Our Social Mission
A Social Policy and Advocacy Blog
Good Bars/Bad Bars
The 100th Monkey
There is no egg in eggplant
Nazareth Reflection
A Civic Minded Guest to My Column
Girls! Girls! Girls!
A Good Contagious
No Room at the Inn
$104
Still the Same
The Solo Act of Driving
Bikers and Addiction (But Not What You Think)
Canaries and Children
Setting the Stage for Successful Reintegration after Prison
The Butterfly Effect
Good Bars/Bad Bars
by Judy Whitmarsh
For eight years, until the city hurriedly painted it over last March, toddlers at a violence-racked housing project were encouraged to pretend they were in prison in a city-funded playground in Brooklyn, New York. The bright orange ‘JAIL” in the jungle gym at the preschoolers’ playground had upset residents for years. The children were not swinging from monkey bars as they should have been – they were sitting behind bars saying “I’m in jail! I’m locked up! Monkey bars are good bars for children. A playground designed as a prison is bad bars -- very, very bad bars.
And as the Reverend Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson of the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. said, “They need to be encouraged to play library, technology center and medical lab,” not pretend that they are in prison.
But for too many children, prison is a fact of life. For some, that fact is that their mother or father or sometimes even both parents, are incarcerated. These children are traumatized by separation from their parents, confused by the parent's actions, and stigmatized by the shame of their parent's situation. Deprived of income and guidance, these children are vulnerable to poverty, to stressful shifts in caregivers, separation from siblings, and other family disruptions.
Sister Mary Farren, the Director of our Nazareth Residence for Mothers and Children, told me the story of Tammy who is incarcerated and hoping to temporarily live in the shelter upon release. Tammy gets to see her young daughter, Sharon, when the foster parents bring her on visiting days. Mom and daughter play for a couple of hours followed by the wrenching moment when they must say good-bye. This situation greatly impacts Sharon as she experiences confusion in family attachments. She is told Tammy is mom but contact with mom is limited to visiting her for a few hours on visiting days and she cannot understand why Tammy gets so upset when she leaves. Sharon feels that it is somehow her fault that all of the adults are upset and she doesn’t know how to make the situation better.
And because of such trauma, the children of incarcerated parents are of special concern to Catholic Charities’ social workers. Our Child Care Division reports a growing increase in the number of children in their programs with incarcerated parents. Thankfully there are social workers and clinicians on site to help them. Each year, we and other organizations advocate for adequate funding for much needed children’s mental health services in early care and education and other social service settings.
Sometimes the parents themselves understand that because the needs of the child do not outweigh the need for punishment of the offender in this society, they must develop specialized strategies for helping their children whether they are in prison or their spouse is in prison.
One mother created what she calls a hug pillow. “This is something I am doing for my kids, so they can still "hug" their daddy while he is away. They have said that they miss hugging him very much. I took a picture of him and put it on a square of fabric (like when you get a picture on a tee shirt) and I am making that fabric into a pillow that they can hug whenever they miss him.”
And an incarcerated mother augments her visits and phone calls with her children by reading them books that she records on tapes. At bedtime or whenever they want, her children can pop in a tape, listen to her voice and follow along with books. While not the desired bedtime story set up, at least the mother is trying.
For some reason, I always remember that my childhood friend fell off monkey bars in the second grade and broke both of his arms. I had to write down the answers to spelling tests for him. And although this not so fond memory has stayed with me, I still say that monkey bars are good bars for children. And now we have just a little more insight into why prison bars are very, very bad bars for children. Thankfully the City of Brooklyn finally figured that out.
The 100th Monkey
by Judy Whitmarsh
Often times after I send out an action alert, someone will say to me "does my call or e-mail to my legislator really make a difference?" And while I assure them that yes those efforts do make a considerable difference, I think the story of the 100th Monkey will get that point across better than I ever could. So here it is.
The following was transcribed from a book with copyright information as follows. Library of Congress catalog No. 81-70978 / ISBN 0-942024-01-X.)
The Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, has been observed in the wild for a period of over 30 years. In 1952, on the island of Koshima scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.
An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers, too. This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists.
Between 1952 and 1958, all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes—the exact number is not known. Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes. Let's further suppose that later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.
By that evening almost everyone in the tribe was washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!
But notice. A most surprising thing observed by these scientists was that the habit of washing sweet potatoes then jumped over the sea—Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama began washing their sweet potatoes!
Thus, when a certain critical number achieves an awareness, this new awareness may be communicated from mind to mind. Although the exact number may vary, the Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of people know of a new way, it may remain the consciousness property of these people. But there is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to a new awareness, a field is strengthened so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone!
