Mission Continued
“….As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them….” (John 17:18)
Are you in favor of justice for children? What prompts the question are these alarming local child welfare statistics:
Rochester is ranked 1st in the state and 11th in the nation for child poverty; 38% of city children younger than 12 live below the poverty level.
The infant mortality rate in Monroe County is higher than in any other upstate county and higher than the overall state rate; some areas of the inner city have an infant mortality rate comparable to that of Third World Countries.
40% of Rochester School District high school students don’t graduate.
88% of Rochester School District elementary students qualify for free or reduced priced school meals because their caregivers may not be able to provide them adequate food.
Monroe County has a higher rate of children in foster care than comparable counties in the state; currently the number is over 1000.
6300 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported in the county in 2004, a 6% increase over 2003.
Now that you’re aware of some of our community’s alarming child welfare statistics, let me share with you some equally alarming consequences of those statistics.
Children deprived of proper nutrition during the brain’s critical formative years score much lower on vocabulary, reading comprehension, arithmetic and general knowledge tests.
Children exposed to domestic violence, abuse or neglect will have substantial problems that affect their social, emotional and physical development. As adults they will experience higher rates of mental illness, substance abuse and poor physical health than their non traumatized peers. They will be less likely to complete their education or to be gainfully employed and more likely to have serious legal problems.
Depression is at least 3 to 5 times more common in individuals with histories of child maltreatment. Victims of abuse and neglect are 12 times more likely to attempt suicide that non-abused youngsters. Sexually abused adolescents are 18 to 21 times more likely to become drug abusers.
And now that I have thoroughly discomforted you, which quite frankly is my intent, let me ask another question: Is there any doubt that Jesus would be outraged at the plight of at-risk children in our community or anywhere else in the world?
Today’s gospel from John, part of Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper, addresses his concern for who will carry on his mission when he’s no longer physically present to do it himself? He demonstrates his solution by washing the disciples’ feet and telling them: “As I do for you, do for each other.” And he prays his solution in today’s selection by asking God to protect his disciples, make them holy and empower them to carry on his mission: “…As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them ….” Clearly then, Jesus intends his mission on earth to be continued by his disciples, you and me, his new way of being present after the ascension, which we celebrated this past Thursday. We are to be a community of love made up of persons who genuinely care about each other, willing to put aside selfish desires and even subordinate ourselves for the good of others, particularly the most vulnerable and neediest members of our community.
One way the late Robert Wegman answered the question about justice and children was through philanthropy. He donated $42 million to enable low-income city children to attend Catholic schools and created the Work-Scholarship Connection for needy students in the Rochester City School District. Obviously, you and I don’t have his resources, but we too can be generous with our contributions to agencies serving at-risk families and children in our community.
We can also be generous with our time and talent. May is National Foster Care Month. Foster parents, who are extraordinarily caring people, provide temporary homes for children removed by court order from troubled families; adoptive foster parents provide permanent homes for children whose birth parents’ rights have been terminated. For those of us not able to make that kind of commitment, however, there are plenty of other opportunities available to serve at-risk youngsters. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), for example, advocate for foster children involved in Family Court cases. Parenthood Program volunteers work with displaced families in Catholic Family Center homeless shelters
Do you know why some children are overwhelmed by adversity, while others are able to master the everyday challenges they face? Important research on childhood resilience done by psychologists at the University of Rochester sheds light on the issue. Perhaps the most important pathway to resilience identified is the support of and close relationship with a devoted, competent parent or other caring adult. You and I can be that person, a positive adult role model for a child who desperately needs one.
In 1994 my Rotary Club adopted Inner City School #8 on St. Paul St. as a long term service project. 70% of the students there have a parent who is or has been incarcerated. For the past twelve years, club members have worked with teachers and students at School #8 in a variety of ways including mentoring, tutoring, reading with and to children, participating in career day programs, providing treats at Halloween, book bags with supplies at the beginning of the school year, warm winter outerwear, holiday gift baskets and scholarships for promising achievers. Currently, during my lunch break on Fridays, I’m teaching a 5 week Junior Achievement course to Ms. McAdam’s 5th grade class and next year, when I’m retired from the Family Court bench, I plan to spend more of my volunteer time at School #8. I also plan to become a Compeer mentor.
What are some other ways you can make a difference in the life of an at-risk child? You can offer respite care to a single parent; lend your professional or creative skills to benefit a child welfare agency; become a literacy volunteer; keep informed on proposed legislation that impacts families and children; join an advocacy group like our own parish’s Social Action Committee or the Diocese of Rochester’s Public Policy Committee, currently conducting a two year campaign entitled (not coincidently), “Seeking Justice for Children,” and the list goes on and on..
Are you in favor of justice for children? Of course, you are! The tougher question is -- What are you prepared to do to do about it?
Anthony J. Sciolino
Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26/60;
John 4:11-16
John 17:11b-19.
7th Sunday of Easter.
May 28, 2006. (Cycle B)