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Letter to the Editor
July 12, 2005
Letters to the Editor
The Boston Globe
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
Dear Editor:
Eileen McNamara's column of July 10, 2005 "A Rough Calculation" on the decision by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in Athol, Massachusetts highlights a dilemma faced by the nation's private non-profit human service agencies. How can they carry out their mission to serve children and families while maintaining the sound fiscal practices needed to stay afloat during a time of dwindling resources?
Poor and vulnerable children in communities like Athol are caught in the middle of economic forces that on the one hand lead their parents to joblessness, depression, domestic violence and drug abuse. On the other hand, reduced state and local revenue growth often mean a failure to give priority support to the community based programs and services children require. The result is an extremely tight squeeze for children with the greatest need.
If that is not enough, human service agencies face not only a shortage of support from local and state governments, but must also deal with a crisis in charitable giving. A recent report on giving by the USA Foundation found that only four of the nation's 60 largest individual donors gave to children's organizations. In fact charitable giving was up in all categories except human service.
A lack of government, community and philanthropic support is a recipe for failure - failure to adequately meet the very real needs of our most vulnerable children and the increasing failure of private, not for profit organization's to survive in this fiscal environment. As the richest country in the world we need to decide who will shore up those that serve so that they can do more to help poor and at risk children and families thrive and participate fully in our society.
Sincerely,
Shay Bilchik
President and CEO
Child Welfare League of America
440 First Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
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