Friday, October 23, 2009

Watertown Family Network Petition - Agree with this letter by signing in the comment field

October 23, 2009

Dear Representative Hecht, Senator Tolman, & Governor Patrick,

We, the following parents, write to ask you for your support of the Early Childhood Watertown Grants that include the Watertown Family Network, The Parent Child Home Program, & the Community Partnerships for Children during this time of most dire need. It has come to our attention that the Family Network could be facing elimination with the Governor’s impending 9C cuts. This would be an unbelievable tragedy for the children of Watertown and the community at large.

Of course, we are acutely aware of the state’s budget situation. We understand the unfortunate reality that these are difficult times for all those that depend on funding from the government. Yet we must call to your attention that we believe it is essential to keep programs such as the Watertown Family Network alive – programs that truly pay for themselves in the long term.

The importance of these programs is demonstrated by numerous comprehensive studies such as that of “The Economic Impact of the Child Care and Early Education Industry in Massachusetts,” published in 2004, which, among its many conclusions emphasizing the rate of return of the early childhood “industry” on taxpayers’ dollars, supports Richard Lord and Alan MacDonald’s opinion that, “Ensuring an adequate supply of educated workers and increasing the likelihood of obtaining a college degree, by improving children’s early learning opportunities, will help position Massachusetts for future economic growth and prepare tomorrow’s work force for the changing demands of our economy.”

As parents, we can all attest to the fact that the Family Network has been vital in enriching and developing the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills of our children through its varied and diverse activities - activities that prepare children for early childhood care and beyond.

During times such as these, it is the government’s responsibility to maintain those programs that truly embody the spirit of its guiding principals, and, without a doubt, the Watertown Family Network is a unique program that sews the fabrics of our community together and creates the building blocks for successful, well-prepared families and children. From new parent support groups to music sessions with residents of the local assisted living facility, the Network fulfills countless needs of young families dependent on the support from and connection to their community. The loss of accessibility to this program would not only be the loss of one of Watertown’s greatest assets, but also a loss for Massachusetts of a crucial means to attract and retain young families. We hope that you defend the Watertown Family
Network as such during the fiscal negotiations ahead.

Sincerely,

NAME SIGNATURE ADDRESS

39 comments:

Calvins Mom said...

Signed:
Amy Kirsch, 53 Boylston St, Watertown

jodi said...

Jodi Hyer, 210 Belmont St, Watertown

Kelly said...

Nancy Hoover
35 Hillcrest Circle
Watertown

Anonymous said...

Amy Wiborg 36 Fessenden Street, Newton, MA

Meghan said...

Meghan Broadstone
12 Lovell Rd
Watertown

Unknown said...

Foley Family
25 French Street
Watertown MA 02472

Anonymous said...

Karen Gregor
170 Pratts Mill Rd
Sudbury, MA 01776

Anonymous said...

Neiman-Nickel Family
Watertown,MA

Anonymous said...

Signed,
Christine Millett
9 Hosmer St, Watertown

Unknown said...

Jen Rukavishnikov, 50 Watertown St, Watertown

megsilver said...

The Silver Family
84 Cedar St
Waltham. Mass

Anonymous said...

Please do nut cut any funding to our programs

Anonymous said...

Signed:
Michele Greenwald
10 Malden Street, watertown

Anonymous said...

Maria Banda, 22 Oakland St, Watertown

Unknown said...

Allison and Seth Berger, Watertown residents 2001-2008

shannon said...

Shannon Prouty
67 Palfrey St #2
Watertown, MA

Anonymous said...

Maria I Caracino
58 Partridge Street
Watertown, Ma 02472

Anonymous said...

I agree with this petition

Anonymous said...

Angstadt Family, 352 School Street, Watertown

kristen s said...

Sincerely,

Kristen Sopko
341 Warren STreet,
Waltham

Rebecca said...

Signed
Rebecca Budd Meyers
49B Carleton Street
Newton MA 02458

Anonymous said...

MariaLuiza Rodriguez, 12 Carleton Rd. Waltham

Unknown said...

Jodi Wood
72 Jewett St. Newton

Anonymous said...

Both of my daughters attended the Watertown Family Network. Cheryl and Arlene are nurturing and bring families together. We looked forward to it everyday. We live in Lexington, there is nothing like it. Thankfully my mother lives in Watertown.
Ayla Kavanagh

Painterchiq said...

Ariana Mashilker, 28 Morton Street, Watertown

Anonymous said...

Allison McCrary
30 Bradford Rd
Watertown

Anonymous said...

Goldstein Family, 9 Barbara Terr, Watertown, MA
This is a gem of Watertown - please don't cut.

Anonymous said...

Erica Streit-Kaplan, West Newton

Jared Matas said...

Jared Matas
16 Oakland St
Watertown, MA

Sarah R said...

Sarah Mizen-Reese, 12 Cloelia Terrace, Newtonville

Anonymous said...

Donna Driscoll
32 Chapman Street
Watertown

Mara said...

Mara Acel-Green
29 Carroll Street
Watertown MA 02472

This is an essential service to families. It is unconscionable to consider removing it as it supports child development, promotes community, and provides parenting skills and resources to make families successful for a relatively small amount of money. These services, when not provided, will require significantly more money to respond to. This is a very successful and inexpensive prevention program; the government cannot afford to cut programs of this kind.

Melissa said...

Melissa Fristrom
85 Poplar Street
Watertown, MA 02472

Unknown said...

The Musiak Family
39 Center St
Watertown, MA 02472

Anonymous said...

Nia Nascimento
16 Columbia Street
Watertown MA

Please maintain funding for this essential resource for young children and their families. It is a truly valued center in this community and provides families with an affordable way of connecting, educating, and providing creative fun to their children.

Leah said...

Leah Whiteman
25 Howard St
Watertown

MamaSong said...

The Song family
101-103 Hillside Road, WAtertown

Unknown said...

Emily Coe-Sullivan
60 Harriet Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478

Krisitin said...

Signed, Kristin Kullman, 20 Cleveland Rd, Watertown, MA