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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Help for young moms may continue Cutting the program had been considered to save money, but a new plan may let the Health District effort continue. By Sharon Salyer Herald Writer Once on the chopping block, a Snohomish Health District program that helps young first-time moms may continue next year. But the Snohomish County Council will have to approve $900,000 in funding tentatively set aside for the public health agency to make that happen. The funding plan was outlined during a meeting of the health district board on Tuesday. The program, called the Nurse Family Partnership, was among those considered for cuts earlier this year to help balance the health district’s budget. The program helps new mothers age 21 and younger with parenting skills, ensures that infants get recommended vaccinations and works to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. Health district employees meet regularly with families for two years. The program allows repeat in-home visits with families, helping ensure that young moms become effective parents. Health district officials say that this intensive work, while making it an effective program, also makes it expensive to run. It now serves about 135 families. In September, the health district board was able to find a way to extend the program through the end of the year. It took $119,000 in federal money it received as reimbursement for expenses for fighting swine flu this spring and used the money to continue the program. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon has proposed setting aside $900,000 for the health district from money raised through the one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax for mental health and substance abuse programs next year. Overall, the tax is expected to raise $10.5 million in 2010, said Christopher Schwarzen, a spokesman for the county executive. Nearly $670,000 of that would be set aside for the Nurse Family Partnership, with the remaining funds used for tobacco prevention and other health district programs. The county council will not vote on the 2010 budget until Thanksgiving week, he said, and would have to approve the allocation as part of that budget. Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out tobacco prevention I thought that's why we pay so much tax on tobacco products. Wasn't part of that tax suppose to pay for tobacco education? So we are being taxed two diffrent ways to pay for it. Just another way to get more money for something with no results!!!!!!! david kirby | Nov 11, 2009 10:37 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Where Do These Programs Come From Who decides one day that we are going to take somebodys elses money a start a program without any input from the people who are going to pay for it? david kirby | Nov 11, 2009 10:29 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Which is it? cme- you complain about the costs, then complain that the program does not include more people, which of course would cost even more! You cant have it both ways! My presumption is that limiting it to new moms under 21 is simply a way of putting a limit on program costs while providing the biggest return. I TK | Nov 11, 2009 9:07 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal something rotten here... . i assume the "annual" budget is $900,000 for 135 families? That accounts for $6,666.66 per family or... $13,333.33 for the 2 years they get "help". And just what is that help? Do parenting classes, or child abuse classes, domestic abuse classes really add up to $13,333 over 2 years? Seems to me one could get a 2-year AA degree from community college for a lot less than $13,333. Education, in any form, has a way of eliminating bad parental skills. Also... why the "cut off age"? Does the county seriously believe Mothers over 21 simply are not in need of help? There is something rotten about this program. More questions than answers. cme everett | Nov 11, 2009 1:14 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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