Page 2 July 2, 2020
A Preschool Director Reviews the Early Childhood
Education Documentary, No Small Matter
By Sandra Rojas, Director of Sand Tots
Parent Participation Nursery School
Investing in our children to better our future
is not a new idea, but unfortunately, it is also
not our current reality as is highlighted in
the powerful documentary, No Small Matter.
As a preschool director for over 20 years, I
found the film’s portrayal of Early Childhood
Education today to be a heart-wrenching,
yet unfortunately accurate view of the daily
challenge that parents face in the attempt to
provide quality care for their children. Today,
parents often struggle to pay childcare costs
equal to their rents and mortgages, even for
sub-standard care. This is in conjunction
with the undervalued field of early childhood
educators, who are often referred to as
glorified babysitters. Despite their financial
challenges, many preschool teachers will find
second sources of income in order to continue
doing what they are passionate about.
At a time when cultural disparity and
inequities have become front and center
topics in this country, the subject matter
in this film – co-directed by Danny Alpert,
Greg Jacobs, and Jon Siskel – is not only
incredibly timely, but another reminder that
we cannot continue to ignore these issues
facing our children. Increasing the focus on
Early Childhood through parent education
opportunities, as well as access to high-quality
childcare in our most underserved communities,
is an investment that will not only better
our children’s lives but will positively impact
all of our futures. No Small Matter is more
than a documentary; it is a movement that
demands change, and I am hoping that this
is the year we begin to see that happening.
Visit www.nosmallmatter.com for streaming
options and more information. •
Film Review
Photo courtesy Siskel/Jacobs Productions.
Your Neighborhood Therapist
Dear Neighborhood Therapist,
My partner and I have always had different
political views, but now our views seem to
have drifted so far apart that I have begun to
wonder if I can remain in our relationship.
I love my partner, but I’m not sure then I
can continue with someone who seems to
see things so differently from the way I do.
I often hear people say that politics shouldn’t
matter, and I know many people of different
political persuasions are in happy relationships,
but I’m not sure I am up to it. Am I
crazy to think this?
– Politically Distressed, El Segundo
Dear Politically Distressed,
You’re right: political differences do not
always have to ruin relationships. Many
of us have had loving relationships with
people of different political persuasions.
When the stakes are low (do we fund a
new wing of the arboretum? do we restrict
parking on Main Street? etc.), we have the
luxury of supporting Red or Blue the same
way we cheer for our favorite sports teams.
It’s easy enough to live with someone
who roots for the Dodgers if you happen
to root for the Angels (unless they meet in
the World Series, at which time it would
probably best for one of you to temporarily
move out!).
You have also heard the talking heads on
television screaming at us and at each other
not to “politicize” what we think, or to “keep
politics out of it.” These are often the same
folks who treat politics like a horse race. If
your relationship broke up over a horse race,
then yeah, I might wonder how strong it was
in the first place.
But what happens when the stakes are
not low? There are plenty of times in our
history - now might be one of those times
- when the positions of political parties
reflected deeply held beliefs about right
and wrong.
Think of an extreme: what if your partner
was pro-stealing, and you were anti-stealing?
Are you supposed to sweep under the rug
the fact that your partner thinks thievery is
cool just because this very debate happens
to be raging on FOX or MSNBC? What is
the role that having differing values plays in
your relationship?
Are your political differences mostly
about the “horse race,” based on preference,
the way we root for a favorite team? If
so, I suspect you will work it out. But
what if your values differ, and that’s what
shapes your politics? That may be a longer,
tougher conversation.
Please write to tom@tomandrecounseling.
com or text to 310.776.5299 with questions
about handling what is affecting your life,
your family, the community or the world.
Tom Andre is a Licensed Marriage &
Family Therapist (LMFT119254). The
information in this column is for educational
purposes only and nothing herein
should be construed as professional
advice or the formation of a therapeutic
relationship. •
U.S. Animal Welfare
Organizations Launch Human
Animal Support Services Pilot
Source: Maddie’s Fund
Human Animal Support Services (HASS),
a new animal welfare organizational model,
will implement a new range of services for
pets and people in 12 pilot cities, helping
keep more animals in their homes and communities
and reducing the number entering
the shelter system through programs and
resources.
The ideas for HASS were born during the
early days of COVID-19, as the pandemic resulted
in record numbers of pets being housed
in the community through pet foster care.
“During the pandemic, we broadened
the safety net for animals dramatically by
asking the community for support, and
they stepped up in a big way,” says Amy
Zeifang, Executive Leadership Team, with
Maddie’s Fund®, who is partially funding
this endeavor. “Animals are being reunited
with families by community members in
numbers not seen before. By keeping animals
in the community and not the shelters, we’ve
all realized how much better for everyone it
is to focus our efforts on keeping pets and
families together,” she continued. “Ninety-five
percent of Americans with pets believe their
pets are family members. Maddie’s Fund is
proud to see our energies spent supporting
that important bond.”
The HASS pilot organizations include
Humane Rescue Alliance (Washington, DC),
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and
Control (Charlotte, NC), Greenville County
Animal Care (Greenville, SC), LifeLine
Animal Project (Atlanta, GA), Cabot Animal
Resource Center (Cabot, AR), Kansas City
Pet Project (Kansas City, MO), El Paso
Animal Services (El Paso, TX), Pima County
Animal Care (Tucson, AZ), Los Angeles
Animal Services (Los Angeles, CA), Oakland
Animal Services (Oakland, CA), Fresno
Humane Animal Services (Fresno, CA) and
San Diego Humane Society (CA).
“What we’ve learned throughout the
pandemic, is that we can do more when it
comes to providing community services to
help people and their pets stay together,” said
project leader Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Executive
Director of Austin Pets Alive! and American
Pets Alive!. “Whether it’s providing resources
to help lost and stray animals get home,
keeping cats and dogs with their families, or
getting sheltered pets to foster and adoptive
homes faster, HASS aims to provide the tools
to support the pilot shelters and their communities
achieve these objectives and more.”
Thanks to support from Maddie’s Fund,
South Fork Foundation, Pedigree Foundation,
Petfinder, Brandywine SPCA, and Michelson
Found Animals Foundation, HASS will help
pilot shelters test new resources and programs.
These include remote services like veterinary
telehealth and text support, comprehensive
stray and lost pet return services, supported
self-rehoming for people who cannot keep
their pets, and community-based animal
protection services.
More than 100 industry leaders including
those from national organizations, shelter
veterinarians, and animal shelter directors are
part of this collaborative effort, with 20 additional
animal shelters participating in phase
two of this project in the coming months.
For more information about HASS, go
to http://humananimalsupportservices.org. •
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