Child advocates, including Blueprints CEO Darlene J. Bigler, Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, and Pittsburgh neonatologist Dr. Robert Cicco, met Thursday to discuss a campaign promoting evidence-based home visiting programs and to champion an increase in the 2018-19 state budget to expand home visiting programs to additional Pennsylvania programs.

Parenthood is tough, even for the most prepared among us. Some families need more help than others. The research in this area is strong. Positive parenting approaches and nurturing a child’s development in the first several years of life is likely to have sustained benefits as a child moves through adolescence and adulthood.

Last week, the state House Children and Youth Committee passed a bill that would help set up resources for grandparents who could use help.

Back-to-back crises tested Shyanne Troop, a 20-year-old, first-time mom: her newborn suffered a stroke and her marriage dissolved.

Through each trial, Troop was thankful a knowledgeable and compassionate registered nurse was in her corner.

The Childhood Begins at Home campaign is calling for a $6.5-million increase in state funding for the Nurse-Family Partnership and other evidence-based home-visiting programs, including Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, and Parents as Teachers.

Gov. Tom Wolf is calling on the state House to take up measures intended to help grandparents cope with the challenge of raising their grandkids. The House Children and Youth Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would create a navigator program to help grandparents find all the help available to them. The committee also approved a measure that would grant short-custody to grandparents who are trying to help care for grandchildren while one of their grandchildren’s parents is in drug rehab.