You may be the "Hundredth Monkey." Your call or letter to your legislator or other policy maker might mean that the Criminal Offender Record Information laws are reformed and those with criminal records can get a job that helps move them on the right path in life. Your call or letter might mean that elders and those living with disabilities get the first increase in their public assistance grant in more than twenty years. And your call or letter might mean that the waiting list for income eligible child care is shortened because more money is allocated to that line item in the state budget.
And you won't always have to be the hundredth monkey; you might just have to be the tenth or twentieth monkey. Sometimes that is all it takes for social improvement to happen.
Thank you for supporting our social mission.
There is no egg in eggplant
I read an Internet article (English: A Crazy Language) recently that told me that while English doesn't have the most speakers; it is the official language of more countries than any other language. Its speakers hail from all around the world, including the U.S., Australia, England, Zimbabwe, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Canada. One in every seven humans can speak it and 3 quarters of international mail is in English.
Nonetheless, it is a bizarre language. There is no egg in eggplant and no ham in hamburger. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. Quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese so one moose, 2 meese right? Wrong. If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If you get rid of all but one of a bunch of odds and ends, what do you have left? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
And check these out – We polish Polish furniture. A farm can produce produce. The dump was so full it had to refuse refuse. A dove dove into the bushes and the bandage was wound around the wound. And my personal favorite, I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt (which I actually did by the way).
So I think we can understand why English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. Adult learners seek literacy skills for countless purposes. According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education web site, each year, over 24,000 adult learners attend adult basic education programs and an additional 23,000 adults wait for services so that they can acquire the literacy skills needed to achieve their goals. Whether their goal is to get a job or a better job, help their children with homework, or become a citizen, the ABE system assists adult learners.
Just as the ABE system serves individual learners, it also serves the public interest. From bridging the gap between workers in need of good jobs and employers in need of skilled workers to closing the academic achievement gap between poor and minority children and their middle class counterparts, the ABE system supports public policy priorities.
Despite the challenges of serving many purposes with limited systemic resources and a demand for services that far exceeds the supply, the ABE system and its stakeholders are unified in their determination to keep the door of opportunity open to all adult learners in need of literacy and language skills.
And at Catholic Charities, we keep that door open through programs at El Centro del Cardenal, the Haitian Multi Service Center, Catholic Charities North, Catholic Charities South, and Refugee and Immigration Services. I have much admiration for the teachers within our organization that so adeptly teach such a crazy language. Thank you.
So, when I wind up my watch I start it but I am winding up this article so I am ending it. Go figure.
I have been an employee of Catholic Charities for thirteen years and yet I still profoundly remember how in awe I was the first time I visited one of our programs. In my case, it was St. Patrick's Shelter in Somerville and through a guided tour by Program Director, Nancy Kavanagh, I was introduced to the "guests" of the shelter who are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. I will never forget that visit.
Thirteen years later, and with student intern Odeviz Soto, and colleague Janet Mallett in company, I visited the Nazareth Residence for Mothers and Children in Roxbury. While this was not my first visit to the program, it was a first for Odeviz, a second year student at Harvard Divinity School. I invited him to share his reflections and here is what he has to share with us:
Visiting the Nazareth Residence for Mothers and Children, I thought of the deep symbolism of its name. Nazareth was not Jesus' birthplace but it became His home after difficult circumstances convinced His parents of the need to take Him away from his native Bethlehem. The same is true for many of the mothers and children of Nazareth Residence who have found a home there amidst the persecutions in their lives.
While there, I was mostly speechless. I felt like I had nothing to contribute except my presence and admiration at the success of this place and its people. So far in my internship, I had not experienced much more than a couple of home visits through the Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS) or some good writing and research projects at the central office. Now, at Nazareth, I felt like I was in a sanctuary where God's work was being done—like a retreat center for the tired and needy.
Yet, despite its beautiful playroom for kids and an overall sense of hopefulness for the residents, Nazareth is a delicate place and a blatant reminder of the deep needs of our society. There are more mothers and children who need the services of Nazareth than for which it can provide. The financial assistance that the mothers receive from the government is often not enough to propel them into future viable, independent living. The stress of broken homes reverberates across different layers of their communities. We are paralyzed into wondering if we are in any way responsible, even indirectly, for these mothers and children being in such difficult circumstances. It is unsettling to see places like Nazareth but a blessing to know that they exist.
What is more surprising, however, is that in the face of such deep brokenness, these women and children have the courage and patience to put each other back together. The glue of this reconstructive process is the staff of Nazareth Residence—Sister Mary Farren and her whole staff. With tears in her eyes, Sister Mary recounted story after story of the agony and the ecstasy that comes in working with people. With a deep look into your eyes, she reminds you that no matter how insignificant something might look in the office or the field, it has a direct impact in the lives of many, so be mindful.
