SAVE A CHILD LIFE; SAVE BIRTH & BEYOND

To:  Local Legislatures

SAVE BIRTH & BEYOND!!!!
SAVE CHILDREN'S LIVES!!!

The Birth & Beyond Home Visitation Program serves the eight Sacramento County neighborhoods where children are most at risk of abuse and neglect: Meadowview, Valley-Hi, South Sacramento, North Sacramento, Oak Park, Del Paso Heights, North Highlands, and Rancho Cordova.

In 1998, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in response to high profile child deaths, made a commitment to child abuse prevention and collaboration with community partners by supporting families.

In 1999, the Birth & Beyond (B&B) Home Visitation program was developed modeled after a federal home visitation program. B&B was implemented in nine Sacramento County neighborhoods where children were most at risk of child abuse and neglect.

Current Situation:

As a result of the County Budget deficit, the Birth & Beyond Program will lose all remaining (8) Team Leaders (Clinical Supervision of Home Visitors) for the entire program and data entry staff at each site. Without clinical supervision, B&B will be unable to continue providing the crucial service of home visitation to the most vulnerable children and families. No Supervision for Home Visitation = No Home Visitation!

Birth & Beyond has already suffered financial cuts and is operating at a bare minimum:

* 2004 - As a result of County funding cuts, one of the nine sites (Arden Arcade) closed, leaving hundreds of families and a community unserved, even to this day.



* 2008 - The County eliminated 2 home visitors and 1 team leader (supervisor) per site. Consequentially, 120 fewer families were served in 2008. During the same time frame, 12 children died from Child Abuse and Neglect Homicide.



B&B Works:

The B&B Home Visitation program was evaluated. The study found that 2/3 of families who received B&B Home Visitation services did NOT re-enter the CPS system. This saves the County money AND improves parenting, positively impacts children, and prevents child abuse and neglect. Without data entry staff, this would not be known.
Action petitioned for
We, the undersigned, Support Sacramento County's Birth & Beyond (B&B) Home Visitation Program.

County funding for the B&B Home Visitation program must be preserved and restored to full funding levels.

The B&B partnership is essential - serving children, families, and communities.

B&B provides a safety net for vulnerable children and families. It can NOT suffer any more cuts.

Birth & Beyond Saves Children's Lives!

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The SAVE A CHILD LIFE; SAVE BIRTH & BEYOND Petition to Local Legislatures was created by Sacramento Families and written by Yvonne Jefferson (yvonne.jefferson@kidshome.org).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.