Current Issue

State's Finacial Crisis

The State's financial crisis is beginning to rear its ugly head in the childcare community. For agencies such as Rainbow who contract with the State to provide subsidized childcare to families who meet income eligible guidelines, the funding situation is clearly becoming more serious. During the FY2003 budget deliberations this past spring, rate increases for the childcare field were removed from the budget process early on. While this initially did not appear to be a drastic situation, it did mean that agencies would have to tighten their already too tight belt to pay for increased costs beyond their control with no additional funds. The utility bills, the insurance bills, the food bills - i.e. all the fixed costs that must be paid. Staffing and program expenses get short changed in these situations.

Flexible funding from the State to expand care to siblings in contracted slots has disappeared. Each day, fewer and fewer children are being served while wait lists continue to grow. New babies are being born every day. Parents do not have an option but must return to work. After school care demands are not being met. School readiness for preschool children is everyone's concern. We see more and more children in preschool and school age programs with serious behavioral/social/emotional difficulties that require more intense services. But yet, we are being squeezed in every direction in our ability to provide for these children's many needs.

As our State budget crisis continues, we are deeply concerned about the State's commitment to support quality childcare to a population of our community that is in desperate need of these services - not only to support families who are part of the State's labor force, but even more importantly, to provide the nurturing, educational and psychological services that so many of these children require. These children are our future. We cannot give up.

Spotlight on Sharon Lindgren
Sharon Lindgren, Literacy Coordinator at UMass Memorial and a member of Rainbow's Board of Directors, recently returned from Romania with the local Romanian Relief Fund to train outreach workers to read to children living in Romanian orphanages and
hospitals. UMass Memorial has long recognized the importance of promoting literacy to children and families. Their program in Worcester sends readers into homes and schools in the Belmont, Chandler Street and Columbus Park School(s) neighborhoods.
Sharon's trip to Romania was devoted to teaching UMass Memorial's curriculum to the Romanians to assist them in bringing more educational resources to these abandoned
children. While in Romania, Sharon had the opportunity to visit the orphanages and hospitals to read to the children. While the children did not understand English, they looked at the pictures and listened intently. Books are in very short supply so the team was happy to be able to distribute 100 books while there. Sharon noted she will go back given the opportunity as she noted it was a "heartpull." The education of young children has a special draw for Sharon as she is a former preschool program director.

Thank to Worcester Executives Association
On June 4, 2002, members and friends of the Worcester Executives Association (WEA) and staff, board members and friends of Rainbow gathered at the Heritage Country Club in
Charlton for WEA's annual charitable golf tournament. The event raised funds to support the work of WEA and Rainbow Child Development Center. It was a beautiful day, the golfing was great, nine people took their first golf lesson (see picture) and everyone enjoyed the raffle drawings. The event raised $5,000 to support Rainbow's efforts to provide quality educational and therapeutic services to our children. Our children thank you for your charitable
efforts and support.

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