This election year, child advocates are challenging candidates for elective office to talk about their proposals for ensuring safe, stable and nurturing environments for our children. Our state only ranks 35th in child well-being: More than 130,000 child-abuse and neglect reports are made annually; our child poverty rate is 25 percent; and 24 percent of North Carolina’s children have experienced two or more Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, to name a few issues that should be addressed.
Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina joins NC Child in challenging all candidates for elective office to lead a conversation about how we can make great childhoods possible for every child. Like our partners at NC Child, we are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that doesn’t engage in electoral politics and doesn’t endorse specific candidates. But we care deeply what our candidates and elected leaders say and plan to do to support child and family-friendly policies.
Our hope in 2016 is to hear candidates talk about creating a campaign for great childhoods. Did you know that experiences in childhood shape our lives for the long term? When we invest in great childhoods we are investing in safe, stable and nurturing environments for children. We are investing in school success and increased graduation rates; healthier, more productive future employees contributing to North Carolina’s tax base; reduced costs in our social services, criminal justice, and health care systems; as well as reduced taxes.
It’s a win-win-win for children, families and society.
To continue reading this op-ed from Sharon Hirsch, president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina, go to: http://www.greensboro.com/opin...d5-ad4f3bd11353.html
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