Room to Grow Revolutionizes Child Care Philanthropy

While America's fast-diminishing middle class struggles to adjust to the myriad inconveniences of a shifting economic reality, low-income families continue to wage their own long-fought battle: that of providing their newborn children with basic medical care. Forced to contend with both the economic downturn, as well as a failing health care system in the midst of transition, our poorest citizens are often unable to provide even the most basic needs for their infant children.

Consisting overwhelmingly of single mothers who must choose between working full-time or providing at-home care, these parents engage in an impossible balancing act.

Room to Grow, a New York-based philanthropic organization aimed at providing a support network for low-income parents and their infant children, is trying to change all that. Conceived 11 years ago by Julie Burns, a social worker and entrepreneur, Room to Grow was founded on a simple premise: to provide medical coverage and parental assistance for "babies born in to poverty throughout the critical first three years of their life."

Armed with an expert staff of social workers as well as volunteers, Room to Grow employs a holistic approach that tackles the emotional, financial, and medical needs of low-income parents and their babies.

I was able to catch up with Mrs. Burns at a Room to Grow fundraising event at Christie's Auction House in New York. She explained how the concept for Room to Grow came to her while working as a psychotherapist in the child and adolescent division of the Karen Horney Clinic in New York. "I was working as a social worker, and started thinking about those in our society who are most underserved -- and recognized a need for parenting and material support for struggling parents."

What sets Room to Grow apart is its unique model of direct assistance and one-on-one support. "Room to Grow is very much a holistic project," Mrs. Burns said, "We strive to offer the best information and counseling possible, in addition to financial support."

The organization's expansive support network constitutes a dynamic community of social workers and health care professionals dedicated to addressing a multiplicity of needs through personalized face-to-face meetings. Tired of the poor facilities and impersonal care that most low-income parents receive from bureaucratic social programs, Mrs. Burns felt compelled to create a safe, comfortable space for struggling parents to find refuge and solace from the travails of an exceedingly difficult, and often lonely existence.

It is the intimacy of these exchanges that makes Room to Grow a truly radical project: "Since the organization began we have served over 300 families, each of whom have stayed at our program. Every three months we get close to 1,200 visits for two hour sessions providing emotional support and information."

Also present at the fundraiser was Mrs. Burns's husband and Grammy award winning documentarian, Ken Burns. Mr. Burns first got involved with Room to Grow in 2002, "when I went on the first and only blind date of my life. That is where I met Julie." Mr. Burns continued: "She wanted me to see where she worked. We walked in to the Room to Grow Office, she turned on the light, and I was just stunned."

Mr. Burns emphasized that his personal involvement with Room to Grow has been largely informed by his experience as a father. "I have three daughters. Being a father is central to my life--I'd rather have my tombstone say 'father' than filmmaker.'"

Besides impressing famous filmmakers, Room to Grow has also garnered support from actress and activist Uma Thurman, who was present at the event and has been involved with the organization since its founding. "I've been involved with Room to Grow since its founding. At the time I was living in the same brownstone as Julie, who was pregnant with Room to Grow."

Thurman spoke passionately against those who would turn a blind eye to the problem of poverty in the U.S., saying: "It doesn't take a humanitarian to care about children and poverty. The diagnosis of being human is that you care for others. When I had my first child, if I hadn't had the benefits I did, I'd have been crushed."

Rejecting the notion that low-income parents are irresponsible and thus undeserving of our aid, Thurman condemned the political and economic system that allows families to exist in such impoverished circumstances. "We need to support those members of our society who are less fortunate," said Thurman. "It isn't a fair system."

Whatever your views concerning the future of health care, the economy, or public policy, our collective failure to address issues of poverty and child care on the most basic levels has only further perpetuated the unnecessary suffering and marginalization of our poorest citizens. Organizations such as Room to Grow can help forge a path, but ultimately it is up to each of us to contribute in our own way to the alleviation of the poverty right in our own backyard.

If you would like to donate to or volunteer for Room to Grow, please visit their website for more information.