Coalition urges greater investment in kids

Last Sunday, in the aftermath of the death of a 4-year-old girl, a dozen police officers met with psychologists, a chaplain and other law enforcement officers.

“There were tears,” said Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who attended the session. “And if you really want to look at the impact of child abuse, you have to look at the impact to everyone. It is real.”

On Thursday, Kirkpatrick joined other leaders from law enforcement, health care and business to urge state lawmakers to increase funding for early learning programs to prevent child abuse and neglect, and help prepare children for kindergarten.

“What we are really talking about is investing in the future,” said John Tombari, board chairman at Spokane County United Way and executive vice president at F&M Bank. “We are going to save ourselves money down the road.”

The statewide coalition, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, supports more than $65 million in legislative investments ranging from intensive home visits to state-funded preschool. The money will help protect vulnerable children and prepare them for kindergarten – measures that will result in savings as the children grow, according to the coalition.

More than 6,500 children were abused or neglected in Washington in 2004, including more than 800 in Spokane County, according to the most recent data available.

The death of 4-year-old Summer Phelps, previously identified by court officials as Summer Lytle, provided a poignant note to the already somber news conference. Phelps’ father and stepmother, Jonathan Lytle, 28, and Adriana Lytle, 32, allegedly tortured and shocked the girl with a dog collar before her death on March 10.

The Lytles have been charged with homicide by abuse, among other charges.

“If today is like any other day in Washington, there are 18 children who will be abused,” said Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, holding a newspaper article on Lytle’s death. “It is happening here.”

Knezovich said abused children all too often grow up to become abusive parents.

“It is a cycle of violence we need to stop,” he said.

The coalition said early learning programs can benefit both children and parents, who can learn how to appropriately raise a child. Such skills can have an economic impact, research has shown.

In 2004, researchers published the most recent results of a landmark study on the impacts of quality early-learning classes on low-income children.

The study, which began in 1962, found that children who participated in a Michigan-based program had higher earnings, committed fewer crimes and were more likely to have graduated from high school.

Economists estimate that the program returned 17 dollars for every dollar invested.

Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget would spend about $37 million on the programs supported by the coalition. Legislative budgets are expected to be released next week.

Jill Sells, director of Docs for Tots, said it is crucial to not only expand childhood education programs but also to improve on the existing programs. Those programs can help connect families to support services, she said.

“Isolation and a lack of social services are some of the biggest risk factors for families,” said Sells, a pediatrician. “We’re here to help families in distress.”