Education

Unlike some after-school programs, Greenwood Shalom moves well beyond simply homework assistance. Program participants are instructed in literacy and math skills based on Massachusetts' curriculum frameworks. Tutors teach components of the Children's Defense Fund's curriculum Freedom Schools. Further, they engage in "Harambee" gatherings, where community members entertain and inspire them. Monthly field trips are also important components to the children's after-school experience. To ensure the success of the program, Greenwood Shalom offers Parent Empowerment Seminars, advocates for children and their parents and teaches parents how to become more involved in their child's education. Recognizing the significance of studies on teacher-student ratios, Greenwood Shalom boasts a one-to-five staff-student ratio. This is accomplished through the use of high students as assistant tutors, volunteers from Sudbury United Methodist Church and Hearts for Boston. Greenwood's cultural sensitivity and our specialized work with children with special needs are a few of the key areas that set our after-school program apart from most others. For the 2005-6 school year, 30% of the children had disabilities. These children require a one-to-three (and sometimes one-to-one) staff-student ratio.

Dorchester Adult Literacy Coalition(DALC): Sarah Bayer (ABE/ESOL) - sbayer@prohope.org; Project Hope provides services in ABE, ESOL, GED, and Job Skills.  They have licensed child care and operate in morning and afternoons.

Adult Educational Services (AES): offers a basic adult education to more than 80 low-income women a year. It combines full time, intensive academics with creative programming to foster each woman's empowerment and self-development in mind, body, and spirit.

Children's Center: a high-quality, nationally accredited child care center for 26 homeless and low-income children, ages 0-6. Eighteen percent of Boston centers achieve this rigorous standard of national accreditation. The center promotes the whole child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth; targets children in crisis and with special needs; involves parents in promoting family literacy and kindergarten-readiness; and works for better access and quality child care in the broader community.

Family Child Care Business Enterprise (FCCBE): an innovative venture that trains 30 low-income women a year for child care careers and oversees a network of 20+ home-based family day care businesses. Trainees take part in college-level child development coursework, internships, and business preparation. The day care providers are assisted with their professional development and business success.

Family Shelter: one of the first homeless shelters for families in the state and remains a model for its respectful and empowering approach. Approximately 20 women and their children are sheltered each year.

Housing Service: assists Dorchester/Roxbury families with various housing issues. A team of experienced staff provides housing counseling, landlord negotiation, housing search assistance, budgeting advice and training, emergency rental funds, and more.

Workforce Development & Employer Partnerships (WDEP): founded to assist women—single mothers predominantly—and other community members in the Dudley neighborhood who found that without adequate training and an accessible path to employers their dreams of living wage jobs were out of reach. Aids in job readiness training, access to career ladder job opportunities, and ongoing case management support during the program and for a full year after job placement.

• Hot Line: A referral line for parents to find a family childcare program anywhere in Massachusetts.
  There are over 8000 license programs with AFCCA. All program costs are on a sliding scale or accept vouchers or scholarships.

• Advocacy and referrals for parents and family members looking for housing, employment, and other resources.
• Advocacy and support for family childcare providers and employees