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“INTRODUCING THE HEALTHY FAMILIES INITIATIVE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1642-E1643 on Sept. 3, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCING THE HEALTHY FAMILIES INITIATIVE
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HON. NORMAN D. DICKS
of washington
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 3, 1997
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, child abuse and neglect is an epidemic that devastates our children and often leads them to a life of crime. In 1994, public welfare agencies received reports of 3.1 million children being abused or neglected. Each year, an estimated 2,000 children--most under the age of 4--die at the hands of parents or caretakers.
A study shows that abused children are more likely to commit crimes both as juveniles and as adults. Abused children are more prone to commit a violent crime during their lives. It is also more probable for abused children to grow up and abuse their children, starting the whole cycle over again. Congress must take action to end this cycle of abuse and crime that ruins the lives of thousands of our children.
Some states and communities have found a solution that has proven 99 percent successful in preventing child abuse and neglect among those families most at-risk. Modeled after a program pioneered by the State of Hawaii, these programs utilize existing social services to provide counseling to at-risk families that volunteer to participate in the program.
Today, I am introducing the same bipartisan legislation that I introduced in the last Congress to create the Healthy Families Initiative. This bill would enable the Federal Government to help States and communities that decide to create one of these programs. Simply put, my bill would make Healthy Families programs eligible for funding as crime prevention programs under the 1994 Crime bill--at no new cost to the Federal Government.
This legislation is an innovative way to help communities fight child abuse, and has many substantial benefits. My bill helps programs that have proven effective preventing child abuse. Healthy Families programs have a solid record of success in the State of Hawaii and in communities across the Nation, including Port Angeles, in the district I represent.
This bill will create no new bureaucracy and no new programs within the Department of Justice. Most importantly, no new costs will be created by my legislation--Congress will not be required to spend one additional dollar on this program. This bill will merely enable programs to compete for existing crime prevention grant moneys. Also, qualifying programs are required to coordinate with other organizations to avoid duplication of services.
States and communities will retain control. This bill will give them a hand, but States and communities will still be in charge of their own programs.
I would like to thank each of the 21 Representatives and delegates from around the country for cosponsoring this bipartisan initiative. I urge every Member to support this strong, bipartisan solution to one of the most damaging problems afflicting our children.
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