Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Friday, February 04, 2000 Page: 12A
Commentary – Michael MacDowell The highest incidence of poverty in Luzerne and
Lackawanna counties occurs among children, primarily among children in
households headed by single mothers. The latest census shows the poverty rate
among children in our bi-county area is 15.7 percent – 5 percent higher than
the poverty rate among women, the group with the second highest rate.
Nationally, one-parent families comprise 27 percent of family households with
children. Roughly 40 percent of mother-child family group have a never-married
mother. Breaking the cycle of poverty that occurs when young single women
have children is the most effective, humane and efficient way to address the
wrenching issue of poverty among our young people. To do so, however, is not
easy and requires two key steps: 1) creating among these women the hope,
self-esteem, pride and self-confidence that builds within them a willingness
to put their own lives, and that of their children, together; 2) providing
these women with a college education allowing them to earn a quality living
for themselves while simultaneously providing them a values-based supportive
and healthy living environment for their children. Mothers of the children
enrolled in the program will receive a significant and, in many instances, a
full college scholarship for four years. The women will live in campus
housing, specifically special small residence-hall apartments with shared
kitchen and bath facilities. Misericordia will also provide subsidized child
care for the children in a facility chosen by each mother. Each family will
have access to all campus facilities and events. Each mother will receive
appropriate guidance counseling as well as job shadowing and internship
experiences through Misericordia’s Insalaco Center for Career Development.
Clearly, some of these women need the opportunity for a focused residential
college experience so they can move into the labor force more quickly. Mothers
with children who are able to attend an occasional college class may take
years to complete their college education and consequently remain in poverty.
Just as important, each small family will benefit immensely by living on
Misericordia’s campus with other such families and with students, staff and
faculty who support their educational and personal aspiration. Of course, the
first step in breaking this cycle of poverty is a mother who wants to improve
herself and the lot of her family. Our region is fortunate to have women who
want to participate in the program and understand that it will be hard work.
They must maintain a B average and work part-time. The Women with Children
Project is keeping with the mission of College Misericordia. Luzerne County’s
oldest four-year college, Misericordia was founded in 1924 by the Sisters of
Mercy to educate the daughters of the area’s mine workers, small shopkeepers
and farmers. Today 93 percent of Misericordia students receive financial aid
and it remains very much an institution for first-generation college students.
What is also interesting is that this unique program is supported solely by
private funds. The Sisters of Mercy donated $10,000 to the program and have
given the college the resicdence hall for the Women with children Project.
First Federal Savings of Hazleton, The Connelly Foundation of Philadelphia and
the Sunlit Upland Foundation of Walton, N.Y., have contributed the funds to
support the program, while several local individuals are giving support to the
Women with Children Scholarship Fund. The program is limited only by the
amount of scholarship support for them. Women with Children is very much a
part of those in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties concerned with the issue of
poverty among children. Many are willing to step up and do something about
this issue. College Misericordia is part of that pro-active stance because it
is our heritage to do so, and it is the culture of our Valley to help others
help themselves. That is what Women with Children is all about. Michael
MacDowell is president of College Misericordia in Dallas. The college is
accepting applications for its Women with Children program.