by Mary-Kate Roan
Staff Writer
It’s a modern-day tale of two cities as Linda Lanier explains it. One part of Jacksonville is an area that is described as “Zone One” while the other describes the rest of Jacksonville. It just happens that the Children’s Commission is located inside of Zone One.
In August 2007 Harvard University published a study that concluded “toxic stress” in early childhood can result in a child who is more likely to develop physical illnesses and mental health problems. Toxic stress is described as the most threatening kind of stress that can be experienced. It can be caused by things such as abuse, neglect, substance abuse or family violence.
And working with that message, the Commission has an updated building that was built for their needs as well as an updated way of doing things, such as improving child care in day care centers. Comparing some day care centers to third-world countries, Executive Director and CEO of the Children’s Commission Linda Lanier says the Commission’s programs are made to help the centers achieve an increase in the quality of care given to children, which has been a problem since they began.
“Family day care centers are the result of a movement in the ‘80s to help women get off of welfare,” said Lanier. “However, the women were not educated in business or child welfare.”
In order to get licensed by the state to become a child day care center, prospective providers must undergo only 40 hours of programmed training with no test at the end. Lanier adds that hair stylists have to go through over 1,000 hours of training and a final test. The Commission also has a training institute for parents and day care providers.
“Just because we were children doesn’t mean that we can handle them,” said Lanier.
Another large problem is parental concern for the child’s well-being. The Commission performs regular screenings on children every six months in partnership with Nemours Bright Start.
“Some parents think that if a child’s screening shows cause for concern that it is anything but what the screening detects,” said Lanier, explaining that parents often formulate their own beliefs about the results. “But by the time the child gets to kindergarten, the achievement gap is already well established.”
There is also a mentor program that offers students the chance to develop a positive relationship with members of the community. However, Lanier warns that it is not for the weak-hearted. Citing true stories about mentors who were faced with children who were suddenly homeless and involved with other devastating situations, Lanier explained that mentors are paired with agencies to help combat the tragic crises that occur in life.
“Mentoring does help,” said Lanier. “But if a mentor abandons a child because the situation is too difficult, then the child is damaged even more than before.”
With 49 after school programs and 80 summer camps, the Commission has the responsibility of funding programs that will enhance the lives of children in Jacksonville.
“Our job is to purchase services for children in the city,” said Lanier. “The programs need to be research-based (to monitor progress).”
And because of the research taking place the services offered have been proven to help the children. However, Lanier cautions those that would bring up the point of “if the children are doing well with one program, stick with that one program and do away with the others.”
“It’s like a satellite,” said Lanier. “It has to keep moving. If it stops it loses momentum and falls.”
To defy that misconception, the Commission is working on an idea for a system of care for children using certain programs throughout the child’s lifetime. And despite reports of bullets blazing around the Commission’s building, Lanier dismisses worries from staff members and friends.
“When we moved here a few years ago, some of the staff was upset because we’re in a rough part of town,” said Lanier. “But all I could say was for them to think of the 4-year-old that lives here all the time and what they go through.”
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