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 May
18, 2005 was a glorious day in Mott Haven! Community members, politicians,
clergy leaders, and others joined Board members and staff to celebrate
the opening of Paul's House, ESS' new 14,000 square foot early childhood
center in the South Bronx.
Although many people still associate the words "South
Bronx" with distressed neighborhoods and limited opportunity, much
transformation has taken place in the last decade through the efforts
of civic leaders and area residents. One heartening result has been
a 70% drop in crime since the 1990s. But more change was needed, especially
for young children and their families. As Executive Director Robert
Gutheil notes, "In a neighborhood where 54% of young children live
in poverty, there was no comprehensive facility to meet their needs.
We realized we needed to address that."
 And
so Paul's House was born. Named for the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, the late
Bishop of New York and a tireless advocate for social justice, this
new facility is geared towards helping children under the age of three
get a fair and healthy start in life. The center boasts six Early Head
Start classrooms in the William H. Wright II Center, where young children
are helped to become school-ready. The child-friendly Starr Dental Center,
made possible with the support of the Starr Foundation, is a pleasant
and inviting place for youngsters. Medical and mental health interventions
take place in the Stephen Chinlund Children's Health Services facility,
a tribute to ESS' former Executive Director. There are also offices
for the Family Preservation and Foster Care and Adoption programs. All
in all, some 100 professional and staff members will assist an estimated
1,000 area families each year improve their lives and bolster the chances
of their children's future success.
Paul's House is a children's wonderland. It's difficult
even for adults to keep from smiling in such a place. And so it should
be - Paul's House is an oasis of calm and beauty, wonder and discovery,
compassion and love. It's a place to touch a child's heart.
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Why Invest In An Early Child
Care Center In Mott Haven?
- Families in need:
54% of families in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx
with children below the age of five live below the poverty line.
- Service gap:
A community assessment in this neighborhood revealed that there is
no center-based child care for low-income children under the age of
three and their families.
- Potential for huge impact:
Nobel Prize-winning economists identify early childhood as the best
time to develop discipline and social skills, factors critical to
adult economic independence.
- Proven long-term savings:
The National Head Start Association notes that for every $1 America
invests in Head Start, the most successful school readiness program
of the past 20 years, taxpayers save $4 to $7 in long-term educational
and social service costs.
The Good That Paul’s
House Does For Children
Early Intervention —
Screens for developmental delays and provides corrective therapy as
needed for any of the five core developmental areas: physical, cognitive,
communication skills, social-emotional, or adaptive
Early Head Start —
Promotes healthy prenatal outcomes, enhances child development, and
coach families in healthy behaviors
Medical, Dental, and Mental
Health Services — Prevents and treats health issues that
are typically more severe for low-income children from under-educated,
urban communities while also training parents about how to care for
their family’s health
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The Location at 500 Bergen
Avenue
Located in “The Hub” of the South Bronx,
a commercially vibrant neighborhood center, Paul’s House is a convenient
destination for the families we serve – just one block from a major
bus and subway stop. With 14,000 square feet of space, the Center hosts
six classrooms, a health clinic, a therapy center, a large family activity
room, a mothers’ breast feeding room, family visiting rooms, and
program administration offices. In addition, we are thrilled to have
a large outdoor children’s playground on the roof of the building.
The Inspiration Of Paul Moore
(1919-2003)
 A
man of great personal warmth, Paul Moore found joy in helping people
who needed help. He fought for the poor, the out-of-luck, and the disenfranchised.
Using the amplifying power of his office, he spoke strongly on behalf
of those who often had no voice.
As Episcopal Bishop of New York from 1972 to 1989,
Moore helped place the Church’s interests and priorities “right
smack bam in the middle of the city, with all its life and dirt and
struggle.”
Bishop Moore’s moral
leadership and personal dedication to improving the conditions of the
poor inspired ESS to honor him (with his family’s full support).
The personal warmth he exuded makes it particularly fitting that the
“Paul’s House” honor be a center for children and families.
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