What is the Child Watch Visitation Program?

Dear Organization President:Kiwanis International, the Association of Junior Leagues, theAmerican Association of Retired Persons, National Council of NegroWomen, National Council of Churches, and the National Council of LaRaza have all joined with the Children's Defense Fund as nationalcollaborators in the Child Watch Visitation Program.I am writing as a representative of the Junior League ofLansing. We have agreed to take the lead role in establishing aChild Watch Visitation Program (CWVP) here in the Lansing area. Wehope your organization will join us as a member of our local ChildWatch Coalition.The CWVP is designed to expose community leaders and otherinfluential citizens to the reality of underprivileged children'slives and to show them that there are positive, concrete thingsthey can do to help solve the problems they see. The facts aboutchildren in America are staggering but not until individuals seefor themselves the challenges facing particular children andfamilies do they become motivated to work for change.Child Watch seeks to personalize children's struggles bytaking participants on strategically planned site visits to socialservices illustrating both the range of serious problems facingchildren AND the various programs working on their behalf. Sitevisits are supplemented by both briefings from program and policyexperts and written background materials. At the conclusion of theprogram, participants are assisted in finding ways to help childrenand families.We are forming a coalition made up of local affiliates of thenational CWVP collaborating organizations and other interestedgroups, and we would very much like your Kiwanis Club to join us.The form and extent of your involvement will depend upon yourorganization's interest and resources. CWVP is an excellentopportunity for local organizations to work together to build anintegrated, sustained response to children's issues.We will be meeting on Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00 p.m. inthe Large Conference Room of Jones and Co., 112 South Street.(Please park and enter the building from Grand Ave.) Please feelfree to contact me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX if you have any questions orare unable to come. I am looking forward to hearing from andworking with your organization.Sincerely,Lorri MatterLocal Child Watch Coordinator7