OPENING TITLE

Aerial shot
A-(VO) Montgomery County, Maryland-

Zoom back from Capitol dome
B--(VO) Just a stone's throw from our nation's capital-

Shots of people on sidewalks and traffic
C--(VO) and home to almost a million people.

Shots of school and library
D- (VO) Well known for its wealth; excellent schools; superior
services-

Shot of park
E--(VO) a great place to live.

Shots of minority population: on playgrounds, at work, in market,
etc.

F-(VO) And yet, like many American communities, Montgomery County
recently has undergone profound changes- and is now home to more
immigrants than any other county in Maryland.

Professional setting (architect's office)
G-(VO) Although many of Montgomery County's new residents are
highly educated and financially secure-

Apartment complex: Housekeeper and gardener working. Seamstress
H--(VO) Others work several low wage jobs to support themselves
and their families.

School children in lunch line
I- (VO) One common yardstick of poverty is the number of school
children who are eligible to receive free or subsidized meals. In
Montgomery County that number has grown to over 30,000!

Diverse children playing at playground
J- (VO) More than half of the county's poorest residents are
children. Yet, in a community used to affluence, these children's
needs are not always evident to the untrained eye.

Jody Leleck, former teacher, principal at Broad Acres ES SOT
K-"I've been a teacher in Montgomery County for many years and I
was growing increasingly frustrated as I spent more time being a
social worker than a teacher.
So many children and their families needed services that I had no
knowledge of or access to."

Staff distributing clothing & food, person at a bus stop on busy
road, toddler coloring with parent in an office, OTS of child
watching TV, then reversal-CU of child zooming into out-of-focus
CU____________________________________________________

L-(VO) Inadequate food, clothing, shelter. A lack of
transportation and language skills. Concerns about access to
health care and child care. These factors all can conspire
against a child succeeding in school---even before he or she sets
foot in the classroom.

M- (VO) Many communities help their poor residents through a
combination of public and private programs. Yet, often these
efforts are not coordinated.

Program provider-Luis Martinez
N-"It used to be that a person had to go to Rockville to get this,
to Silver Spring to get that- and to Wheaton for something else.
Here's a group of people who are under tremendous stress to begin
with; working several jobs, trying to learn a new language- and
then they literally have to run from one end of the county to the
other just to survive."

Linkages intake area
O-(VO) Enter Linkages to Learning (raise audio on scene for a few
moments of SOT; then dip audio). Established in 1993, Linkages
to Learning is a school-based initiative that helps children and
their families by removing barriers to self-sufficiency.

Michael Subin, County Council member-SOT
P- (VO) "Linkages to Learning" uses the model of a "full service
school." Where a family used to have to go to several different
locations to obtain needed services, Linkages offers them a single
point of access: the school."

Scenes of each partner in action
Q-(VO) Linkages to Learning is a collaborative partnership. It
joins together the county's public schools, the Department of
Health and Human Services, private human service agencies and
others like faith groups, volunteers, businesses, as well as
libraries, police, child-care centers and housing agencies.

Lorraine Rogstad, Director, the Collaboration CouncilR-(SOT)
"The services are provided at the school, because for
many neighborhoods that is the center of the community. It's a
meeting place where all the different partners and families can
come together. "

Service providers and children together at school
S-(VO) Nurses, social workers and mental health counselors provide
services in the schools that serve the largest number of children
living in poverty. By addressing problems that impact learning
and healthy life functioning, the goal is to create an environment
where children come to school "ready to learn."

Rosie Ramirez, principal, Highland ES-SOT
T-"What a blessing it's been to have the service providers right
here in the school.
My guidance counselor or I can just walk a parent down the hall to
get the help he or she needs."

Parent looking through phone book and looking at bus schedule
U-(VO) Sometimes families don't know how to locate the resources
they need, or they may not trust an unfamiliar environment-

Same parent entering LTL site with child
V--.(VO) At Linkages to Learning they find professionals who know
their children and speak their language.

Parent-SOT (in Vietnamese with English translation)
W-"My English still isn't very good. The day I enrolled my
daughter in school, they told me about Linkages and I met Huan.
He took the time to talk with me in Vietnamese, and he told me
where to find a doctor and how to ride the bus. He's been my
friend and guide ever since."

