FEBRUARY 2025

Thank you! 

2024 was another great year for the Playspace program! Since last February, we opened 23 new Playspaces, worked with 714 volunteers, and provided over 64,422 hours of play to children living in shelters across Massachusetts. None of this would have been possible without you! We thank you for your time, care, and commitment to providing moments of joy and play for children experiencing homelessness.

Thank you to all who were able to attend our information sessions about recent changes to federal immigration policies. Given the fluidity of the situation, we want you to feel prepared in the unlikely situation that Immigration agents come to your shelter location during your Playspace shift. In case you missed the sessions, please review the following guidelines from Horizons leadership. 

• If possible, please keep the door to the Playspace closed while the shift is in session.
• If law enforcement enters the room, you should do nothing out of the ordinary, continuing to focus on play with the children until the end of the shift.
• If asked a question, simply say, “With respect, this question should be answered by the shelter staff.”
• Playspace activities should continue during this time unless otherwise instructed by shelter staff and/or a parent comes to pick up their children.
• Shelter staff will oversee reuniting children with parents should there be an arrest.
• Please remain in the Playspace room until all children have been picked up by parent or shelter staff.
• If anything of this nature happens during your shift, please alert Tara Spalding (617-817-8539) or Lynne Gaines (781-724-4971) as soon as possible.   

Click here to read the full memo from Horizons’ leadership sent after the information sessions.

Upcoming Trainings and Closures

Training #8: Supporting Children with Social Emotional Skills

Thursday, February 27^th at 6:30pm

Training #9: Developmental Stages of Play 

Monday, March 10^th at 6:30pm

Presentation slides from ongoing PAL Trainings can be found here.

Scheduled Closures 

Presidents' Day — February 17, 2025

Patriots' Day — April 21, 2025

Winter Reminders 

Winter is in full swing! Please review the information below regarding winter outdoor play, inclement weather closures, and health policies. 

If you are feeling sick, please do not attend your Playspace shift and please let your PAL partners know as soon as possible. If you attended a Playspace shift and start to feel symptomatic after, please let your PAL partners and Playspace Specialist know as soon as possible. Thank you for helping us keep Playspace safe for all!