State Senator George Maziarz deserves high praise for his continued efforts to support children and families and prevent child abuse and neglect. Certainly, his work on Megan’s Law, which established the sex offender registry, has made our communities safer for children. In addition, Maziarz has been a strong supporter of agencies throughout Niagara County that provide services to children and families in need.
Recently, Maziarz co-sponsored legislation that provides funding to home visiting programs aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect. This legislation provides funds to Monroe County, and we hope that in the future the state Legislature will work to bring more funding for home visiting programs to Niagara County and the rest of the state. The bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, awaits passage in the Assembly.
Research over the past decade has shown that home visiting programs are effective in preventing child abuse. Randomized trials of Healthy Families New York, a home visiting program in 28 communities in New York state, demonstrate that the program increases positive, nonabusive parenting and improves children’s health and development. The program has made a significant difference in getting thousands of children and their families off to a good start.
Niagara County is fortunate to have Healthy Families Niagara, one of the Healthy Families New York programs. Thanks to the leadership and commitment of the Niagara County Department of Social Services, this program is offered through Family & Children’s Service of Niagara. In Niagara County, we have been able to help hundreds of pregnant women and mothers of newborns get their babies off to a healthy start in life. Even so, the program is only available to a fraction of the families who need it.
Further expansion of home visiting programs would enhance a proven, cost-effective child abuse prevention strategy in Niagara County. We urge the Assembly to act swiftly to pass the current legislation, and we hope the state Legislature will pursue a statewide initiative next year.
Kenneth A. Sass is the president and CEO of Family & Children’s Service of Niagara.
Columns
GUEST VIEW: Support for healthy families
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GLYNN: VFW post keeps spirit alive
At one time, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars-Post 313 would march down Main Street in Youngstown on Memorial Day to the 1812 Cemetery near Old Fort Niagara. That same scenario out of the past occurred for decades in cities, towns and villages across the U.S.
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HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
There are still those remnants of the fading bouquets of floral tributes that still hang at that base of a tree on city hall’s lawn. It is near where, last year, from his shiny silvery cart, Melvin Johnson sold hot dogs and sausages to both city employees and passerbys while his tiny white dog excitingly yelped at anyone that came near.
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GLYNN: Gillibrand seeks help for prime bread-winners
A recent report shows that working mothers across the Empire State earn nearly 15 percent lower pay for the same work as men.
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BRADBERRY: There really are spirits in the water
Over the centuries since it was “discovered” hundreds of millions of people have traveled from every corner of the world to visit Niagara Falls making it the most visited of the great waterfalls on the planet.
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CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
The ongoing debate over Obamacare has brought to light the concept of rationed healthcare. Opponents of health care reform keenly point out that while the bill never explicitly calls out rationing, it features certain provisions that will lead the markets to adjust to strict federal demands and, therefore, dispense certain procedures in smaller amounts or not at all. Because of it being the first time that the subject has really come up in public circles, most people, especially on the right, believe that rationing is something new. It’s not. The free markets have been practicing that for quite some time. I should know; with a 4-inch long, 1-inch wide scar running south of my belly button – and a couple of related scars around my groin – I could be the poster child for rationed health care.
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CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
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GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
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HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
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