With its chapel of beautiful stained glass windows and endless stories of those who have passed through there, Nazareth reminds us of the importance of the work of Catholic Charities. In fact, Nazareth exemplifies the best of what Catholic Charities does&mdashconnecting people in order to work together for the greater glory of God. Indeed, its name was chosen wisely.
Odeviz, thank you for reminding us so eloquently that we are working in an organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of those who need us most.
And Sister Mary, Nazareth staff, and residents, thank you for making our visit so very, very memorable. It is you we remember.
A Civic Minded Guest to My Column
I am so grateful to those of you who respond to the action alerts I send out by contacting your legislators about important issues that impact children and families. I know we are all busy. One of our colleagues responds to absolutely every action alert I send out. She is Mary Keber, Assistant Director of Cambridge Somerville Family Child Care. So I was thinking last week, just after Mary once again let me know that she had contacted her state representative and state senator in response to my latest action alert, just what is it that makes Mary so civic minded? I invited her to be my guest writer for this article so we could all find out. And this is what Mary has to say:
Hmmm, civic duty....When Judy asked if I'd write something for this column, it really got me thinking—why do I always feel compelled to do everything she asks me to do? Why is every "to all catholic charities" email from her a reason for me to pick up the phone and make a call and advocate? Is it just that all those years of Catholic school education have made me Very Obedient? Remnants of 60's politics? Good parenting? Perhaps the illusion or delusion (take your pick) that I can make a difference?
Maybe it's just the easiest task in my day...I mean, here we send people off to war to make the world safe for democracy, but I can't make a phone call?! Goodness knows I have lots of opinions when I read the news–about how my tax dollars should or shouldn't be spent. And I'm more than happy to share them when we're all sitting together at lunch. Where's the hesitancy in calling a state rep or senator? Especially when I see how much our work here depends on legislators making the "right" decision. I know times are tough and that it's hard to figure out what's the best use of our limited dollars these days. But someone out there is making those decisions. As for me, it just feels like I should be part of the process too. Here we are, living in a place where you can make that phone call. Where you can be heard–if you want. Where a legislative aide listens to what you have to say AND passes it on to the legislator.
Heck, I can't count on half of my friends to get their phone messages when I call. But mostly, it just feels good. Maybe I'm having an impact. It is certainly making me think about issues. I know it makes Judy feel good when I write back "mission accomplished". Have I lost anything by participating? Ok, maybe a little time. Have I gained anything? I like to think lots. But you'll have to be the judge of that – just try it.
Mary, thanks so much for sharing your inspiration with us. So what do you say everyone. Let's join Mary and not let those action alerts become inaction alerts.
And if any of you are interested in being my guest writer for future columns, just let me know. We can share our social mission together.
Girls! Girls! Girls!
Some of you reading the title of this article will think of Girls! Girls! Girls! the 1962 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a penniless fisherman who loves his life on the sea and dreams of owning his own boat. And because it is an Elvis movie, he is of course caught between two women, one sweet and one not so sweet. If he picks the wrong one, there goes the boat.
But enough on that because I am not writing about an Elvis movie. What I am writing about are girls, girls, girls who are capable of doing just about anything. And they are inspirational.
Look at Samantha Larson, who in 2007 at age 18 became the youngest person to climb all of the Seven Summits including Europe's Mount Elbrus, North America's Mount McKinley and Australia's Mount Kosciuszko.
Or Nola Ochs, who graduated from Fort Hayes State University in May of 2007 at the age of 95. She is the Guinness World Record holder as the world'’s oldest college graduate and she had the pleasure of graduating alongside her 21 year old granddaughter.
And let's marvel over Jackie Mitchell, one of the first female pitchers in baseball history, who in 1931 at the age of 17, struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in succession. After the game, she was removed from baseball by the then commissioner who stated, "Women just do not have the stamina for baseball." Pure nonsense if I ever heard it.
How about Cha Sa-Soon, a 68 year old Korean woman who passed her written driver's license exam on her 950th try. She was quoted as saying "You can achieve your goal if you persistently pursue it." I probably would have given up after attempt number 10.
And who can forget Billie Jean King beating Bobby Riggs in 3 straight tennis sets. Riggs was 55 when he took the challenge claiming that there are just too many differences between men and women for a woman to beat a man at tennis. He was obviously very wrong.
But not all the news about girls is good. And some things have to change for all girls to get the chance to become as accomplished as Samantha, Nola, Jackie, Cha Sa, Billie Jean, and countless others.
