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Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO:
Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM:
DATE:
Jean Baldwin, DIrector
February 6, 2012
SUBJECT: Agenda Item - Letter to Peninsula Daily News in response to article
"Why Johnny's a bad kid" published january 10, 2012
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Jefferson County Public Health requests Board approval and signature on response letter to article "Why
Johnny's a bad kid" published in the Peninsula Dally News on January 10, 2012 gMng support to the Nurse
Family Partnership.
.ANALYSIS/STRATEGIC GOALS/PRO'S and CON'S:
On January 10, 2012 the Peninsula Dally News published an article about the effects of toxic stress
early In life or even before birth resulting from early childhood exposure to abuse and neglect,
substance abuse, poverty and violence. The article gave great credence to the Nurse-Family
Partnership (NFP) program, an evidence-based nurse home visitlng program. The Board of Health was
going to write a letter of support to the PDN regarding the 11 years of NFP In Jefferson County but the
recent snow storm will push any response back to late February. JCPH Is asking the Board of County
Commissioner's respond to the letter for the JCPH Nurse Family Partnership program by signing this
letter.
FISCAL IMPACT/COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS:
There Is no fiscal Impact to the county or this department.
Regular Agenda
RECOMMENDATION:
JCPH management request approval of the Jefferson County Public Health requests Board approval and
signature on response letter to article "Why Johnny's a bad kid" published In the Peninsula Dally News on
January 10, 2012 giving support to the Nurse Family Partnership.
REVIEWED BY:
~2/r~
Date
1820 Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
PhIl JoJmson, DlstrIct 1 David W. 8ulUvan, DlstrIct 2 John AustIn, DlstrIct 3
February 6, 2012
John Brower, Publisher
Peninsula Daily News
PO Box 1330
Port Angeles, W A 98362
The Jefferson County Board of Health applauds the Peninsula Daily News for publishing
Nicholas Kristoff's op-ed, "Why Johnny's a bad kid" on 1/10/12. A growing body of scientific
research supports the finding that the "toxic stress" that results from early childhood exposure to
abuse and neglect, substance abuse, poverty, and violence has devastating lifelong ramifications.
Kristoffwrites about the American Academy ofPedia1rics' (AAP) recent report on the lifelong
effects of early childhood adversity. The AAP policy report calls for the implementation of
science-based strategies to alleviate toxic stress and its negative impact on children's healthy
development, learning, behaviors, and future health.
Mr. Kristoff specifically names Nurse-Family Partnership, an evidence-based nurse home
visiting program, as a successful early intervention program that supports young mothers and
their babies to a healthy start in life by improving prenatal health, school readiness and maternal
economic self sufficiency. Jefferson County Public Health has been providing Nurse-Family
Partnership services to families in Jefferson County for the past 12 years. This and other family
health programs offered through Jefferson County Public Health have con1ributed to the health
of Jefferson County infants as evidenced by our substantially lower rates of infant mortality, low
birth weight babies, and premature deliveries as compared to statewide rates.
The Jefferson County Board of Health supports the AAP's call for community involvement to
support young children and their families and sustain the importaut gains we have achieved over
the past 12 years.
Sincerely,
John Austin, Chairman
Phone (360)385-9100 Fax (360)385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jeffersoll.wa.us