Maryland Committee for Children ( MCH)
HISTORY OF THE MARYLAND COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN
In November 1945 a council of lay and professional people, spearheaded by Mrs. Agnes Bevan Park and Mrs. Sadie D. Ginsberg organized the Maryland committee for Group Day Care of Children (MCGDCC). The organization was dedicated to keeping alive public interest in day care programs and to promoting better day care services in Maryland. On February 28, 1946, the Lanham Act, which provided funds for children whose mothers were working in defense jobs, ended. The committee set about the task of pursuing its, founding objectives.
Between 1946 and 1948, the MCGDCC provided training for teachers at the remaining day care centers which had not closed with the withdrawal of federal funds. The Committee helped raise money to make it possible for the centers to continue. Affiliated organizations included the Maryland Federation of Women's Clubs, Baltimore District college Club, American Association of University women, Maryland Congress of P.T.A.'s and Women of Rotary. In 1946 the organization was asked by the Council of Social Agencies to work with the Child Study Association in preparing a directory of group day care resources for the Baltimore Metropolitan area. The committee conducted an educational campaign leading to the support of a law concerning reqistration of Maryland Non-Public Schools, Section 14A 1947, Chapter 489 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This law brought a limited number of day care centers (those having an educational program) under the supervision of the State Department of Education. Tax exempt status was. granted to the MCGDCC on June 5, 1947.
The Committee in 1950 submitted a report to the Board of School Commissioners, Baltimore City, requesting the establishment of a program of extended school services to accommodate the children of working mothers, of motherless families, and of other needy parents unable to care adequately for their children for the major part of the day. In 1953, the organization recommended that "in order to insure effective health standards, a responsible agency, preferably the state Department of Health, license day care centers and define and enforce the rules and regulations governing them". On August 24, 1956, this recommendation was adopted and standards drawn up by the Health Department, becoming effective on October 1, 1956.
In 1953, the MCGDCC also made a recommendation that was to become the basis for House Joint Resolution No.7 in the 1962 session of the Maryland General Assembly. The committee; in April 1953, recommended that a complete survey of existing day care centers and their health condition be made throughout the State. In this report, the committee also stressed the importance of a well qualified staff and the need for an educational program as part of the day care operation. Throughout the 1950' s the organization continued to fight for the availability of programs for children and for standards for those programs.
Day Care Needs in Maryland, a 1964 report developed by the Health and Welfare Council, concluded "that the passage of House Joint Resolution No.7 by the 1962 Maryland General Assembly represented a significant event in the history of the daycare movement in Maryland in general and a tribute to the perseverance of the Maryland Committee on Group Day Care in particular".
In 1965, under the leadership of Mrs. Therese Lansburgh, the organization changed both its name and its structure. The Maryland COmmittee for the Day Care of Children, Inc. combined its former Board and professional advisory committee with members of the public-at-large, broadening its base and reaching the general public in .interpreting the need for quality day care services. In the following year the first paid staff was hired and the Hqffberger Foundation provided a three year $30,000 grant with the condition that the grant be matched. The staff and the budget continued at that level through the sixties. Membership was growing as the result of a special charge by the Board to the Executive Director. In 1971, MCDCC, as it was still known, opened The Warehouse which collected a limited number of used toys, games and children's furniture and equipment.
In 1972, the Board went through a complex planning process to determine how best to meet the developmental needs of children; the decision was to expand the MCDCC's ability to offer concrete support services to parents and people who work with young children. The Warehouse was transformed into reSTORE, a unique recycling center where industrial surplus material would be made available to the child care community. By 1975, reSTORE had a part time volunteer student director. It was housed in a 12 foot by 12 foot room and stocked with supplies picked up in a 10 year old van donated by the C&P Telephone Company. reSTORE was open one day a week and utilized by approximately 100 people.
Today, reSTORE is a model recycling center for the united States. Housed in 3,000 square feet on the first floor of the Chocolate Factory, the program is staffed by two full time employees and a large core of volunteers. A new van, donated by the Campbell. Foundation in 1980 transports materials from over 300 contributors. In reSTORE there is a large assortment of discarded and excess materials which can be creatively used for learning activities for children. reSTORE is designed to make available to teachers, child care providers and parents, supplies that can be converted into curriculum materials for children. Providers .are shown how discarded materials such as fabric, felt, foam, spools, plexiglas, horseshoes, and gaskets, donated by local businesses and industries, can be converted into materials such as puppets, flannel boards, games and musical instruments'. A fully equipped bookstore is housed in reSTORE, stocked with.a variety of current child care materials and Maryland Committee publications. Open six days a week, reSTORE was utilized by 5,000 adults and 3,000 children in 1981.
Also, as a result of the 1972 planning effort training programs were initiated in a limited way in order to test the need and the MCDCC's ability to meet that need. It was soon determined that there was a desperate need for training throughout the State of Maryland. From 1973 to 1975, the training was provided by MCDCC board members. In 1975 the first part time Training Director was hired.