According to Physicians for Human Rights located in Cambridge, girls are the fastest growing population in juvenile justice, yet the system has failed to respond to the special needs of this vulnerable group. Girls of color are particularly impacted, disproportionately representing two thirds of those incarcerated. Girls in the justice system experienced childhood victimization at much higher rates than boys. As a result, girls present with extremely high rates of serious mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress, psychiatric disorders, attempts at self-harm, and suicide. There is a dire need for the juvenile justice system to develop gender-specific practices that address the unique needs of girls and that protect their health and human rights.
To address the issues posed by the increasing population of female juvenile offenders, Congress, in reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, required states to assess the adequacy of services, especially for girls, as a condition of receiving these federal funds. The 2004 Florida Legislature passed Ch. 2004-333, Laws of Florida, which directs that juvenile justice programs be gender-specific and thus designed to comprehensively address the needs of the targeted gender group.
And in Massachusetts, Representative Cheryl Coakley Rivera filed H 3418, a bill that would create a Commission to establish gender specific responses to high risk and system involved girls.
The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy reports that teen pregnancy is a leading reason 26% of youth in the U.S. drop out of high school each year. Recent research by the National Women's Law Center has shown that an alarming number of girls are dropping out of high school and that these female dropouts are at particular economic risk compared to their male counterparts. An estimated one in four female students does not graduate with a regular high school diploma in the standard, four-year time period. While all high school dropouts pay significant costs for their lack of education, economic costs are particularly steep for women, who face especially limited employment prospects, low earnings potential, poor health status, and the need to rely on public support programs.
The Law Center advises that we reduce the school dropout rate for girls by requiring schools to monitor dropout rates and provide dropout prevention programs targeted toward the needs of girls, including pregnant and parenting students.
And here at Catholic Charities through funding from the United Way's Today's Girls...Tomorrow's Leaders, we offer a gender sensitive afternoon and evening program for girls in the Teen Center at St. Peter's program. The program offers female youth workers, peer leaders, and counselors in training, supervision for youth female leadership, athletic activities for girls, female discussion groups, and relationship building activities. The program creates an environment in which girls feel secure, develop meaningful relationships with adults, and explore non violent methods of dealing with conflict.
Louisa May Alcott, the author of the classic "Little Women" is quoted as saying "Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors!"
This is what we want for all girls (and boys). And as such, will continue to support public policies that give them that chance.
Yawning is extremely contagious, particularly on a Monday morning. Fifty five percent of people who witness someone yawn will yawn within five minutes. If a visually impaired person hears a tape of someone yawning, he or she is likely to yawn as well. Face it; the odds of you making it to the end of this blog without yawning are not in your favor.
Catholic Charities' practice of disseminating information from community to community to broaden our impact is similar to yawning in that its contagious effect ripples. I think our Friends Feeding Families campaign is proof of such contagion.
Public education and advocacy are vital services offered by Catholic Charities that we hope are contagious. Through our Refugee and Immigration Services, we are working to spread education and understanding of immigrants and refugees. It is imperative that we do this because one in every five members of our Massachusetts community is a newcomer as is 17% of our workforce.
With those statistics in mind, on July 9th, 2008, Governor Patrick signed Executive Order 503 "Integrating Immigrants and Refugees into the Commonwealth," launching the New Americans Agenda (NAA). The NAA is a set of 131 policy recommendations created for Governor Patrick by the Governor's Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants. Through a series of public forums, more than 1,200 people were involved in multilingual policy discussions across the state, from academic policy experts to the newest immigrants. This broad-based approach has gained national attention, particularly in light of the need for immigration reform at the federal level.
Immigration is an enduring hallmark of the United States. Immigrants come to the U.S to seek the same dreams that have inspired millions of others -- they want a better life for their children. Family values do not stop at borders. Although the U.S. has benefited greatly from immigration, the nation has historically been ambivalent about newcomers and their role in society. Such ambivalence has created formidable challenges for immigrants throughout the course of U.S. history, whether they arrived from Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East.
The majority of immigrants throughout the generations have overcome poverty, discrimination, and other barriers to integration. Most have bettered their lives and those of their children, and enriched American society in the process. The hard work and aspirations of people from diverse backgrounds continue to make the United States a nation renowned for self-reliance, freedom, and democracy.
Today, many communities recognize that immigrants, regardless of their status, are vital to local economies and an integral part of our social and cultural fabric. When these populations join forces with those of us who are longtime residents, we create the potential to address and solve pressing social issues including poverty, inadequate health care, and lack of employment opportunities.
So, If you yawned while reading this blog, it is because of the power of suggestion in the first paragraph and not because you were bored or apathetic. There is certainly nothing boring about the thoughtful integration of newcomers. Boring, no. Contagious, let's hope so.
