[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          REACH OUT TO A CHILD

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I would like to acknowledge the 
efforts of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Freddie Mac. 
Freddie Mac has expanded its successful Washington, DC-based community 
service program, Reach Out to a Child, to Chicago.
  The focus of the Reach Out to a Child program, called the Second City 
Project, is at-risk children. Funding for both the Washington, DC, 
program and the new Chicago program come from Freddie Mac's sponsorship 
of the Run for Shelter--a series of 5K--3.1 mile--races in five cities 
across the country. The runs have raised over $1 million for programs 
devoted to assuring the physical, emotional, and moral development of 
children, youth, and families at risk.
  Chicago has been selected by Freddie Mac because of the large influx 
of children into the city's child welfare system over the past 10 
years. Based on the same format as the Washington Reach Out to a Child 
Program, the Second City Project will focus on four specific areas of 
work with kids: First, child abuse and neglect prevention; second, 
family preservation; third, foster care; and fourth, adoption.
  Freddie Mac attributes the success of the Washington project to its 
local partnerships. This same model will be used to establish the 
Second City project. Three organizations in Chicago have agreed to 
partner with Freddie Mac. Here are some of the partnerships' programs:
  Illinois Department of Children and Family Services: Development of a 
city-wide foster parent recruitment program;
  National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse:


                      1. Healthy Families America

  Home support and education to new parents directed at helping them 
cope with the stresses and responsibilities of parenthood. Freddie 
Mac's Foundation' contributed $250,000 toward its implementation.


                       2. Family Life Newsletter

  Providing education and information about community events in an 
easy-to-read format. The circulation of this publication will be 
increased from 600 to 14,000 copies quarterly.


                             3. Hotline 21

  A parent education series on a Chicago cable access channel. 
Programming will be expanded from 13 to 52 weeks.


                       4. Better Boys Foundation

  Reaches out to youth and families through education, guidance, family 
counseling, intervention, and resident services.
  Emergency Reception Center/Columbus-Maryville Children's Reception 
Center: These facilities provide protective services care and short 
term emergency care for foster children.
  These types of community based programs have a significant impact on 
communities across the country. I am pleased that Freddie Mac has 
selected Chicago for its new Reach Out to a Child Program and I applaud 
their commitment, as well as the creativity and commitment of the 
Chicago partners.

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