The Coalition to Save Nurturing Families Network in Hartford and New Haven urges you to restore funding for the 13 community based Nurturing Families programs in Hartford and New Haven. Nurturing Families Network is a vital home visitation program for first time parents to ensure parents have support and resources to raise healthy children.

Children and families participating in Nurturing Families have proven, through extensive evaluation, to improve maternal and prenatal health; decrease low birth weight and premature babies; decrease teen pregnancy; decrease special education services through early detection and intervention for developmental delays; decrease child abuse, neglect and injuries and promote positive father involvement. The community-based (non-hospital) sites serve 700 families annually and provide a critical safety net in a cost effective manner, saving the state millions in child welfare services.

We urge support for Nurturing Families Network and respectfully request the restoration of $3.2 million in the state budget to ensure all children can reach their potential.