February 24, 2010 ... As part of an Early Education and School Age Programs Advocacy Day at the State House, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, met with several parents and children of the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC). Joining Sen. Moore (L-R) was Miguel Colon of Framingham, Eunice Ramos of Franklin, Varnesia Barreto of Milford, and Peach Warren of Hopedale, who is Family Services Manager for SMOC.

SMOC is an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of low-income and disadvantaged individuals and families by advocating for their needs and rights and providing appropriate services.

Along with the group that visited Sen. Moore, local YMCA’s, Head Start programs, and Massachusetts Family Networks came to the State House to push their legislative agenda for the day. Some of the goals outlined for the Advocacy Day included increasing access to child care, continuing grant support for Head Start, maintaining funding for early childhood mental health programs, and maintaining funding for Reach Out and Read—which Sen. Moore has strongly supported in the past by visiting schools and reading to children aged 6 months to 5 years living at or near poverty.

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