Dean Wants $200 Million For Child Care

Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is calling for a $200 million effort to screen new parents to make sure they're up to the task of raising children.

His proposal is modeled after one he developed while he was governor of Vermont. It calls for a visit with each mother while in the hospital, and offers a home visit if they choose.

(A little) More: http://www.theiowachannel.com/politics/2538066/detail.html

I had the option for a home visit in my state also, and it was a wonderful and much needed visit for a new mom...

Go Dean!

"The governor cited his state’s “Success By Six” initiative, in which parents of every child born in Vermont receive a home visit by a state worker within two weeks of an infant’s birth. During the visit, the worker offers the parent a variety of services, based on the parent’s need. Dean said the intent is to expose parents to a friendly face who can address family concerns.

"Those who do (need help) get it starting when they're two weeks old, not when they get to kindergarten," Dean said. "By the time you get to kindergarten, you've got a tough time trying to reverse the trouble you're in."

Dean said that even though he didn't expect results immediately, Vermont has seen its child abuse rate drop 70 percent among children from birth to age 3, and 50 percent from birth to age 5. "That is an extraordinary statistic that I bet is not duplicated anywhere else in the United States," he said."

http://howard-dean-for-president.mydd.com/2004.html

and would that be enough to really do well in cities like LA?

That seems like a small number to me for something so dynamic. I'm looking forward to seeing this country led by Dean.

As a new mother, I would have *loved* an assist starting out, not to mention the attention. It is a non-compulsory and pragmatic program and it's effectiveness has been test marketed in Vermont!

I just can't believe it is that cheap to implement. That is a good thing.

It doesn't cost much to run at all. My toddler got the home visit too, and I still have all the resources I got from the visit. It was great. It's not intrusive or forced, and it's fun. I love this program and would love to see it made nationwide!

I'm glad to hear of your experience. This was the most wonderful bonus attraction to discover when I first heard of Dean. I'm glad he's making this initiative a feature of his campaign.

I'm going to watch for this AP article in my local press. If they run this misleading piece, I'll write.

since it's cost effective in teaching new parents the tasks of parenting and reduces child abuse, which reduces crime rates.

I'd like to see a program for teens to teach them about the ordeal of parenting before they get pregnant, so that they would postpone parenting until they are more emotionally mature and financially stable.

When I'm old (not all that far off anymore) I want to live in a country populated by happy, well-adjusted, educated younger people with all the tools they need to be successful. The way I look at it, they're much less likely to hit me over the head and take my purse that way.

or would he get it by raising the retirement age. Oh wait, he's not for that anymore right? I'm confused.

Here is a greater look at 'success by six'

http://www.ahs.state.vt.us/PDFFiles/01Sx6AnnRpt.pdf

http://www.sapcc2.com/success.htm

Kerry would give to Boeing.

n/t

C'mon over Vermonteers and Dean fans!!!

I'd be a proud and happy American to have this program implemented nation-wide. The success rate in VT is out of this world...can you imagine it on a national scale? So simple, so inexpensive, and so valuable to our families.

Go Dean!

Look at the headline.