In m ny children tod y i more chal­ lenging nd demandin job than it ed to be. In th 1, you d extended famili v il ble to give dvice, b by- it, pro ide an emergency loan or red meal. Famil y doctors, mini te and rabbis helped nswer q tions about child-rearing. Too y, many paren are iso­ lated, without trong ties to their neighborhood and with few rela­ tive vail ble. And, with in­ creased divorce rat and more births to unmarried women, more and more women are rai ing their children alone. The economic challenge of Child-raising have a 0 become more difficult for many famili . Young families headed by some­ one under age 30 have been par­ ticularly hard hit during the last 20 years by a cycle of falling incomes, increa ing family break-ups, and rising poverty. At the same time, the public safety net that used to provide the basics for poor familie has developed gaping holes. Help in the form of unemployment in­ surance benefits, Aid to Families with Dependent (AFDC), the WIC program, Medicaid coverage, and low-cost health care' at community clinics bas failed'to keep up with increasing need. Government programs were less than half as effective in pulling young familie out of poverty in 1990 as they were in 1979. ' YET, THERE is help avail­ able. In a number of com­ munities, family support and parent education programs are improving the lives of thousands of families and children, accord­ ing to a .report by the Children's Defense Fund. The report: Helping Children by Strengthening Families, points out that family support programs offer some of the help for parents that used to come from the family and the com­ munity. These programs work to strengthen families helping them by deal with the stresses of daily life, giving them, new informa­ tion and ideas about child development, and child-rearing, and linking them with other so­ cia I' services and support programs that can help meet their basic needs. Some of these programs have drop-in offices or centers; others send home visitors into the com­ munity to visit families. Some are single programs; others are part of a network. All parents, regardless of their circumstances, may need at one time or another the kind of help that a family support program . can provide. For instance, many middle-income families may not need financial help to pay for o child care or health insurance, but they can benefit from a better understanding of child develop­ ment and help in improving their parenting skills, particularly if they are young parents. AT THE SAME time, lower­ income families may need help obtaining child care, health care, housing assistance or employ­ ment. Family support programs give them the chance to continue their own personal and educa­ nonaldevelopment while learn­ ing how to become responsible parents. In addition to explaining why famil y support programs are needed, the CD F report describes a variety of these programs that . have proven successful in various parts of the country. The report also offers recommenda­ tions for federal, state and com­ muni ty-Ievel action to help S WATCHB10 chi ever. "I didn't com from y' al b c ground; I gre up right here in Highl dar" Ball expl' . "I've j t been very fortuna e. lot of my frie ent the Iy and I could have, too, but I didn't. I fortunate enough 0 have I ther d mother ho ere trong and ught me trong val .. Ball he tri to instill tOO e val in the yoq people be each Saturday morning t the Reggie McKenzie FoWldation. The nonprofit Foundation offers tutorial help free of charge in reading. math, Engl h, ience, foreign language and history. "Our om here at the Foundation just doe n't stop on Saturday. Some of these kid don't h ve paren who care bout them, so it' up to to how them that someone loves them and wan to ee them succeed," Ball explains. "When I it down with these kidS and try to help them, I bope they can 100 at me and see that they can do anything they want to do." THE ACHIEVER AWARD will be presented to Ball during. a reception with local community leaders. Now in its eventh year, the Achiever program recognize tbose who are working to improve the quality oflife in �n commUDi\i aero the nation. Awards ponsor Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation will donate $5,000 in Ball's name to the McKenzie Foun­ dation. The Foundation, established by Highland Park native and former ' profe ional football player Reggie McKenzie, provides educational and recreational programs for hundreds of young people each year. According to Rob Bethel, Brown & Williamson's Com­ munity Involvement Coordinator, a key goal of the KOOL Achiever HIGHLAND PARK A ards 1 to recognize "u ung chievers" bo, by example, en­ coura 0 IS to become more in­ volved in the community. "When I sit down with the e kids and try to help them, I hope they can look at me and see that they can do any­ thing they want todo. " "TODAY THAN ever before, we need upport and en- coma ou ndin and civic invol- vement through progra like the OOL Achiever Aw ," Bethel 'd. "Without question, Detroit is a better place to live beca e of people uch Reggie Ball and the wor they do." The Detroit KOOL Achiever Selection Committee included Rev. ,Since e tablishing the KOOL J.C. Hope; National Association for Achiever Awards in 1986, Btown & the Advancement of Colored People; Williamson -has committed nearly N. Cbarl Anderson, Detroit Urban $600,000 in new funding for non- League;Dr.R.AustinSmith,lr.,Op-' profit community services. portunities Industrialization Centers The company will contribute of America; Laura Smith, National more than $100,000 this year ociation of Negro Busines and through the KOOL Achiever pro- Pro� ional Women',s Clubs, Inc.; gram to nonprofit community er- MatY. Lou Johnson, United Com- vices across the U.S. munity Services; Gene Gonya, � JANITOR SUPPLIES & HOUSEHOLD GOODS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 77 VICTOR (corner Of John R.) o o I o h? 100. o m ny? 2. ho I I I ? o Any Highland Park Resident currently en­ rolled In a community college or 4 year univ r­ solty as a full- Ime student. Ho Dol pply? W ite a SOO word essay on how to improve your community and describe your involve­ ment in the Highland Park Community in 500 words or less. 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