The annual State of America’s
Children research report from the Children’s Defense Fund tells us that our
children are not doing well in health, education, and emotional development.
Child advocates are frustrated, because decades of research tell us
how to prevent unacceptably high rates of poor outcomes for children. We are
making more progress right now in Malawi than in Miami!
Let’s focus on solutions – and
do what works.
· Feed all pregnant women with nutritious
diets. The WIC program helps ensure
a healthy pregnancy by getting high-quality protein and other foods to women in
the first 4 months of pregnancy, when crucial brain development is occurring.
And don’t include income criteria on WIC. By the time you figure out if
mom’s eligible, the damage of malnutrition to the fetus is done.
· After the baby comes, send a lay health
worker or nurse to visit the family for a while. Voluntary evidence-based home visiting and parent
education programs in the first year of life save lives, decrease rates of
child maltreatment, and increase rates of successful breastfeeding.
Postpartum depression can be caught and treated with sleep and support.
In most home visiting programs, 90% of participating children are fully
immunized by age 2.
· Feed school aged children. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) and free school lunch programs feed the hungry and helped lift 5 million
children out of poverty in 2013. It is ridiculous that 25% of children in
the USA do not always get meals, especially when 75% of these hungry families
have at least one working parent.
·
Transform “daycare” into high quality early
childhood education, birth through 4.
Get early education teachers on a career ladder to add to their skills, and pay
them what they are worth. Fund existing high quality models like Head
Start. Now, over 90% of eligible children are not enrolled due to lack of
funding!
·
Mentor Young Parents – there’s no app for
that. Support parent-to-parent
mentorship programs like Strengthening Families. Reach out to parents
through synagogue, mosque, church and school. We can give parents facts
about ages and stages of child development via social media, but to change
lives, you need friends. It’s hard to be a dad when you did not have one, and
easier when you’ve got mentors.
Do what works! Support children & families.
http://www.childrensdefense.org
Sharon Carnahan, Ph.D.
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL 32789
