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Student Service Learning Curriculum Focuses on Poverty and Homelessness

Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center is Beneficiary of 'Change Matters' Campaign

Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and The Horizon Foundation have partnered with the Howard County Public School System to develop a community service and philanthropy initiative focusing on poverty as a service learning option for middle schools.

The interdisciplinary curriculum-based initiative, "Change Matters," is designed to educate students about poverty and homelessness in Howard County.  A team of Howard County educators, representing reading, science, English, social studies and math instruction, developed the "Change Matters" student service learning curriculum over the summer.  It will be implemented starting this Fall on a schedule to be determined by each of the participating schools.

"Change Matters" lesson plans for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students have been created in each of the five academic disciplines and meet Maryland and Howard County curriculum assessment requirements, as well as Maryland Student Service Learning requirements.  The development of a curriculum to support "Change Matters" as a student service learning option was funded by The Horizon Foundation, a philanthropy which advances health and wellness in Howard County. 

Grassroots, which provides Howard County's only emergency shelter program and 24-hour crisis intervention services, is the focus of "Change Matters," which was launched two years ago by the Elkridge Horizon Council and Howard High School. The fundraising component of the student initiative involves collection of coins from students and school staff in cafeterias and at school events.

The campaign has spread to high and middle schools throughout the county and has raised over $15,000, which was used to fund the purchase of equipment and construction for a Children's Playground and Garden at Grassroots' shelter on Freetown Road in Columbia. 

"I am very moved when our youth dedicate their time and effort to raise funds to help those less fortunate," said Andrea Ingram, Executive Director of Grassroots. "Change Matters has had a huge impact by raising not only funds, but also raising awareness of homelessness in Howard County," she added.

Grassroots is staffed by professional crisis counselors who answer 24-hour hotlines, see walk-ins in need of immediate counseling assistance, operate the mobile crisis team which responds to community emergencies, and manage the county's emergency shelter programs for homeless men, women and families. In addition, Grassroots manages the Cold Weather Shelter, housed in the area's faith communities, for people who are unable to find emergency housing when Grassroots' facilities are full.

Last year, Grassroots had 30,542 Hotline contacts and 1,574 personal contacts. The Mobile Crisis Team made 359 community responses.  The shelter programs housed 450 people, 186 of which were children. Another 505 people were served at the Grassroots Day Resource Center, which provides services to the chronically homeless.  

For more information about participating in "Change Matters," contact coordinator Cathy Smith, cathyvsmith@verizon.net, 410-461-1035.