Check it out: The current edition of our newsletter is live!

And you can learn more about our ongoing partnership with Chartwells, our recent trip to Washington, DC, what's happening with the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, recent doings at the Pendleton Correctional Facility, Wabash Valley Correctional Facility and the Indiana Woman's Prison, and Connect the Dots here. So please do take a look and don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions about any of this. Thanks!

CRITICAL: 24 hours to reauthorize MIECHV!

We commend and thank all of you who have reached out to Members of Congress about the importance of extending funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program.

Last night, we were told by Hill staffers working closely on the ‘doc fix’ legislation that we may only have 24 more hours to include MIECHV reauthorization. Your advocacy is working - home visiting was trending nationally on Twitter during our day of action and many of you received supportive messages back from your congressional offices! However, there is more work to be done! We need one last push!

NOW is the time to turn the dial UP! We are asking you to call or email EVERY member of the Senate Finance Committee you can! They have jurisdiction over the ‘doc fix’ legislation and we need them to know how important MIECHV is to your state! Please call or email Senate Leadership too. We need calls from you and any additional influential grasstop leaders you can recruit to happen now. Call your Governor, Attorney General, and other influential leaders in the state to urge them to call Congress!

Important decisions may be made in the next several days! I myself will pledge to call 12 members today, please help me in this effort!

Call the Congressional Switchboard at 1-800-828-0498 & ask to be connected with any of the members listed below. When you reach the receptionist at their office, please identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the health legislative assistant.

·         Senate Finance Committee Members here: http://www.finance.senate.gov/about/membership/

·         Senate Leadership here: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/a_three_sections_with_teasers/leadership.htm

Message to Congress:
“I’m asking for your boss’s support for including the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program as a “health care extender” on the Medicare Sustainable Grown Rate (SGR) legislation, also known as the “doc-fix.” The program, which funds evidence-based home visiting for low-income children and families, expires this year. This program makes a difference for some of the most vulnerable families and communities in our state. Participation in home visiting is voluntary – which means parents who participate in the program are committed to their success. States use MIECHV funds for improved prenatal health and birth outcomes, early childhood health and development, and reduction of child abuse, neglect and injuries. Please don’t let funding lapse. Ask your boss to let leadership know he/she (1) supports MIECHV and (2) wants it included as a health care extender on SGR.”  

Additional Information: Congress must act on the Medicare ‘doc fix’ bill by March 31. Because this is “must pass” legislation it is the best hope for action on MIECHV this year - so it’s critical that Senators hear from you now.

Prevent Child Abuse America Legislative Alert!

Please Sign Letters in Support of the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program
Deadline: Wednesday, October 19

Please consider adding your organization to letters (here and here) urging the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and the Members of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees to maintain funding for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHVP) at the current authorized levels. 

We are seeking sign-ons from national, state, and local organizations to demonstrate that there is broad support for MIECHVP throughout the country.

TAKE ACTION

To sign onto the letters, please email the name of your organization as it should be listed on the letter and your contact information to bgavaghan@preventchildabuse.org.

The deadline for signatures is Wednesday, October 19th.

Letter to the Joint Selection Committee on Deficit Reduction
 
Letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees

Background

The MIECHVP is making a difference in the lives of at-risk children and families by helping to reduce prematurity and low birthweight; child abuse, neglect and injuries, language delays and cognitive disabilities, and dependence on public assistance. It enjoys broad support nationally, with 49 States, 6 Territories, and numerous Tribes and Tribal organizations participating in this program.  In addition, states have invested significant resources in developing and expanding evidence-based home visiting and in meeting the requirements of the MIECHVP, which has strong accountability measures requiring States and Territories to make real progress in improving the health and well-being of children.

Any questions about this Legislative Update can be directed to Bridget Gavaghan at 312-663-3520, ext. 819 or at bgavaghan@preventchildabuse.org.

Healthy Families America Chosen by 33 states for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago, IL (July 8, 2011) - Prevent Child Abuse America is pleased that Healthy Families Amercica, Prevent Child Abuse America’s signature, evidence-based home visiting program has been chosen by a total of 33 states and all five US Territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, America Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) as one, if not their only model, to fund with federals dollars via the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, a component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“We couldn’t be more excited, or humbled, to learn about the interest in Healthy Families America,” said James M. Hmurovich, President & CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America, “but we also believe that what’s truly important is that home visiting is available to all children and their families. This is about the future of this country and ensuring that all children have an equal opportunity for healthy growth and development.”

Healthy Families America is an evidence-based, nationally recognized home visiting program model designed to work with overburdened families who are at-risk for adverse childhood experiences, including child maltreatment. It is the primary home visiting model best equipped to work with families who may have histories of trauma, intimate partner violence, mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Healthy Families America services begin prenatally, or right after the birth of a baby, and are offered voluntarily, intensively and over the long-term, three to five years after the birth of the baby.

“This news represents the strength of this community-based partnership between parents, providers and the places they live,” added Hmurovich, “and to further the reach and impact of a program such as Healthy Families America is not just an accomplishment for Prevent Child Abuse America, but the right thing to do.”

Prevent Child Abuse America would also like to take a moment to recognize the hard work of the Healthy Families America staff, Cydney M. Wessel, National Director of Healthy Families America; Phyllis Medrano, Healthy Families America Network Coordinator; Lisa Sutter, National Director of Training; and Kate Whitaker, Kathleen Strader and Lynn Kosanovich, Regional Directors for the West-Southeast, Central and Northeast respectively, because without them this level of interest and support for the program would not be possible.

“Ultimately, we know that the success of evidence based models like Healthy Families America are enhanced by the commitment and skills of the staff that administer it, train on it and develop the implementation strategies that allow it to expand its presence in communities across the nation,” said Hmurovich.

ABOUT PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA

Prevent Child Abuse America, founded in 1972, works to ensure the healthy development of children nationwide while recognizing that child development is a building block for community development and economic development. We believe that communities across the country are doing innovative things with great results to prevent abuse and neglect from ever occurring, and what we need to do as a nation is commit to bringing this kind of ingenuity to communities everywhere. Based in Chicago, Prevent Child Abuse America has chapters in 47 states and 387 Healthy Families America sites in 36 states.