Prevention: NY Legislature Moves to Restore Home Visiting Funds

Last month, we were dismayed to learn that the Governor's proposed budget stripped funding for home visiting programs. Link

This month, we are delighted to learn that the Legislature intends to keep that funding in their budget bills.

Now, the challenge is to educate the Governor about the salutary benefit of home visiting services on the bottom line, and the consequences when those services are lost.

Prevent Child Abuse NY reports, and provides this sample letter. You can help by using this convenient PCANY site - Link:

I have good news! Both the Senate and Assembly restored funding to Healthy Families New York (HFNY) and other home visiting programs. We applaud the Legislature's commitment to New York's most effective prevention programs. And we thank you. This victory couldn't have been possible without the hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls from child abuse prevention advocates around the state.

Our work is not over.

Our next task is to ensure the Governor supports the legislative budget proposal. We can't do this without you.

Please email this letter asking the Governor to restore funding for Healthy Families New York.

You can also mail a letter. Below is a sample that you can copy, paste and edit.

The Honorable Andrew Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

I am writing to urge you to fully restore funding for Healthy Families New York and other home visiting programs. Home visiting prevents child abuse, increases school readiness, and saves the state millions of dollars in Medicaid because it prevents low-weight births that require costly medical services.

As you know, vulnerable families that go unserved in the earliest years often need costly remediation services later on. Home visiting helps provide better outcomes for children and families. Full funding for Healthy Families New York will also allow New York to draw down millions in federal home visiting dollars to expand and strengthen our system.

Please restore funding for these critical programs.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]

It is critically important that Governor Cuomo hear from all corners of the state that HFNY and other home visiting programs prevent child abuse, increase school readiness, and save the state millions in Medicaid costs.

Please contact the Governor today.

Thank you.

Christine Deyss
Executive Director