Dean unveils $200 million 'Welcome Baby' visits

[pruner]

By SAM YOUNGMAN
PoliticsNH.com

HOOKSETT, Oct. 7  -- Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean unveiled the first phase of his an early childhood development proposal while visiting with child care workers and children at the Child and Family Development Center at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord.

The first part, called “Welcome Baby” visits, would expand nationwide a program Dean implemented while'serving in Vermont. "Success by Six" allows for visits to new parents from an agency worker in the hospital or their home.

The program depends largely on community involvement, Dean said, to ensure that children are connected to the community from the onset to ensure early childhood success and ensure kids have a “better chance of going to college than they have of going to prison.”

<snip>

The program would allow for federal grants to individuals and organizations that support the initiative and participate in the home visit program by providing nutrition information and getting parents into the local medical and school communities, Dean said, at a cost of $200 million a year.

“That is significantly less than what we spend in one day in Iraq,” he told an applauding crowd.

http://www.politicsnh.com/archives/pindell/2003/october...

[TahitiNut]

1. It'd be nice if those 'agency workers' were trained ...

... in identifying the symptoms of post-partum depression, as well. It'd also be nice if they were called 'Villagers' -- but reichwingers would burst aneurisms.

[ozone_man]

2. This program was very successful in VT.

One of the benefits of having a physician as a governor.

I think Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate and better health care than the U.S. Maybe this (Dean) is an opportunity to fix our health care system and give all Americans health care.

Come to think of it, the ratio of doctors to patients (IIRC) in Cuba is way lower than in the U.S. We seem to have an elitist medical system that serves the rich, but not the poor.

It's embarassing to compare our country to third world countries, but that is what we have become.

Here's an issue: How does your candidate feel about the fact that drugs are available much more cheaply, if they are purchased in Canada. These are the same drugs that are sold by U.S. pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., but for several times the price.

[Bandit]

3. Dean gets it ~ "It Takes a Village."

Why is that simple concept so hard to grasp?

[grasswire]

4. a LOT of people will be turned off by this...

...sorry to say. There are umpty millions of Americans who don't want government intervention in families. I must confess I don't like this either. Very big brother. Kind of spooky. An encroachment on privacy. However, I would definitely support neighborhood parenting classes and clinics, with no government involvement.

[MGKrebs]

5. If it were to be mandatory,

I would have trouble with it too.

[ozone_man]

7. Just in case you want to take a closer look.

The "success by six" program is not a "single program nor a collection of programs, it is a unified strategy" ... These well baby visits are just part of it, but I think that is what Dean is proposing as a start nationally.

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

[tinnypriv]

8. Eh?

If you don't want government intervention, you just say "fuck off" and nobody visits you. Dean has been clear about that.

[pruner]

10. I don't think Dean has recommended using the phrase "fuck off"

but I may be wrong.

[tinnypriv]

16. Say it ain't so

Isn't he "combatative", "shrill", "testy", etc?

[JNelson6563]

18. He did, I have quote here...

just kiddin'. Just giving detractors false hope. Wicked of me. I know.

Julie

[bleedingheart]

11. My republican coworker and I were talking about this today

we both were discussing the fact that our state doesn't fund firefighting departments. They rely on charity and bingo to raise money for engines and equipment...both of us donate to those groups but are disgusted by those members of the "village" who don't give a dime.

(she is slowly converting to the light...)

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

6. I've been waiting!

I am so excited that he is finally announcing that he will do this for our country if elected. Success by Six is one of the most important programs I have seen, and had tremendous results in Vermont with reducing domestic abuse and other issues. I can't wait to see it done on a national scale!

[Evanstondem]

13. Yes Dean's program sounds promising to me

as a parent with 3 and 5 year olds. It contrasts nicely with Repug attempts to gut Head Start.

[GCP]

9. All new mothers get visits at home by certified nurse-midwives in the UK

They check the mother's healing "down below", and that the baby's feeding OK. They offer advice for breast-feeding, and all the other things new moms get scared about.

It's been going on since the 50's.

Damn socialized medicine. {/sarcsm}

[realFedUp]

12. I think this is a great idea

California has Healthy Children program that it
might be able to fit into.

[goforit]

14. Sounds like a great interactive program!!!

It's about time some one does something for the youth
of America besides waiting for them to enlist for war!!!!

[kimchi]

15. Excellent idea.

I had never seen a breastfeeding child until I gave birth--no living relatives or even friends who had any information to give me. Luckily, I could afford a visit from a lactation consultant (who also does charity work). I've seen my parents raise children with little help and bad advice--as hard as they worked and as much as they cared, they deemed dentistry and reading materials not worth the expense. We didn't qualify for assistance, and they probably would have been too proud, anyway. But they did take everything they felt they deserved from the government, and not one penny more.

Most people would avail themselves of such a service--even just a quick "cute baby, here's a list of numbers if you need help." I'm guessing the cost to foment the radical idea that society gives a shit about you would be a bomber or two. I'm quite willing to give a couple up.

[On the Road]

17. My Mother Worked for a "Welcome Baby" Program

in North Carolina. She supported it and she's a hardcore conservative.