Expand home visiting

The June 28th article “Bring home successful parenting” highlighted the many benefits of supporting families through home-visiting programs. Solid research shows that intensive, voluntary home-visiting programs prevent child abuse and neglect and give kids the right start in life, which prevents crime later in life.

As the Whitman County prosecutor and current president of the state Prosecutor’s Association, I am very aware of the significant costs to our society for every child who drops out of school, uses drugs or becomes a career criminal. That is why I have joined with my fellow leaders in law enforcement in supporting expanded access to programs like the Nurse Family Partnership.

Investing in home visiting may be the single best crime prevention strategy our state can make. One dollar invested in that young child now is paid back many times over as the child grows into a responsible adult.

While it is good news that more families have access to this proven program, less than 25 percent of those eligible participate due to limited funding. Join with law enforcement leaders nationwide in supporting, and even expanding, home visiting programs to keep children from ever starting down the expensive path leading to prison.

Denis Tracy

Colfax