Philadelphia Catholic schools are 'beacons' in troubled neighborhoods

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (CNS) - The parish schoolhouse door is staying open after the regular school day in five troubled Philadelphia neighborhoods, affording children there a haven from drug pushers and street violence.

In September Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and Mayor John F. Street announced the opening of five new "beacon schools." Involvement by the Catholic schools extends the city's current beacon school program already operating in 25 public schools. Under the new plan, Catholic Social Services of the archdiocese is working with the child advocacy organization Philadelphia Safe and Sound under a $2 million contract from the city. . "Beacon" refers to a "beacon of light," a place of safety, activity and positive social activities, said Augustine J. Keirans, a vice president of the advocacy group and a member of St. Christopher Parish in northeast Philadelphia. . Located in communities with high rates of youth violence, child abuse and other social ills, each beacon school will stay open after regular school hours, offering recreational and skill-development activities. . "The archdiocese fully supports the city of Philadelphia's initiatives to focus resources and programming on violence reduction and youth development, by serving children before crises occur in their lives," the cardinal said. . The mission of Catholic Social Services to address the needs of children and families dates back to the mid-19th century. . "The work has changed over the years but the commitment remains," Cardinal Rigali said. . The cardinal and the mayor announced the project at a Sept. 21 press conference at one of the beacon schools, St. Martin de Porres in north Philadelphia. . "I thank Cardinal Rigali for agreeing to this unique partnership for the benefit of the city's most at-risk children and families," Street said. . The first phase of the program provides after-school activities for elementary school children. Participating schools remain open from the time classes end until 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The activities will typically be held in the school's cafeteria, auditorium and designated classrooms. . On Nov. 1, the beacon schools opened another program for young people between the ages of 12 and 18. In addition to the same weekday hours, that program includes Saturday hours. . The fee will be $10 per child per week, although there will be flexibility regarding families that cannot afford the fee, according to James Amato, deputy secretary for the Catholic service agency. . Each beacon school will have four full-time staff members as well as additional workers and consultants who will provide programming and enrichment services. . Catholic Social Services will administer the programs and hire the staff at the five beacon schools. . Philadelphia Safe and Sound used ZIP codes to identify appropriate beacon school locations, relying on statistics that indicate a dangerous environment for children in those areas, including: new child abuse and neglect cases; crime arrests for those between the ages of 7 and 23; juvenile arrests for drug-related offenses for those 17 years of age and under; and data listing homicide victims and gunshot victims between the ages of 7 and 24. . Based on the information Safe and Sound provided, Catholic Social Services identified several locations as appropriate beacon school sites. . Each Catholic school is located near a public school, and will serve all eligible students - from both public and private schools - in a targeted neighborhood. . The city is working to move fewer endangered children from their homes into foster care, and at the same time to create safer in-home and community strategies to keep children safe, Amato told The Catholic Standard & Times, newspaper of the Philadelphia Archdiocese. . The beacon school program "really underlines the city's interest in providing funding for children in their own communities (using) funding that was traditionally for child placement and (related) activities," he said. . Youngsters in the beacon school program are "going to find a full range of youth development, recreation and social programs," Amato said. . "It's academically and socially enriching, as well as a safe haven ... in communities that are easily accessible for children and their family," he said . Amato added that with such programs "the Catholic Church, through its parishes, continues to be alive and committed to the inner city." Each beacon school will have its own youth council, which will help develop programs according to the needs and interests of its respective community.

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