Invest in children today for the future

IN (THE APRIL 22, Sunday) front page story on the investment in Pre-K programs there was a discussion of the N.M. permanent funds and using it for early childhood programs. We are investing a very small amount of resources into the future of our state. Evidence-based home visiting programs have a profound effect on the future of families and children.

Evidence-based programs like Nurse Family Partnership begin with visits to the pregnant mother and father and continue through the first two years of life. NFP mothers have fewer premature babies (and) are more likely to breast feed for longer periods of time and have increased immunization rates. Infants are less likely to be seen in the emergency room for either intentional — child abuse — or unintentional injuries. They are more likely to be ready for kindergarten. They are less likely to be held back by third grade — retention by third grade is a predictor of high school dropout rates. Participants are less likely to have encounters with the justice system or use drugs or smoke tobacco in high school and more likely to graduate from high school.

Evidence-based programs like NFP are shown to save $8-$17 for every dollar invested. Using resources available in the permanent funds today can save money for N.M. down the road. We need to think of the future of N.M. We need better schools and an educated workforce to bring jobs to N.M. We need to invest today to make N.M. healthier and wealthier ... .

MARIE L. LOBO Albuquerque