Pennsylvania State Budget Recap

On Friday, June 30, both the Pennsylvania House and Senate overwhelmingly passed the 2017-2018 state budget. On Monday, July 10, at midnight, the final $32 billion spending plan became law. Legislators are continuing work to implement parts of the budget and devise a plan to fully fund the enacted budget.

We are pleased to report that after a lot of hard work by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids members, in partnership with the Pre-K for PA and Early Learning PA campaigns, the budget is a big win for Pennsylvania’s at-risk kids! It includes the following investments for early learning/family supports:

• Increases Pre-K Counts: $25 million
• Increases investment in Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program: $5 million (together these will serve roughly 3,300 more at-risk kids)
• Restores 2016-17 cut to Child Care Services: $20 million
• Maintains $11.97 million for Nurse-Family Partnership home visiting program
• New investment in evidenced-based home visiting: $4.77 million

Pre-Kindergarten Fight Crime: Invest in Kids continues to fight for increases in high-quality pre-k programs because the preponderance of scientific research (and the experience of law enforcement leaders) shows that at-risk young children who participate are significantly less likely to commit juvenile and adult crime, need special education, and repeat an early grade and are more likely to graduate from high school and be productive members of society. High-quality early education is an effective way to break the generational cycle of poverty and crime.

Home Visiting Evidence-based home visiting/parent coaching programs for at-risk families collectively strengthen parenting, reduce child abuse and neglect, improve maternal and child health and reduce healthcare costs, improve child readiness for school, reduce dependence on public assistance, reduce maternal and juvenile crime and help put families on paths to self-sufficiency.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is particularly proud of the critical role our members played in helping win the $4.77 million to create a new grant program for evidence-based home visiting providers. The gallery below demonstrates our members’ commitment to fighting for the evidence-based investments that will get Pennsylvania’s children on the right track.