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.
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