Panhandle Health District

                                                               8500 N. Atlas Road         Hayden, Idaho  83835

www.phd1.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      Date:     December 3, 2008                     

Contact:                                                                                  Released by: Jeanne Bock, Director                     

Cynthia Taggart

Public Information Officer

(208) 415-5108

(208) 818-7288 (cell)

Budget Cutback Ends Child Abuse Prevention Program

Hayden—Panhandle Health District’s (PHD) Public Health Nurse Home Visiting Program has fallen victim to budget cutbacks and ended its services.

              The Home Visiting Program reduced the risk of child abuse in the five northern counties by offering parenting support and education at no cost to new parents who needed it. Parents were typically referred to the program by family, friends, social workers, hospital discharge nurses, child protective authorities and others, although some parents sought the help on their own.

              “I have great hope that with an improved economy and future funding this program will one day again be able to service families in our community,” said Jeanne Bock, PHD director.

Since 2001, the Home Visiting Program has received more than 800 referrals. Registered nurses with PHD followed up referrals with home visits to clients. Many nurses visited their families twice and all nurses stayed available to their families by phone for up to three years.

They helped families learn to cope with health and money problems, immaturity, family discord or a baby with health problems—realities that raise stress levels and the risk of child abuse and neglect.

              Grants covered part of the cost of the Home Visiting Program. PHD covered the rest, which is no longer possible with state budget holdbacks.