DENNISON MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTER INC
755 SOUTH FIRST STREET, NEW BEDFORD, MA 02744 dennisoncommunity.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: FOUNDED IN THE 1850'S AND INCORPORATED IN 1868 OUR MISSION AT THAT TIME WAS TO SERVE THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION ENTERING THE COUNTRY AND EMPLOYED AT OUR MANY LOCAL TEXTILE MILLS. A HEALTH CENTER, NUTRITION SERVICES, DENTAL CLINICS ARE JUST A SAMPLE OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED TO THIS NEEDY POPULATION. AS THE YEARS PASSED OUR MISSION BECAME FOCUSED SOLELY ON CHILDREN AND TEENS AGED 6-16 AND THEIR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME WITH PROGRAMS RELATED TO ACADEMICS, ARTS, PHYS. ED., ALONG WITH OTHERS. THESE PROGRAMS ASSIST CHILDREN AND TEENS TO BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, DEVELOP CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS, OFFER A STABLE, SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND GAIN VALUES TO CARRY THEM THROUGH A LIFETIME OF DIFFICULT CHOICES.

COMMUNITY CENTER:THE TARGET POPULATION WOULD BE CHILDREN AND TEENS AGED 6-16, TYPICALLY REFERRED TO AS "TARGETED OR "AT-RISK" YOUTH. DENNISON IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF CENSUS TRACT 26 IDENTIFIED AS THE MOST ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED AREA IN THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. CHILDREN/TEENS MAY ATTEND THE CENTER FREE OF CHARGE.PROGRAMS RANGE FROM SEVERAL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, ACADEMIC TUTORING AND HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, ART PROJECTS TO FIELD TRIPS AND MANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. FOR MANY CHILDREN/TEENS THE LACK OF TRADITIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDREN AT HOME DEMANDS THAT WE SERVE THEM IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND SUCCEED IN LIFE. MANY MORE OBSTACLES ARE PLACED BEFORE OUR CHILDREN EVERY DAY THAN MOST CHILDREN. MURDER, GUN VIOLENCE, GANGS, DRUG USE AND ABUSE ARE A REALITY IN THEIR DAILY EXISTENCE.WE HAVE TARGETED PROGRAMS TO WORK SO THAT OUR CHILDREN MAY BE EXPOSED TO A VALUE SYSTEM THAT THEY MAY NOT EXPERIENCE "IN THE STREETS".OUR AGENCY'S PHYSICAL STRUCTURE IS A TWO-STORY, 12000 SQ. FT. BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 2005 THAT HOUSES ACTIVITY ROOMS, TWO COMPUTER RESOURCE CENTERS, OUR LIBRARY, ART AREAS AND OTHER PLACES AVAILABLE TO SERVE THE PROGRAM NEEDS. ATTACHED TO THE MAIN BUILDING IS A HUGE GYMNASIUM BUILT IN 2000, THAT HOUSES OUR TEEN CENTER, SEPARATE AND DESIGNATED FOR SPECIALIZED TEENS ONLY CONTENT.

SCHOOL AGE DAYCARE:THE SCHOOL AGE DAY CARE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED AS A STATE OF MA LICENSED PROGRAM FOR AGES 6-13. IT HAS STRICT REQUIREMENTS OF STAFF/CHILD RATIO AND OFFERS ALL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN TO ATTEND THIS PROGRAM AND BE RETURNED HOME IN THE EVENING. THE SUPERVISION AND DIRECTED PROGRAMS ARE MORE CLEARLY DEFINED AND SCHEDULED. THE INTENTIONS AND MISSION OF THE PROGRAM IS THE SAME IN DEVELOPING A CHILD'S FULL POTENTIAL TO HELP THEM GROW INTO RESPONSIBLE ADULTS. CHILDREN MAY BE REFERRED TO THIS PROGRAM OR MAY HAVE RECEIVED A VOUCHER FOR CHILD CARE.THE PROGRAM HAS A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 59 CHILDREN AND A 13:1 CHILD/STAFF RATIO.ANNUAL STAFF TRAINING IN A VARIETY OF COMPLEX CHILD DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT ALONG WITH SAFETY AND FIRST AID TRAINING.SOME CHILDREN MAY ATTEND FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON A REVOLVING VOUCHER BUT SHORT TERM VOUCHER SLOTS FOR CHILDREN ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. VOUCHERS IN OUR AREA ARE ISSUED BY P.A.C.E. INC AND THE PARENT WOULD THEN COME TO DENNISON TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD.

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