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The holiday season is upon us, and people everywhere are beginning to look forward to their celebrations. This is a joyous time of the year, but also one that can prove stressful for many people. There are countless families in the United States who are struggling financially. When the extra holiday stress ends, their struggles will still continue. Concerned parents who are looking for opportunities to help their children should take a look around their community and schools. Many, like the parents of kids in need in Hartford, will find resources that can help their children succeed. Studies have shown that education can have a positive impact on reducing poverty. Educating children, as well as adults, will help to increase their chances for success in the workforce. Children who are provided with a strong educational start will be more likely to continue on and finish high school. However, research shows that putting a child's educational fate solely in the hands of their teachers won't do the entire job. Research shows that student achievement is largely determined by factors which take place outside of the school environment. Students who come from low-income homes are at a decided disadvantage when compared to their peers who live in wealthier areas. Poverty has also been shown to be an indicator of whether or not a student will go on to college and, once they are there, if they will obtain a degree. Children in low-income areas can find educational opportunities during school, after school, and even online. There has recently been a strong push toward the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines. Programs are available to educate children and expose them to the opportunities in the STEM fields. Other programs focus on business and finance, preparing children for employment in those areas. Even if a student isn't inclined toward that career path, these programs help them learn how to handle their own finances. Finally, there are experiences which are tailored more toward social learning. These programs may promote field trips and camps that allow children to travel outside of their immediate area. Having a traditional education is important, but improving a student's practical job skills is another way to help families in poverty. When these job skills are tailored to meet the needs of the local workforce, the rate of employment will increase. Educational programs around the country have begun to add, or improve upon, their focus on the practical skills needed by the 21st century workforce. Another way that communities have helped low-income families is by bringing services to the schools. There are school districts in the United States that provide health centers at school. This increases students' access to quality health care and decreases their absences from school. Other cities have thought beyond traditional academic needs and have found creative ways to fight childhood hunger and improve nutrition. These programs go beyond the federal government's free and reduced-cost lunch programs. For example, a unique program in Hartford, CT, sends backpacks home with students each Friday that are filled with enough food to feed the student over the weekend. This helps to ensure that children are receiving proper nutrition, which bolsters their ability to focus and learn in the classroom. Kids in need in Hartford have access to the weekend backpack program, along with many other social and educational programs. Families that are feeling the stress of lower income, higher bills, and even unemployment, may struggle throughout the entire year, but life can be especially intense over the holidays. If they look to their local schools and surrounding community, parents can find ways to lighten some of their burden. Giving their children access to these programs can provide the peace of mind that their children are receiving the benefit of an education, a powerful tool in the fight against poverty. MC² Technology, Inc. (http://www.camphillstorage.com/) provide access to institutions of higher education in Connecticut by offering academic support, special after-school projects, and scholarship assistance. Visit www.camphillstorage.com to learn more.
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