Sunday, September 27, 2009

Legislative Alert: Home Visiting Services

In August, the Child Welfare League of America sent an email reminder about home visiting services.

It's still timely: action you can take to ensure your legislators are aware of the importance of providing new parents with home visiting services (Congress should be returning home at the end of October). Link to CWLA resources on home visiting...

Home visiting provides opportunity - not an obligation - for parents to learn more about raising children and keeping them safe...(and here's a link to take CWLA's survey about prevention initiatives: so far, "prevention of child abuse and neglect was ranked by 16% of respondents as the number one priority...ahead of other critical areas such as strengthening child protective services (14%) and youth transitioning out of foster care (11%)...CWLA is going to use these survey findings to gather more information on each of the critical issues.")
Home visiting provisions have been included in health reform legislation. While your U.S. Senators and Representative are back in your state and district...tell them to keep home visiting in the final health reform package!

Before making your call, review CWLA's one pager explaining why home visiting is important! See http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/HomeVisitingisImportant.pdf

ACTION REQUIRED

Call your U.S. Senators and Representative and tell them to support home visiting in health reform legislation. The toll-free number to be connected to your lawmakers' offices is 1-800-828-0498

Support comprehensive health reform legislation!

Support the home visiting amendments that will reduce child maltreatment and save on unnecessary healthcare costs down the road.

BACKGROUND

The U.S. House and Senate are debating comprehensive health reform legislation. This legislation is too important to be trampled by partisan politics. The home visiting elements that are in the current health reform legislation refer to evidence based models that deliver parent education and family support to parents with young children.

Home visitation is an effective, research-based and cost-efficient way to bridge the gap between vulnerable families and the resources that will ensure that children grow up healthy and ready to learn.

There are many families who are in need of the prenatal and maternal health services that these home visits can provide.

Children who experience maltreatment are at a greater risk of adverse health effects and home visiting not only educates parents, but also provides access to mental health, educational, and social services that might be available in the community.

For more information on current home visiting legislation, check out http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/homevisitation.htm

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