Right now, evidence-based, home visiting programs are supporting the development and safety of our most vulnerable children and their families in Pennsylvania.

These programs, funded with state and federal resources, focus on several critical areas: reducing child abuse and neglect and improving family health, education and economic security. Unfortunately, not enough families have access to them.

It’s a mixed bag for Luzerne County’s youth: An annual report on the “state of child welfare” shows the county has a higher rate of abuse and neglect reports than statewide, has more of those reports substantiated, and has a higher rate of children placed in foster care.

State Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, visited New Kensington on Monday to advocate for increased funding so more children can have access to quality pre-kindergarten education.

When Pottstown’s two state representatives return to Harrisburg for budget talks in the coming weeks, they will do so with a deeper understanding of the benefits of last year’s $30 million increase in state funding for Pre-K Counts.

A bill in the General Assembly could help thousands of Pennsylvania grandparents who are raising their children’s children.

Fueled in part by the opioid epidemic, some 82,000 grandparents care for more than 89,000 grandchildren in the Keystone State. Foster parents receive support services from county Children and Youth Agencies, but those providing what’s known as “kinship care” – outside the formal, foster-care system – have similar needs and often can’t access those services.