November 12, 2017
Op-Ed Commentary: It Frightens Me to Think of What Will Happen to Clarksburg Now
Charleston Gazette-Mail
We are part of Parents as Teachers, a program that supports parents’ ability to nurture children’s early development, learning and health by meeting families quite literally where they are — in their homes — and providing them supports to help them be the best parents they can be.
August 2, 2017
Op-Ed Commentary: Home Visitors Need Congressional Support
Charleston Gazette-Mail
Home visiting is a smart, scientifically proven investment that leads to better outcomes for families, kids and communities and significant cost-savings for state budgets over time.
December 4, 2016
Home Visits Work: Let's Make Them Universal
Chronicle of Social Change
While working as a home visitor, nearly every person I met yearned to be the best parent they could be. But many didn’t have what they needed. They lacked information about parenting skills and were often socially isolated, with few friends or family members to call for help and advice.
June 22, 2016
Home Visitors Help Parents Make the Most of the First 1,000 Days
WV Public Broadcasting's The Front Porch Podcast
December 10, 2015
Over 500 Respond to Adverse Childhood Experience Online Survey
WV Metro News
In-home family education helps prevent adverse childhood experiences by helping the parents understand that the relationship with their child is the most important thing — that they are their child’s first teacher.
September 2015
WV Home Visitation Program promotion with Marshall University Athletics
Listen to commercials about the WV Home Visitation Program and an interview with someone from Mountain State Healthy Families.
April 14, 2015
Parents As Teachers Program Expanding in Randolph County
WBOY
50 families are served in Tucker County and the program is starting to grow in Randolph County. The Family Resource Network in Elkins has five parent educators, two full time and three part time educators.
February 5, 2015
Home Visiting Programs: An Early Test For the 114th Congress
Brookings
A recent literature review commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 16 home visiting programs have enough support to earn the label “evidence-based.”
February 2, 2015
The First 1,000 Days: Investing in WV Children When It Counts
WV Public Broadcasting
The documentary explains the science and techniques that build healthy brain architecture during our crucial early years. Here is a promotional clip.
February 1, 2015
Film: Toddler Years Vital for Learning
Charleston Gazette-Mail
Yet while about 900 families in the state take part in In-Home Family Education programs, more than 9,000 additional families could participate if this program was available everywhere in West Virginia, according to a 2013 study by Partners in Community Outreach.
January 11, 2015
Child-friendly Agenda in Legislature Should Appeal to Both Parties, and Has in the Past
Charleston Gazette-Mail
There is a ton of evidence that investments in programs like voluntary in-home family education pay off hugely in fewer problems and better outcomes down the road.
November 13, 2014
West Virginia Children Succeed When Parents and Families Succeed
Public News Service
One way to maximize the use of professionals and advocates in coaching families is by utilizing them for home visits to address two generations. On one hand, children's developmental, health and education needs could be addressed, along with job training and other assistance for parents.
September 18, 2014
U.S. Census Data Shows Poverty Rate on the Rise in WV
Charleston Daily Mail
The state Legislature can take action to help struggling families by investing in early intervention and childhood programs such as home visiting...
August 24, 2014
Science of Young Brains has Put More Emphasis on Early Education
The Dallas Morning News
So what do scientists think they know about young brains? There’s a wide belief that more brain connections form in the first three years than will ever be connected again. The assumption is that stimulation at that young age sets a pattern.
June 1, 2014
Op-Ed
Commentary: Why Children and Families Won
The Charleston Gazette
Hundreds of people sacrificied their time, talent, and resources to make this happen, as well as the legislative champions who continued to push for solutions, and the excellent journalists who told our story. That's what's fun about working with such a broad movement - you can't even keep track of every single letter sent or action taken.
May 9, 2014
The
Early Childhood Intervention That Can Make Even Congress Stop Fighting
National Journal
Researchers have confirmed that these programs boost child health, reduce abuse and neglect, boost participating families' economic well-being, and help children arrive better prepared for school.
May 9, 2014
Criminal
Justice Officials Favor Restoring Child, Family Funding
Public News Service
"An ounce of prevention is worth many, many pounds of cure - and we're seeing it, day in and day out."
May 7, 2014
Some Vetoed
Social Services Funds Restored
Charleston Gazette
"All these programs, goodness gracious, are operating on shoestrings, and you can't take away the string"
February 27, 2014
Funding
Could Be Cut For Early Childhood Development
WCHS-TV
A group of early childhood advocates met at the capital Thursday afternoon. They said losing $980,000 could turn into millions of dollars lost.
February 27, 2014
State
Budget Cuts Put $13 Million in Child, Family Money "At Risk"
West Virginia Public News
Service
Advocates for early-childhood and family-support program have delivered a symbolic $13 milliion check to West Virginia lawmakers - money they say could be lost if the state goes ahead with budget cuts.
February 26, 2014
Op-Ed
Commentary: Restore Cuts to Family Education
The Charleston Gazette
In-Home Family Educators help parents understand their role as their child's first and most important teacher. They provide information and support in such areas as prenatal care, child health, child development, behavior and early learning and literacy.
February 25, 2014
Nick
Kristof Parachutes Back Into Appalachia and the Results Aren’t Pretty
Center for Economic and Policy Research
One could easily get the impression ... that the early interventions he mentions—family planning, home visitation programs, free at-home help for new moms who want to breast-feed, ...and quality pre-K—are new ideas that have little to do with the “War on Poverty.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
February 1, 2014
Op-Ed
Commentary: Tiny Budget Cuts Can Be Devastating
The Charleston Gazette
The proposed budget even slices 25 percent from early childhood home visiting programs, despite the fact that these have been proven to prevent child abuse, reduce the number of low-birth weight babies, and promote health and better educational outcomes.
November 9, 2013
Editorial:
Caregivers Can Make a Difference
The Charleston Gazette
One of the best things ever tried and proven to help mitigate the effects of poverty, isolation and unprepared parents is home visitors.
October 30, 2013
Editorial:
Thumbs up: Healthy Families initiative helps local at-risk
families
Huntington Herald-Dispatch
Whether it’s a young single mother or other circumstances, too many parents are on their own and in great need of information, advice and support. One of the groups that helps provide that in our region is Mountain State Healthy Families, which provides free program services for new mothers.
September 23, 2013
Editorial:
Teaching Parents Skills is Worthwhile Investment
Huntington Herald-Dispatch
States also should look at the most effective home visitation programs provided by social service agencies, and consider expanding those as well.
September 21, 2013
Editorial: On
the Strength of Parents
The Charleston Gazette
The lesson from this report is the same thing I've learned over a career spent reporting on efforts to help children and families: Help parents, and you help kids...This documented knowledge of what makes a difference over a lifetime should lead state and local policy.
April 7, 2012
Editorial:
Home Visitation Effort Can Help Prevent Child Abuse
Huntington
Herald-Dispatch
A study done by the Pew Center for the States found that a good program of voluntary home visits to at-risk families can cut child abuse cases in half -- that means trained professionals meeting with families during pregnancies and the first three years of a child's life.
April 5, 2012
Home
Visits: A Powerful Weapon Against Child Abuse
Time Magazine
Every new mother has so many questions: Is my baby growing well? Is she reaching her developmental milestones? Why does she cry so much and what can I do about it?