Higher Ground for ChildrenOur Mission

Higher Ground for Children (HGforC) is a comprehensive and holistic program, serving children in need and their families in the Greater Boston area. Our mission is to support the social, emotional, academic, creative, and physical achievement of impoverished children through tailored programming enhanced by a combination of intensive services and robust community partnerships.

Background and Objectives

In the fall of 2006, I joined Margaret’s House Shelter for Homeless Families at St. Mary’s Women’s and Children’s Center’s as a volunteer. At the time, there were no specific programs or activities at Margaret’s House for school-age children, although at any time, the shelter is home to about 8 to 12 school-age children.

The needs of school-age children differ from younger children, in that they are more aware of life’s challenges. The shelter can be a difficult environment for these children, who struggle to do well in school and follow the shelter’s rules with few outlets or space devoted to serving their needs and interests. They also have few opportunities to voice their opinions and influence the circumstances of their domestic situation.

With these issues in mind, I started a weekly group for the school-age children living at Margaret’s House. The group’s three general goals were to:

  • Create a time and space designated for school-age children
  • Plan activities that are driven by the children
  • Support the children academically, socially, and emotionally

For two years, I administered and funded the program until Allison Brassard, another St. Mary’s volunteer, joined the group as co-director, and brought her unique skills in early childhood education and youth outreach.

Since it began in 2006, HGforC has successfully served dozens of children, providing tailored programming based on the children’s interests and needs. The program’s goals are to create an environment that is driven by and focused on the children it serves. The primary population is children 5 years and older, who are currently living in shelters. We expanded beyond the shelter with a Graduate program, which follows children as they are placed in permanent housing.

HGforC recently incorporated and is now seeking non-profit status. We are currently considering various models of service delivery and financial sustainability as we develop a 5-year business plan.

If you would like to learn more about HGforC, please contact us at hgforc@gmail.com.