Parent #2-SOT (Hispanic parent speaking in English)
X-"Since my English wasn't very good, coming to the school the
first time was scary and very confusing. I didn't understand what
the lady in the office at school was trying to tell me and I felt
terrible when I couldn't even read the notes my son's teacher sent
home. The people in the Linkages office explained how the school
system works and they translated many forms and notices for me.
Now, three years later, I can talk to the teachers and help my son
with his homework."

Nancy King, Board of Education member
Y-(VO) Linkages is based on the understanding that prevention is
less expensive and more desirable than treatment-

Meeting with several team members sitting around a table
Z--(VO) Interdisciplinary teams work together to share information
and coordinate assistance. The many needs of the child are met,
while at the same time avoiding duplication of service.

Counselor-SOT
AA-"I'm really concerned about Lisa. She's appeared very sad
lately and I know that her father recently moved out of the home."

Nurse-SOT
"That's interesting, she's been in the health room 3 days this
week."

Linkages person-SOT
"I've been seeing her in a girls' counseling group, but I think we
should have her mother come in for a visit also."

Community event
BB-(VO) Another distinguishing feature of Linkages to Learning is
an emphasis on community building and outreach-

Various people
CC--(VO) Social workers, counselors and health care providers from
private community agencies and local government join with school
staff, civic organizations, faith groups, and businesses to
identify needed services and resources. These groups survey the
local situation and work through Linkages to identify available
resources-

Show visuals appropriate to words
DD- (VO) A church offers temporary space during a renovation; a
hospital sponsors a health fair; civic groups provide volunteers
and donations; fraternities help plant flowers in the community;
stores donate school supplies for a family in need.

SOT: Family---mother, father and children are seated in their home
talking

EE-Husband: "My wife and I and our 5 sons came here a year ago
with very little. By working with Linkages, we found an
apartment, furniture, a computer, eyeglasses and even 2 jobs. I'm
proud to say that I'm now employed by the school system as an
instructional aide and our boys are succeeding at Montgomery
College, Wheaton High School and Harmony Hills! "

Wife: "I'm now on medicine for high blood pressure and my son is
eating the right foods to help with his anemia. Best of all, by
receiving services right at the school-based health center, I
didn't have to miss work and he didn't have to miss school! "

SOT-Dru Tyler, minister at Wheator Presbyterian Church
FF-"It's just wonderful how everybody pulls together to make this
happen. Before Linkages to Learning we all did our part, but it
was hard to know just what to do-there was no one to coordinate
our efforts. Now we can be so much more effective."

Scenes of Linkages to the Library
GG-(VO) Linkages partners provide prevention, early intervention
programs and educational support services as well. For example,
"Linkages to the Library" is a summer program where children and
parents are transported to their community libraries to learn
about the services offered there and to support children's
summertime reading. The program is a partnership among the
schools, libraries, business, community organizations and
volunteers.

Parents helping other parents
HH-(VO) As more families participate in Linkages to Learning,
members begin to ask for what they need, and share what they've
learned. They help newcomers become familiar with community
resources, and increase their involvement in the schools and
neighborhoods, serving as mentors, tutors, PTA leaders and
community advocates.

SOT: Parent talks about growth and evolution from recipient to
donor
II-Parent: "Four years ago, I didn't have a job and didn't even
have all my children living with me. With the support of the
Linkages staff and the other women I've met and worked with
through their support group, I've come to believe in myself and I
know I've become a better parent. In fact, I'm volunteering in my
kid's classroom and I'm helping to coordinate the summer library
program."

Montage of previous scenes
JJ-(VO) Linkages to Learning---bringing services to members of the
community who need them the most. Engaging public and private
agencies, faith and business supporters. Assuring safer and
healthier communities where children and families succeed.
Breaking the barriers to learning.

LINKAGES TO LEARNING logo

Phone number 240.777.1731

Closing

Douglas M. Duncan, County Executive
SOT
Hello. I'm Doug Duncan. Linkages to Learning was one of three
programs that we presented to the All American Cities judges this
year, and it was a key reason why we won the All America Cities
award for the year 2000.

The judges looked for communities that band together, and come
together to identify problems and then find solutions to those
problems, and Linkages to Learning is a great example. And
Montgomery County did just that. So I'm very happy that we were
able to present Linkages to Learning, as a finalist in last year's
awards, and then when we were a winner in this year's awards
as well.