As we all know, there was no place at the inn for Joseph and his pregnant wife, and the baby Jesus was born in a manger. "And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room at the inn." (Luke 2:7)
But have you heard the story of the Christmas pageant at New York City’s Riverside Church? A little boy named Tim was thrilled to be in the pageant. Because he had Down’s syndrome, he was given the role of innkeeper because it had just one line; “There is no room at the inn.” Tim practiced and practiced but after delivering his line and watching Joseph turn despondently to walk away, Tim yelled “Wait. You can stay at my house.” The Pastor of Riverside Church called it the best sermon he never preached.
There was no room at the inn, so Mary and Joseph found shelter where they could. Two thousand years later, the homeless of Massachusetts are having to do the same. There are more than 1,000 families with more than 1,500 children living in crowded hotel rooms without cooking facilities. The family shelters are all full.
After hearing the story of Tim and the Riverside Church pageant, Marian Wright Edelman from the Children’s Defense Fund stated: When will we as communities, and as a nation resolve to stop saying to our children, "There's no room at the inn"? When will we, like Tim, start saying, "You can stay at my house"? When will we say to poor, hungry and homeless children, "Wait! We'll make a place for you at America's table of plenty"? How long until we say to children whose parents are working hard every day trying to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads, "We will help you escape poverty"? "We'll catch you in our safety net until your family is able to provide for you again"?
Someone has well said: The message of Easter is "Think of Heaven." The message of July Fourth is "Think of our Nation." The message of Thanksgiving is "Think of your blessings." The message of New Year's Day is "Think of the passing of time.'' But the message of Christmas is "Think of others."
So as we celebrate the seasons of Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Kwanzaa, we must reaffirm our commitment to building a nation where all children find room in our nation's and world’s inn.
$104
I love trivia. As such, I often visit trivia web sites to see what fun facts I can gather and work into conversations from time to time.
So here goes. Did you know that honey bees never sleep or that an earthworm has five hearts? How about that apples, and not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning. And who knew that Barbie’s full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts or that a dime has 118 ridges around the edge? This is really good stuff, right? Or should I stop wondering why I don’t get invited to parties very often?
My last trek through a trivia site also informed me that the average person has $104 in their wallet. I don’t know about you but I just checked mine and I have $32. I am quite certain that the people coming to our Basic Needs programs do not have $104 in their wallet either. Moms leaving welfare for work sure do not and neither do the grandparents raising their grandchildren who come to our programs in Lowell and South Boston for support. Last year some of the grandparents asked us for fruit and vegetables rather than toys at Christmas time. I am pretty confident that if they had $104 in their wallet, they could have afforded to buy peas and oranges on their own.
And this is why we were so pleased that the legislature passed a bill last year establishing a Grandparent as Parent Commission in recognition of the growing number of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren while dealing with their own issues of aging. Listening sessions have been going on around the state over the last few weeks so that members of the commission can hear from “grandfamilies” about their needs and then craft a state response that will begin to address some of the issues. A client of our Grandparent as Parent program in the Merrimack Valley office testified at the hearing. Her story was heart wrenching and her willingness to talk to the legislature is one of the reasons the bill was passed. The legislature wants to and needs to hear from us.
Let me end today’s blog just as I started, with a bit of trivia. The correct response to the Irish greeting “top of the morning to you” is “and the rest of the day to yourself. So have a good rest of the day and while you are doing that, feel proud that you work for an organization that is there for people when $104 is not.
Still the Same
Do you remember much of what happened in 1989? If not, here are few calendar facts to help jog your memory.
Tens of thousands of Chinese students took over Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in a rally for democracy. A U.S. jury convicted Oliver North in the Iran-Contra Affair. Both Lucille Ball and Betty Davis died. Steffi Graf and Boris Becker won Wimbledon, Rain Man (fabulous movie) won picture of the year, and Don’t Worry Be Happy (awful song) won song of the year. Please forgive me if you are now singing Don’t Worry Be Happy to Yourself. I am.
Here is one more fact: people relying on the state funded Emergency Assistance for Elders, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) received $304 a month in support payments to meet their basic needs.
Now let’s jump to 2009 thus far.
North Korea announces a successful nuclear test in North Hamgyong. The H1N1 virus is classified as a pandemic. Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and our beloved Senator Kennedy die. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox pitches the 19th perfect game in Major League Baseball history, and Captain Richard Phillips is rescued from Somali pirates.
Here is one more fact: people relying on the state funded Emergency Assistance for Elders, Disabled and Children still receive only $304 a month to meet their basic needs. And this is 20 years later. Sadly, some things are still the same.
