At its May 13th annual meeting, The Newton Child Care Commission honored Deborah Hirschland with their annual Tom Torchia Child Care Advocate of the Year Award. Given annually, this award honors a person who has significantly impacted the lives of young children and their families in the City of Newton.



Barbara Sullivan, Chair, NCCC, Deborah Hirschland, Award Receipient, Ann Brown, Executive Director

Deborah is a clinical social worker and early childhood specialist who has been working with children, their parents and teachers for over twenty-five years. Widely known and respected in the Newton early childhood community as a down to earth, skilled teacher of teachers and consultant to parents, she has worked extensively with the Newton Early Childhood Association, the Association of Family Child Care Providers and the Newton Community Partnerships for Children.

In addition to her activities in the Newton early childhood community, she supervises numerous clinicians in the Greater Boston area, particularly those who are involved in work with young children and their families. Throughout her years of practice, Deborah has maintained her commitment to providing service to those who are lacking in financial resources. She is a founding member and a member on the board of the Greater Boston Area Guild of Accessible Practitioners.

A director of an area preschool recently said," Deborah is an absolute gem. Newton has an excellent early childhood community and a huge part of that is due to the fact that we have access to Deborah's expertise. She not only has her finger on the pulse of children and their issues; she is truly gifted when it comes to working with teachers, directors and parents. She encourages us to open up and turns frustrations into successes with her incredible knowledge of not only the children, but of us, the caregivers."

Her plaque reads" Presented with warmth and admiration in recognition of her exceptional skills guiding teachers and parents with patience, wisdom and tenderness. Deborah has enriched all of the lives she has touched from teachers, to parents to children."

Deborah, her husband, Jeffrey Fine and their two daughters, ages 15 and 21, have lived in Newton for 20 years. The Child Care Commission is pleased to honor Deborah with this award and is grateful that people like her continually work to ensure that the needs of preschool children in this community are met.

On May 13th, at our annual meeting, $42,000 was awarded in tuition assistance to eligible families. These 42 families will each be able to access $1,000 to be used towards their child care costs at any family child care, center based infant/toddler or afterschool program as well as summer camp. Funds for this lottery were raised through grants, fund raising events and donations. Donations to this scholarship fund are always appreciated.

In its 15-year history, the Newton Child Care Commission has awarded over $630,000 to income eligible, working parents for their child care costs.