Advocacy
Partners in Community Outreach recommends the establishment of a statewide system of
In-Home Family Education to provide high quality home visiting services to families
with young children.
We are requesting:
An increased appropriation of $2.5 million in the State Budget to help communities
establish or expand high-quality In-Home Family Education programs to serve 2,000
families statewide.
This total represents 1 out of every 10 children born in WV during the upcoming year.
- A legislative interim study of In-Home Family Education was completed in 2005 and
concluded that these programs were of great benefit to the state, would save the state
money, and should receive an increase in funding.
- Research indicates that a statewide system of In-Home Family Education could save
$250 million a year by reducing the number of low birthweight babies, increased
immunization rates, and reductions in child maltreatment.
- The National Governor’s Association, National Conference on State Legislatures,
and The Centers for Disease Control have all endorsed these programs for their
effectiveness in preventing child abuse and neglect.
- In-Home Family Education programs have broad bi-partisan support at the state and
federal level.
For more information, please contact:
Nancy Tonkin
(304) 345-6808