The EAEDC program provides monthly income support payments to over 6,000 elders and 13,000 persons with disabilities. It is the state’s program of last resort. To be eligible, recipients must have less than $250 in assets. Homeless recipients receive only $92 per month.
This is why as an agency we support “An Act to Preserve and Protect the Emergency Aid to the Elderly Disabled and Children Program.” Passage of this bill will provide a critically needed cost of living adjustment to elders, disabled, and children who rely on state funded support to meet their basic needs. The bill will also assist EAEDC recipients in filing for SSI benefits where appropriate and will provide benefits to students who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless so that they can complete their education.
On September 15th, I testified at the State House before the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities urging them to report this bill out favorably. I told committee members that in our Somerville office, we have been working with a client who was on unemployment for months. He finally got a job as a chef but on his second day of work, he was hit by a drunk driver while on his way home. He is now facing at least 18 months of rehabilitation. The restaurant where he was working cannot hold his job for him. The law suit against the drunk driver will take months to settle and even if it does, the lump sum he would receive in the settlement would render him ineligible for the program. He is receiving $304 a month in EAEDC assistance. His rent is $550 for a shared apartment and his utility costs are separate. He is too injured to work.
I also told them that elderly clients are coming to us for toilet paper, soap, and cleaning supplies for their home. I asked them to imagine being old and sick and not able to afford toilet paper.
We cannot possibly know what the events calendar will bring us 20 years from now. Hopefully it will showcase improved economic and social policies that do not leave so many without the basic material necessities of life.
Poverty is a human made disaster. We broke it and we can fix it.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could sing “Don’t Worry Be Happy” to those 19,000 people who are living on $304 a month and have so much to worry about?
The Solo Act of Driving
So I admit it, I am a fan of country music. And one of my favorite country artists is Alan Jackson, who sings a song I just love called “Drive”. Here is an excerpt from that song: It was just an old hand-me-down Ford with a three-speed on the column and a dent in the door/ A young boy two hands on the wheel/ I can’t forget the way it made me feel.
Did you note that the young boy has TWO hands on the wheel? He is not texting and not tweeting. He is not checking e-mails, talking on his cell phone, or changing the radio station. He is driving with both hands on the wheel. He likes the way it makes him feel because he feels safe in his car.
Did you know that driver inattention is the leading cause of car accidents? And there is no doubt that talking on the phone and texting behind the wheel both lead to distraction. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Motorists found that motorists who use cell phones while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves (or someone else). According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, drivers talking on cell phones are 18 percent slower to react to brake lights. They also take 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked. Yikes! I would not want that car driving behind me.
I was talking with a colleague the other day that was very forthcoming about the fact that she talks on the phone and checks e-mails while driving. She totally understands the risk she is taking but she does it anyway. I often wonder if drivers would be less willing to take such risks if the Massachusetts legislature passed a law banning tech gadgets while driving. I guess it would be similar to seat belt use – some would, some would not. I still hope the legislature passes such a law.
So as I write this, I challenge you to put both hands on the wheel and leave them there while driving. Because if you don’t, I may have to quote a Pearl Jam song and not Alan Jackson as I prefer. Pearl Jam’s song is “Car Crash.” I don’t like it.
Bikers and Addiction (But Not What You Think)
There is a dark cloud surrounding those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Motorcycle riders understand this because they confront similar negative stereotypes. As such, they are eager to support the 5th annual Motorcycle Ride for Recovery scheduled for September 27th. This event, organized by the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) and held during National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, is an opportunity for two cultural groups in the community, who in their own way have been fighting against stigma, to put their forces together. Bikers will ride from Somerville, MA to Manchester, NH, a distance of approximately fifty miles. All proceeds will go to recovery services in Massachusetts.
Despite what many people think, ninety-nine percent of all motorcycle enthusiasts do not start bar fights, a stigma that dates back to the Marlon Brando movie days. Have you seen the 1969 film Easy Rider? In this stigma contributing movie, drugged-out motorcyclists Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper "head out on the highway" on a search for America in the landmark drama that spoke to a generation. Joining them on their "trip" is spaced-out lawyer Jack Nicholson. The film also features music by Jimi Hendrix, The Byrds, and others.
Stigma is also one of the meanest and most difficult aspects of addiction because it makes it harder for individuals and families to deal with their problems and get the help they need. Society imposes stigma - and its damage - on addicts and their families because many of us still believe that addiction is a character flaw or weakness that probably can't be cured. The stigma against people with addictions is so deeply rooted that it continues even in the face of the scientific evidence that addiction is a treatable disease.
