child who wants or needs after school programming. To this end, BCYF has worked to expand our community centers’ hours of operation, programming and outreach. We realize, however, that in order to provide quality multi-dimensional programming for all of Boston’s children and youth, additional resources are needed and partnership is key.
Over the summer, through Boston R.O.C.K.S.!!! (Recreational Opportunities for City Kids) a collaborative effort to expand summer programming by engaging City departments and partners, we were able to nearly double the number of opportunities provided and children participating in programming at BCYF community centers. More efforts like these are needed to increase programming, reach more families and maximize our collective resources.
Like Boston R.O.C.K.S., the representatives of the Massachusetts Special Commission on After School & Out of School Time also reflects a partnership. It will take more partnerships like these that are committed to after school and out of school time programs to ensure that children, youth and families have access to the opportunities they need and deserve.
BCYF encourages the Commission to foster partnerships across government, philanthropic, non-profit, faith-based and private sectors to expand the resources available for after school and out of school time programming and to ensure that programs are affordable and accessible for all families. Through collaboration we will have the greatest impact and impart lasting change on the landscape of after school and out of school time programming in Massachusetts.
Daphne Griffin, Executive Director
Boston Centers for Youth & Families
Thank you for contacting the Massachusetts Special Commission about this. We have consistently heard at the public hearings about the need for programming for children with special needs. We plan to address this area in our report that will be published in the fall of 2007.
If you reside in the greater Boston area, I would urge you to contact BOSTNET at:
BOSTnet
Build the Out-of-School Time Network
11 Beacon Street, Suite 1000
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617.720.1290
Fax: 617.720.1291
TTY: 617.720.1292
Email: info@bostnet.org
They have a project called LOYD which focuses exclusively on children and youth with special needs.
Thank you Ms. Griffen for your testimony. It will be very helpful to us as the final report of the Special Commission is being prepared.
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