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Causes: Child Day Care, Children & Youth, Emergency Assistance, Family Services, Human Services
Mission: A charitable, community-based agency responding to the basic needs of people of all ages, providing early childhood education and care, helping individuals develop their potential, creating positive family and community relationships, and fostering respect for diversity. Council of Social Concern was founded in 1969 by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to promote a sense of "neighborliness" in the community and address the absence of quality, affordable childcare and housing issues. Today, Council of Social Concern assists over 2,400 individuals per year, with the support of close to 230 volunteers.
Programs: Children's center - the children's center is a national association for the education of young children (aka naeyc) accredited early childhood education and child care facility, providing children with full time, year-round care. The children's center is licensed by the massachusetts department of early education and care(eec) and accepts children from 1 month through 5 years of age. The static operating capacity for fy2014 was 50 children. During fy2014 the children's center provided services to 70 children. Subsidized tuition assistance is available on a sliding scale basis to eligible low and moderate-income families. Social support services are available to parents and children, with a special focus on familes identified as high risk.
family child care system - operates a family-based childcare system serving children, 2 months through 5 years of age. Children receive childcare in the homes of massachusetts department of early education and care (eec) licensed, independent family childcare educators, with whom we contract. The static operating capacity for fy2014 was 45 children. During fy2014, the family childcare system provided services to 71 children. Subsidized tuition assistance is available on a sliding scale basis to eligible low and moderate-income families. Family childcare system staff members visit each family childcare educator home at least two times per month and are available at other times for telephone consultation. Staff members monitor the quality of childcare, assess each child's developmental progress, and consult with family childcare educators on any significant issues. Social support services are also available to parents and children, with a special focus on families identified as high risk.
food pantry - the food pantry provides food to individuals and families without adequate financial resources to meet basic needs. During fy 2014, the food pantry provided food to 1,942 unduplicated individuals. Recipients have reported that the quantity of food they receive generally lasts about 4 to 5 days. Use of the food pantry is limited to one time per month. The food pantry is open to all households, by appointment only, on tuesdays and thursdays, 9:45 am to 12 pm and 1:30pm to 3pm. The food pantry also offers wednesday evening hours, from 6 pm to 7 pm for individuals who work or attend school during the day. To help clients at thanksgiving and chrimstas, food pantry staff and volunteers distribute speical holiday food baskets. A community resource coordinator is available to food pantry clients, during food pantry program hours, to educate them about community resources that may be able to assist them.
family skill building - supervised visitation program - the program offers a safe, neutral environment where parents and children can spend quality time together. Child-friendly rooms are equipped with age appropriate toys and games that allow for quality parent/child interaction. An audio and visual monitoring system is available. The family skill building - supervised visitation program provided services to 22 individuals in fy2014. Family skill building - parenting education program - the program offers parenting education classes to help parents enhance their parenting skills and deal with significant parenting challenges. Child care is available on-site for all evening classes. The family skill building - parenting education program provided parenting education groups to 16 parents in fy2014, with 21 children benefitting from that service.
The Council for Social Concern in Woburn works with many groups to offer support with dignity to families in many communities who find themselves in need. I am involved in providing opportunities for giving to a number of groups and organizations and have been for over 20 years. The dedication of staff is evidenced by their longevity - people love to work for and with this non-profit.
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