Stigma is the reason there is so much social and legal discrimination against people with addictions. It explains why addicts and their families hide the disease. Discrimination always hurts stigmatized groups because they are excluded from the rules that apply to "normal" people. So insurance companies get away with refusing to pay for alcohol or drug treatment, or with charging higher deductibles and co-pays than for treating any other disease. People who need the help are often afraid to speak up. State and federal agencies feel safe in denying food stamps and baby formula to mothers who have past drug convictions because mothers who used drugs have few supporters in the political system and face lots of people who think they must be "bad mothers."
The federal welfare law imposes a lifetime ban on anyone convicted of a drug-related felony from receiving federally funded food stamps and cash assistance (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF). This law prohibits receipt of benefits – for the rest of their lives – even by those individuals who have completed their sentence, overcome an addiction, been gainfully employed but were subsequently laid off, or earned a certificate of rehabilitation or other form of clemency. Denying them food, clothing, and shelter makes it much more difficult for them to support themselves as they leave the criminal justice system and reenter society, and much more likely that they will return to criminal activity and drug use instead of attaining sobriety and gainful employment.
The federal law does give states the option of passing legislation to limit the ban or eliminate it altogether. Given the importance of food stamps and public assistance to individuals leaving prison or jail – enabling them to sustain themselves and their families and obtain needed drug treatment and other essential services – states should “opt out” of, or eliminate, the ban completely, or at least modify it.
In Massachusetts, individuals who were incarcerated for drug felonies are not eligible for TANF for a year following release, unless they receive an exemption or domestic violence waiver to shorten the time period. Exemptions are available to the disabled, those who must care for a disabled person, women in their third trimester of pregnancy, women who have children under the age of two, caretakers of children to whom they have no legal obligation (provided, however, only the child receives cash assistance), or full time students under the age of 21. Thankfully, and through the advocacy efforts of many (including Catholic Charities), Massachusetts does not have a ban on food stamps. Catholic social teaching tells us that every person has a basic human right to adequate health care. This should include mental and behavioral health, as we have a responsibility to ensure the dignity of human life. Catholic Charities provides behavioral health services to individuals and families battling addiction. Our Family Counseling and Guidance Centers help those dealing with substance abuse in an outpatient setting. Genesis II located in Newton, allows homeless mothers and fathers struggling to maintain sobriety to receive inpatient treatment without having to place their children in foster care. Our Driver Alcohol Education Program (DAE) is designed for individuals who have been arrested for driving under the influence. The program provides an educational opportunity for clients to examine their alcohol and/or drug use and abuse, the consequences of drinking and driving, and methods of avoiding future offenses.
So if you are waiting to pull out of a side street on September 27th while 500 motorcycles roar by on the main road, please do not get annoyed. Give them a friendly wave and be thankful that they care.
Canaries and Children
Yesterday I was reading a policy brief from an organization called Children’s HealthWatch, which is the outreach and research arm of the Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Center. The Grow Clinic serves children who “fail to thrive” because of food insecurity. The brief talked about how well into the 20th century, coal miners in England and the US brought canaries into coal mines as an "early warning signal" for toxic gases including methane and carbon monoxide. The birds, being more sensitive, would become sick before the miners, who would then have a chance to escape or put on protective respirators. The brief explained that “very young children are like canaries in the mines in that they, too, are especially vulnerable to social and environmental decay. Often evidence of harm can be seen in young children, especially young low-income children, significantly before it shows up in older children or adults. Poor infants and toddlers are a “sentinel population,” exhibiting, like the canaries in the mines, the earliest warning signs of harm”.
Data from Children’s HealthWatch show that the prevalence of food insecurity increased in their sample from 18.5 percent to 22.6 percent between 2007 and 2008. This 22.2 percent increase in the percent of food insecure families with very young children is significantly greater than any year-to-year change detected in the dataset since 2001. These data are based on a sample of 15,110 low-income families and are the most current data available on food insecurity in the U.S. From the Grow Clinic website, I have learned that they serve a diverse patient population, mostly low-income families from some of Greater Boston’s poorest communities, including Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, South Boston, and the South End. Recent census data for these neighborhoods shows that:
• 68% of the population lives below 100% of the poverty level and nearly all live below 200% of the poverty level;
• 55% of residents are African-American, 24% are Hispanic, and 17% are Asian (includes Asian Indian and Middle Eastern). African Americans are at much higher risk of infant mortality than other ethnic groups, due in part to poor nutritional status of mothers and babies.
The Grow Clinic's intensive efforts to educate and reach out to community health centers have resulted in earlier intervention for Failure to Thrive children, thus greatly increasing their chances of getting better and reducing the risk of hospitalization from 50% in 1984 to 5% in 2006.
