Our Children
"Children are our most valuable resource." Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president
We all want what is best for our children! First and foremost we want them to be healthy, educated and happy! When our children are hurt or suffering we ache right along with them.
Our children deserve decent meals, clean drinking water, shelter and warmth!
Our children deserve basic healthcare, protection, security and a sense of stability!
Our children deserve an education that will prepare them to excel in whatever they endeavor!
Our children need a sense of belonging: first to a family and then to a community!
There are several organizations working to assure that our children grow up healthy and happy. One such organization is West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition. Their mission statement is:
"We, along with other individuals, private organizations, and state agencies, work to improve the health of children and families in West Virginia. We provide a forum for diverse organizations to discuss, coordinate and collaborate on issues that improve the health and well-being of West Virginia children."
Another organization is WV Kids Count. Please read these quotes from their website:
CHARLESTON, W.VA. - According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2012 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, West Virginia ranks 47th in the nation in the report's education indicators. Nearly four out of five of the state's 8th graders (79%) are not proficient in math, and nearly three out of four 4th graders (73%) are not proficient in reading.
"In West Virginia, the effects of chronic poverty are being compounded by years of underinvestment in our youngest children. Our ranking of 47th in the nation in education reinforces KIDS COUNT's constant refrain that now is the time to finally make high-quality, affordable childcare a state priority." said Margie Hale. "We will continue to face tough budget decisions, but the question we have to answer going forward is: What are our budget priorities? Longitudinal studies have clearly proven that high-quality, affordable childcare has a significant, positive impact on children's school performance and provides a $5.20 return for every dollar the state puts into it. Unfortunately, West Virginia is not making young children a priority when programs like childcare subsidies for the working poor are being reduced or eliminated. We can and must do better."
As your representative I will work to help these organizations and others like them build a brighter future for our children. Let's pledge our support to such organizations, let's get involved and help them help our children!
WVHealthyKids.Org WVKidsCount.Org
Some ideas:
Medical personnel - Every day we have qualified medical personnel leaving our state for better opportunites. We must work together to attract and retain qualified nurses and doctors in all areas of our great state. One way to do this is to work with the Veterans Administration to support military medics that have received basic medical training but desire to further their education outside of the military. We must create programs to get them the education that they desire in return for their committing to working in our rural areas.
Medical access - We must have equal access to the best medical care available. Let's explore expanding medical abilities of school clinics perhaps even opening up public facilities within our public schools that offer quality Medical, Dental, and Optical healthcare.
Stability - Let's not only enhance our medical care within schools! Let's enhance the security and sense of well being by bringing the community into our schools. Lets bring seniors, police, reservists, parents in to love on and encourage our children and young adults. We have got to create an environment for our children which teaches them RESPECT. Respect for themselves, their parents, teachers, communities, country instead of alienating them from those who are wanting to help them.
Respect - We need to have a Mountaineer Challenge Academy in the Kanawha Valley and in the Eastern panhandle. MCA is a wonderful program that aids our young adults who do not fit the "one size fits all" classrooms of our public education system. We need to create mentor programs through our local trade work force. Let's work with the Air National Guard to create a "West Virginia Air Academy" along with the Civil Air Patrol to give our young adults self esteem and encouragement to reach for the stars!
Let's get our troubled youth off of the streets and into environments that will help them to reach their fullest potential!
“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.” ― Garrison Keillor,
We all want what is best for our children! First and foremost we want them to be healthy, educated and happy! When our children are hurt or suffering we ache right along with them.
Our children deserve decent meals, clean drinking water, shelter and warmth!
Our children deserve basic healthcare, protection, security and a sense of stability!
Our children deserve an education that will prepare them to excel in whatever they endeavor!
Our children need a sense of belonging: first to a family and then to a community!
There are several organizations working to assure that our children grow up healthy and happy. One such organization is West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition. Their mission statement is:
"We, along with other individuals, private organizations, and state agencies, work to improve the health of children and families in West Virginia. We provide a forum for diverse organizations to discuss, coordinate and collaborate on issues that improve the health and well-being of West Virginia children."
Another organization is WV Kids Count. Please read these quotes from their website:
CHARLESTON, W.VA. - According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2012 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, West Virginia ranks 47th in the nation in the report's education indicators. Nearly four out of five of the state's 8th graders (79%) are not proficient in math, and nearly three out of four 4th graders (73%) are not proficient in reading.
"In West Virginia, the effects of chronic poverty are being compounded by years of underinvestment in our youngest children. Our ranking of 47th in the nation in education reinforces KIDS COUNT's constant refrain that now is the time to finally make high-quality, affordable childcare a state priority." said Margie Hale. "We will continue to face tough budget decisions, but the question we have to answer going forward is: What are our budget priorities? Longitudinal studies have clearly proven that high-quality, affordable childcare has a significant, positive impact on children's school performance and provides a $5.20 return for every dollar the state puts into it. Unfortunately, West Virginia is not making young children a priority when programs like childcare subsidies for the working poor are being reduced or eliminated. We can and must do better."
As your representative I will work to help these organizations and others like them build a brighter future for our children. Let's pledge our support to such organizations, let's get involved and help them help our children!
WVHealthyKids.Org WVKidsCount.Org
Some ideas:
Medical personnel - Every day we have qualified medical personnel leaving our state for better opportunites. We must work together to attract and retain qualified nurses and doctors in all areas of our great state. One way to do this is to work with the Veterans Administration to support military medics that have received basic medical training but desire to further their education outside of the military. We must create programs to get them the education that they desire in return for their committing to working in our rural areas.
Medical access - We must have equal access to the best medical care available. Let's explore expanding medical abilities of school clinics perhaps even opening up public facilities within our public schools that offer quality Medical, Dental, and Optical healthcare.
Stability - Let's not only enhance our medical care within schools! Let's enhance the security and sense of well being by bringing the community into our schools. Lets bring seniors, police, reservists, parents in to love on and encourage our children and young adults. We have got to create an environment for our children which teaches them RESPECT. Respect for themselves, their parents, teachers, communities, country instead of alienating them from those who are wanting to help them.
Respect - We need to have a Mountaineer Challenge Academy in the Kanawha Valley and in the Eastern panhandle. MCA is a wonderful program that aids our young adults who do not fit the "one size fits all" classrooms of our public education system. We need to create mentor programs through our local trade work force. Let's work with the Air National Guard to create a "West Virginia Air Academy" along with the Civil Air Patrol to give our young adults self esteem and encouragement to reach for the stars!
Let's get our troubled youth off of the streets and into environments that will help them to reach their fullest potential!
“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.” ― Garrison Keillor,