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.