In 1976 a committee comprised of professionals from the child care community was formed to begin considering a comprehensive MCDCC training program. This committee, "Dimensions in Child Care", looked into possible training models. During 1976, six programs were conducted by the Dimensions Committee, training 200 child care providers.
Since 1976 MCC has been receiving Title XX funds to train Baltimore City Title XX eligible family day care providers, agency operated pre-school and school age center staff, and purchase of care center staff. By 1980 MCC's Title XX grant was expanded to include a pilot project called the "Workshop Wagon". utilizing a van donated by the City of Baltimore, workshops have been conducted around the Metropolitan area.
In 1981 MCC was awarded asmall training grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to conduct curriculum workshops in Allegany, Garrett and WashingtOn Counties. For the first time NCC was able to bring training to the western part of Maryland.
Today the Dimensions Committee conducts more than 40 training programs a year for 3,000 child care providers; Dimensions offers three major types of training programs: Seminars, Workshops, and a Creative Preschool Training Week. Seminars provide opportunities for professional growth to a wide variety of individuals who are involved in providing child care. They are designed to bring new ideas about child development to help upgrade administrative and professional-skills. Seminars include a keynote speaker, a panel, and small group discussions. Topics such as "The Role of the Director" and Communication Among Staff" are presented. Workshops provide staff in child care programs opportunities for educational growth in an informal setting. At many of the workshops participants make learning materials for children to use. Workshops are offered in all areas of early childhood education from "Music Activities and Games" to "Piagetian Math" and "Reading Readiness". Creative Preschool Training is a week long conference of creative experiences related to early childhood education. A variety of lectures, discussions, films, panels, and active learning experiences are offered throughout the week to train staff working with young children.
The agency has, from the time of its inception, focused a major part of its energies on the education of both the decision makers and the general public.
By 1975 it became clear that the issues affecting children and their families were inseparable. To be concerned about the availability and the quality of day care without paying attention to health, housing, or other factors affecting the quality of a child's life was neither logical nor effective. This broadening of the focus of the Maryland Committee was reflected in the planning and execution of what became The Governor's Conference on Children and Families. The MCDCC brought together 1,000 people from across the state who represented health, education, public assistance, housing, juvenile services, child development and other interests and began to build a sense of community.
In 1978 under the leadership of Mrs. Marjorie K. Smith, MCDCC's name was changed to The Maryland Committee for Children in recognition of the ever broadening focus of the organization; and negotiations were instituted for the acquisition and renovation of an old Chocolate Factory located in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore. Mrs. Maxine Horwitz, MCC's 1979 President, oversaw the renovations of the building. From its inception, the Committee's capital fund campaign has been spearheaded by Mrs. Therese. Lansburgh, MCC Chair. In 1981 the Peggy Meyerhoff Pearlstone Foundation awarded the Committee a $40,000 challenge grant for the purchase and installation of an elevator for the building.
The 1981 Children's creative Festival, coordinated by Vice President Jane Abrams, was a project designed to show the public the growth and scope of the MCC. Seventy organizations involved in services for children from around the state participated. OVer 10,000 people attended the day long festivities.
In the last few years the MCC Public Policy Committee, made up of two dozen members from across the state, has become increasingly active. Some members work in the public or private sector, some are volunteers, but all are advocates for children. The Public Policy Committee has functioned at the direction and with the approval of the MCC Board of Directors in the following areas:
- During the 1981 Legislative session, restoration of the $500,000.00 cut in the day care budget was a major project. As a result of the committee's efforts, $300,000.00 was restored in the Governor's Supplemental Budget.
- Drafted the legislation which eventually resulted in the creation of an Office for Children in Maryland.
- Helped to bring about the passage of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Acts.
- Developed a position paper on. the question of infants in group day care centers which was used in the legislative deliberations.
- Worked with a variety of organizations in attempting to develop an intelligent state plan to address the problems of adolescent parents.
- Prepared research materials and testified before the Maryland General Assembly's "Project Press". This was an attempt by the General Assembly, with the help of the U.S. Civil Service Commission and the Eagleton Institute, to explore the role of legislative oversight.
- Worked on the efforts to improve the complex systems of licensure of child day care programs.
- Helped to plan Maryland's part in The White House COnference on Families.
- Disseminated information throughout the state about Pederal issues. Much of this work was done in conjuction with materials prepared by the Children's Defense Fund.
- Provided information to the Federal Government about the implications to Maryland of federal policies.
- Worked with the Governor, his staff and. the Secretaries of the principal departments on budget and child welfare issues affecting children.
- Worked with juvenile justice advocates on issues including the age for juvenile court jurisdiction and the construction of maximum security institutions for juveniles.
- Developed an analysis of the APT Report on Day Care in Maryland; as a result of this effort APT sent a letter to the Governor and the legislature correcting errors, misapprehensions and recommendations.
Thirty six years after its founding, the Maryland Committee for Children continues to hold fast to is founding objectives. In both retrospect and prospect the organization's dedication to the children and families of Maryland is being realized.
August 10, 1981