Atlas Travel International is Gathering a Circle of Care to Help Open
Baby's Breath Home

Will You Join Us?

Baby's Breath seeks to help infants living in unstable, at-risk homes. The organization was first conceptualized by Teresa Rafferty, Ph.D., LICSW, through her research on attachment disorder stemming from multiple placements of infants in the foster care system. The outcomes for these children are bleak:

"As adults, former foster care children make up 30% of the homeless and 25% of the prison population." Diane Sawyer, ABC Primetime June 2006.

"Children who spend their early years in foster care are more likely than other children to leave school, become parents as teenagers, enter the juvenile justice system and become adults who are homeless, incarcerated and addicted to drugs." Ensuring the Healthy Development of Infants in Foster Care: A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals; January 2004

Baby's Breath seeks to remedy these problems by heading them off before they can begin. Staff at the Baby's Breath home will address the developmental needs of each baby and work with the Department of Social Services and the Massachusetts court system to expedite the outcome decisions for these children. Baby's Breath is ready to open a home to provide care for eight infants at any one time, but is required to have $250,000 in funding before this can happen. They are halfway to their goal and are looking for support from concerned individuals and businesses.

Baby's Breath Home will work to end the nightmare of multiple foster care placements for children under three. Elaine Osgood, president and CEO of Atlas Travel International, has been contacted about this organization, based on Elaine's previous experience in elementary education and social work in the Worcester County area.

“As a former social worker, I know the anguish of these children. I am so impressed with the work and vision of Dr. Rafferty and am dedicated to making a gift from Atlas Travel to help Baby's Breath,” said Osgood. “We're hoping others in our circle will do the same in conjunction with our commitment. This is a wonderful way to really make a difference in the lives of children in our community and in the future of the area through these efforts. Dr. Rafferty has put together a meaningful plan focusing on how she and her staff can impact a frustrating challenge in our system. I welcome calls or emails from our clients and partners pledging support. Any level of support is welcome from a few dollars to thousands. Together we can make a difference.”

If you would like to join Atlas in supporting this wonderful cause, please call Elaine at 508-488-1101 or email: elaine.osgood@atlastravel.com

For more information on Baby's Breath, visit their website: www.babysbreathhome.org