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Senate Approves "Ounce Of Prevention" Bill
Bill Would Provide Home
Visits For At-Risk Parents
HARRISBURG -- The
Senate approved a House Bill on Tuesday that would provide in-home
help for at-risk parents, according to Senator Pat Browne, R-16th District and
prime sponsor of the bill in the Senate.
Under House Bill 200, also
known as the "Ounce of Prevention Act," new parents could receive counseling and
guidance on a voluntary basis. Senator Browne is the author of Senate Bill 732,
which mirrors the language of HB 200.
"I am very pleased to see
this important legislation move out of committee and on to the full Senate for
consideration," Senator Browne said. "Research shows that comprehensive early
home visitation programs prevent child abuse, develop positive parent-child
interactions, help the brain development of the child, long-term savings in both
public and private health care costs and avoid future social problems. In
addition to addressing child abuse, such programs help to ensure families'
social and medical needs are met and that children are ready for success in
school."
"We have all heard the old
adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The same could be
true for child abuse and neglect," Senator Browne said. "Several successful
programs currently provide pre-natal and early childhood home visiting programs
throughout the Commonwealth. Programs currently providing home visitations
services include but are not limited to these organizations: Nurse Family
Partnership, Healthy Families, Family Centers, Early Head Start and Parents and
Teachers. These programs would be eligible for grant funding under this
legislation."
The bill returns to the
House for concurrence of Senate amendments.
 
Browne
Rhoades
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