In President Obama’s fiscal year 2010 budget there was a proposed $8.5 billion over 10 years for states to provide new evidence-based home visitation programs to low income families. Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey is the New Jersey Affiliate for two of the National Evidence-Based Home Visitation Program Models — Healthy Families America and Parents As Teachers.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that traditional pediatric care is often based on the assumption that parents have the basic knowledge and resources to provide a nurturing, safe environment and to provide for the emotional, physical, developmental, and health care needs of their infants and young children. Unfortunately, many families have insufficient knowledge of parenting skills and an inadequate support system of friends, extended family, or professionals to help with these vital tasks. Home-visitation programs offer an effective mechanism to ensure ongoing parental education, social support, and linkage with public and private community services.
So what do we want? We want to go to scale. We all understand the importance of these types of programs, but we are only serving a small number of families compared to the families in need of these services.
Our question to you is this — how do we effectively advocate taking these important programs to scale, and how can we work together? The evidence is there. All we need to do is spread the word. What tools can we provide you with, and what suggestions do you have for us? We would love to hear from you!
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