TRAVERSE CITY -- Children are not immune to the effects of an economic recession, even when parents try to shield them from discussions on family finances, an elementary school social worker said.
Changes in a regular routine or a parent's stress can take a toll on children, who might experience mood shifts of their own, said Kathleen Blazejewski, a social worker at Silver Lake and Long Lake elementary schools in Traverse City.
A child's basic needs have to be met before he or she can be successful academically, Blazejewski said, because it's harder to concentrate without adequate food, clothing and shelter.
"The school is an ideal place to help children and families, because it's really the first line of defense," she said. "If they weren't in school, others may not know of their needs."
Teachers and principals often refer students to the social workers, who try to determine whether children have appropriate clothing, appear tired or frequently transfer schools.
Blazejewski tells teachers about a student's home situation when possible so they will understand if homework isn't turned in on time or assignment planners don't come back with parent signatures.
"Often times, the kids just feel good that there's another place to go to where they don't always have to think about what's happening at home," she said.
The number of children receiving free or reduced lunches in Traverse City Area Public Schools is about the same as in June, said Kristen Misiak, the district's food service director. But the figures tend to increase throughout the school year as new families are added.
More than 1,000 children automatically were eligible for the lunch program this year because their families qualify for state assistance, up from roughly 700 in past years, she said.
As of last week, about 33 percent of students received free or reduced lunches, according to district data. Traverse Heights Elementary has the highest participation rate, at 76 percent, followed by Blair Elementary (74 percent) and Traverse City High School (69 percent).
Students this year will pay 25 cents more for breakfast and 10 cents more for lunch in an attempt to balance rising food prices and a district initiative to purchase more nutritious items, Misiak said. But meals at both elementary and secondary schools cost less than $2.50.
"There may be more families now that their dollars are stretched even more," she said. "We try to keep the costs low to our students, because it's really important to us that every child eats that wants to eat."
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