Has America reached the point of diminishing returns on its investment in social welfare programs, or is it still skimping on its obligation to assist the needy?
Jean Patterson Cushman, executive director of the faith-based Episcopal Community Services of Maryland, which just celebrated its 80th year of service, subscribes to the latter view. She said the rising tide of social dysfunction that she sees daily may have “structural” ? that is, political-causes.
Cushman holds this view despite statistics showing that since 1956, the percentage of the U.S. budget going to social welfare programs increased from 21 percent to 59 percent.
“It?s not getting any better,” Cushmansaid of the underclass problems ? crime, drug and alcohol abuse, broken families, poverty and diminished opportunity ? that her downtown organization tries to mediate through a quartet of programs.
“We?re part of a homeless network that decided that it would be good if mothers in shelters and in recovery should had some way to take care of their small children during the day,” Cushman said of one of the programs.
The Ark, which serves homeless children and families in recovery, handles about 20 3-to-5-year-olds a day ? about 100 a year ? in a child care program that tries to free mothers up for other obligations.
“ECSM does a lot of great things in the area of the homeless and for people just out of prison, trying to re-enter society,” Jeffrey Ayres, a partner at Venable LLP, said of the nonprofit?s Jericho program. Ayres had heard good things about the nonprofit for many years prior to his joining its board.
In addition to the 200 ex-offenders that ECSM helps each year, the $1.5 million, 24-staff organization also offers the Club at Collington Square, an after-school program that teaches civics, history, art and other subjects to inner-city middle schoolers. This program handles some 40 students a year.
The organization also provides an adoption search and reunion program for birth mothers seeking to learn about their adopted children.
Buoyed by her faith, Cushman, however, sees diminished hope for those raised in the inner city.
“I think we are working on issues that I think are almost structural,” she said. “The people that are [having] these issues are going to continue to be affected by them. What we?re doing won?t change the overall situation.”
More information
» Episcopal Community Services of Maryland
1014 W. 36th St., Baltimore
410-467-1264, ecsm.org
