Teaching homeless tots the ABCs

For the past 20 years, a small group of educators has addressed a critical, though sometimes overlooked, challenge facing Seattle's homeless families: finding quality child care.

Seattle boasts great child care centers, but they are often expensive -- a slot can cost more than $15,000 a year -- and may have long waiting lists. On the fringe of Capitol Hill, Morningsong Early Learning Center provides that quality care for free to families with little time to wait and often even less money.

"We really shouldn't have to exist," said Bevette Irvis, Morningsong's program manager. "Children shouldn't have to be homeless in this country."

But Morningsong has existed for two decades and celebrated its anniversary this week with plans to move and expand.

Irvis has been at Morningsong for almost its entire life, joining as a lead teacher six months after the center opened its doors in a remodeled apartment in a Seattle housing project.

Since then, Morningsong has moved around central Seattle several times and served nearly 2,000 children while their parents built more stability at home.

These days demand is rising, as Irvis sees more working families struggling with Seattle's high cost of living.

Parents across the income spectrum often complain about finding quality child care. But securing reliable care can be even more difficult for the recently homeless families who Morningsong serves. They are trying to move from transitional housing -- typically short-term apartments where families live for a year or more -- to more permanent homes.

If they can't find care, it becomes even harder to find work, leave an abusive relationship or earn a degree.

There is a demand around Seattle. Morningsong's waiting list is 13 families deep.

The center is popular because it boasts the hallmarks of a top child care center: three organized classrooms stocked with age-appropriate toys, experienced and established teachers and three outside play areas that ring the bluish-gray building.

Staff members also receive health care, dental and retirement benefits, Irvis said. Those are three things teachers and parents often look for in quality child care centers.

"I think when they walk through our doors you can't tell our children are homeless," Irvis said.

Once past those doors, Morningsong is like Seattle's other top centers. For example, the hallways, kitchen and classrooms are immaculate.

Inside those classrooms, children finger-paint, sit for story time, dance, eat lunch and prepare for kindergarten.

There are a few differences, though, because these children often arrive after the disruption of homelessness. For example, there is a room stocked with toiletries, backpacks and clothing on the second floor. Two family-support workers do their jobs out of that floor as well.

During the day, teachers focus on developing self-esteem, independence, social interaction, peer relationships and a sense of safety and security among their students.

"We want to see the faces relax," preschool lead teacher Penny Webb said.

These days Morningsong is getting ready to expand. Next year, it plans to add two classrooms when it moves -- along with its parent nonprofit, Family Services -- to the site of the Arctic ice cream factory on Rainier Avenue South.

The center also plans to expand an existing pilot program that offers in-class therapy for children struggling with trauma and behavioral problems..

GET INVOLVED

If you are interested in contributing to Morningsong Early Learning Center, you can join its current penny drive by calling 206-826-3038 or sending an e-mail to drives@family-services.org. You can also make direct donations by calling Family Services at 206-826-3050, ext. 116, or visiting the Web site at www.family-services.org.