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Sewing for sport: Handmade workout clothes make strides

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Their view: Robert Mueller, please call your office!

<p>As a district attorney, I am certainly not alone in believing that strong families are the foundation of our communities, and children from strong families have a greater chance of being healthy, productive, law-abiding citizens. Parents are, of course, their children&#8217;s primary teachers and influence. But sometimes parents need a little help. That is why evidence-based home visiting programs are so critical.</p><p>Much of what we deal with each day can be traced to childhood trauma or what many refer to as adverse childhood experiences or &#8220;ACEs.&#8221; This is no excuse for those who commit crimes, but there are clearly effects of trauma that can lead to poor choices and negative consequences without social supports. One of the hardest things we must contend with is that a child has who has experienced neglect or abuse is twice as likely to commit a crime by age 19 compared to children who have not been abused or neglected.</p><p>The good news is that we can create change through evidence-based home visiting programs. These voluntary programs match parents and children with highly qualified professionals to build strong families resulting in safer communities. Home visiting programs are not just good for at-risk children and their families, they are good for our communities. These programs can help break the vicious cycle of violence.</p><p>In Luzerne County, families and children have access to three publicly funded, evidence-based home visiting programs shown to improve family health, help establish early literacy habits, support families working toward economic security, and introduce positive parenting practices that can reduce child abuse and neglect. They are Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership and Parents as Teachers.</p><p>The data is sobering. Of the 10,360 children under the age of 6 in Luzerne County living in low-income families, only 532 are being served by evidence-based home visiting programs that can reduce the likelihood of future abuse and neglect. We need to be doing much better.</p><p>The evidence is clear that these investments will improve child and family outcomes. At a time when so many children, families and communities are affected by the opioid epidemic, evidence-based home visiting is part of the solution in supporting parents grappling with substance abuse disorder.</p><p>These are a few of the reasons why I am urging our state lawmakers to grow the state investment in publicly funded, evidence-based home visiting programs by $5 million in the 2019-20 state budget to help approximately 800 more families and children build the foundation for a successful future.</p><p>Building safe communities is about more than patrolling the streets and prosecuting lawbreakers. This goal is also served by a focus on building strong families, which are the foundation of safe and prosperous communities. Through publicly funded, evidence-based home visiting programs, we can empower more parents with positive childrearing skills and help put their families on paths to success. The time is now to do more for our youngest residents.</p><p>Childhood Begins at Home is an effort we should all support. For more information visit: www.childhoodbeginsathome.org.</p><p><strong>Stefanie J. Salavantis</strong></p><p>Luzerne County district attorney</p><style>
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Your view: Strengthening families through home visitation