I am going back to the canary theme now. In 2003 in BAM, Iran, two canaries saved two children buried under the rubble in the earthquake-hit Iranian city by attracting rescuers' attention with their singing. "The two children, seriously hurt, were lying next to the cage. The rescuers, hearing the singing of their birds, succeeded in freeing the children after several hours of labor,"
If canaries can save our children, then so can we.
So at Catholic Charities, we will continue feeding and housing low income families in the poorest communities throughout the Archdiocese. We will continue helping mothers deliver healthy birth weight babies through the Santé Manman Sé Santé Petit program at the Haitian Multi Service Center and we will continue to monitor and influence the impact of public policy on the health of our children. After all, isn’t that what a just and compassionate society is all about?
And in case you are wondering what happened to the canaries that saved the children -- the rescuers rewarded them by setting them free.
Setting the Stage for Successful Reintegration after Prison
Did you know that more than 150 Catholic Charities local agencies provide reintegration services to prisoners, former offenders, and families nationwide. And did you know that we are one of them?
Successful reentry programs, especially those that strengthen family and community ties while providing prisoners with services and mental health or substance abuse treatment, can make all the difference for former prisoners and for our communities. Under the guidance of clinician Joseph Moore, this is just what the SOAR (Search Out Another Road) program of Catholic Charities South does.
SOAR provides reintegration services to assist ex-offenders from the moment of exit from the penal institution. Transitions are provided to employment, education, substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, and to stable housing for homeless clients. SOAR is a community-based program for any county, state, or federal inmate, male or female, returning to Brockton. It also accepts referrals from the Brockton District and Superior Courts Probation Departments. Many clients are referred from the MainSpring Shelter, which houses previous inmates directly upon release from prison. The program has recently expanded to provide intensive case management with young people at risk for incarceration with referrals coming from the juvenile courts, schools, and providers in the community. Since inception, SOAR has assisted more than 500 ex-offenders in reintegrating back into society.
Brockton continues to have the third busiest district court in the state. The number of people on probation, and especially on parole, continues to escalate. Since the Massachusetts Parole Board has been localized in each county institution with IPO’s (internal parole officers), the number of paroles granted has risen sharply. There are also more young women in the criminal justice system than ever before in U.S. history
Catholic social teaching guides our beliefs on effective re-entry policies and programming. Three important principles include the rights and dignity of every human, the preferential option to assist the poor, and the need to ensure the common good. We work to ensure that former offenders have what is their basic human right, that which is needed to live a dignified life, including transitional housing, food, and health care. We work to address the particular needs of the poor, because former offenders living in poverty without their basic needs met may be driven towards recommitting crimes. And we work to ensure the common good, by providing former offenders with career training, mental health services, basic needs, and family support that will allow them to avoid committing new crimes and instead lead productive, healthy lives.
So as you can see, the SOAR program of Catholic Charities South truly contributes to our mission of building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people, including the former prisoner.
And to all involved with this program, I say thank you.
The phrase “butterfly effect” refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado or delay, accelerate or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado in a certain location. The flapping wings represent a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different. While the butterfly does not cause the tornado, the flap of its wings is an essential part of the initial conditions resulting in or preventing a tornado.
So why all this talk about butterflies? You might remember back in January when we participated in the Homes for Families campaign to have 2,647 people call the Governor’s office in response to the astounding 2,647 families living in the emergency shelter system. Fifty eight of us made phone calls and several others stated that they tried but were unable to get through the overburdened State House phone lines. While that might not seem a high number compared to the 688 of us who work here, it was a higher than usual response to an action alert and I was proud of us. We flapped our wings. And we lent our voice to a much larger effort because the Patrick Administration did in fact receive 2,647 phone calls that chilly winter day asking that they provide additional supports to homeless families in Massachusetts.
And when the Patrick Administration proposed to restrict access to emergency shelter for homeless families, we testified at a advocate packed public hearing because those proposed regulations would hurt the 2,400 children and families who must call a shelter home. With the help of Rick Freitas from our St. Ambrose Family Shelter and Sister Mary Farren from our Nazareth Residence for Mothers and Children, we were able to craft a testimony that clearly depicted the egregious effects those proposed regulations would have on already struggling families. Last Friday afternoon the Administration announced some significant revisions to those proposed regulations. The butterfly flapped its wings and the initial condition of the system changed.
There is more work to be done. The number of families in the state’s emergency shelter system has increased 36% in the last year alone. Our voice needs to continue to reinforce the services we provide through St. Ambrose Family Shelter and the Nazareth Residence for Mothers and Children.
The idea that a butterfly could eventually have a far reaching ripple effect on a future event, and in this case a world without homeless families, is well worth pondering.
Thanks for lending your voice.
