The Nanny State at Work

8-23-17 The Nanny State at Work

I first ran across this program when Hawaii instituted it.  It was called “Healthy Families” there.

This was originally published by the Illinois Family Institute and is reprinted with permission:

Government as Family: Illinois’ ‘First Lady Launches Illinois Family Connects’

Written by John Biver

Back in May, the Office of the Governor broke the news with these four paragraphs (I’ve bolded a few passages for emphasis):

First Lady Launches Illinois Family Connects

FREEPORT — First Lady Diana Rauner is celebrating the launch of the Illinois Family Connects pilot program, a universal newborn support system. It is a home visiting program administered by the Stephenson County Health Department and available to new babies and their families.

“I have seen firsthand that all families need some level or degree of support, and believe that offering every new parent a home visit to provide information, supports and resources can help every child thrive,” said First Lady Diana Rauner.

The Illinois Family Connects program is a community-based, universal program. The pilot program is at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Ill. Every family will be offered community-wide support at no cost that will begin with a community nurse meeting them at home after birth. Other support includes wellness checks for the baby and family and help to identify and connect with supportive resources from which any new family may benefit.

The pilot program is a product of the Illinois Home Visiting Task Force which Diana Rauner has co-chaired since 2009 and is a public-private partnership funded through federal and state grants. The Illinois Family Connects program was originally developed in Durham, N.C. This program makes Illinois a national model for supporting all families from cradle to career.

“Cradle to career.” With Medicaid and Medicare, of course, it’s really “cradle to grave.” Just like our Founding Fathers intended, right?

The redefinition of family continues — now government is part of all our big happy families. Looking out of the newborns.

Wonderful, no? How could the Illinois Family Institute object to that?

Diana Rauner has “seen firsthand that all families need some level or degree of support.”

All families.

Remember the old days when that support would primarily come through the (real) family?

Now we “all” “need” support from the government.

And just think — it’s going to come “at no cost.”

Why wait until the child is ready to begin pre-school or kindergarten?

Our loving state government now would like to see the household of every newborn receiving at least one visit from the caring people at Illinois Family Connects (click here to listen to Diana Rauner say that). “Home visiting” is one of Diana Rauner’s passions (click here to read the quote).

If you thought that our state’s “Head Start” or “Early Head Start” programs were enough, you would be wrong.

Established in 1965, Head Start promotes school readiness for children, ages three to five, in low-income families and enhances children’s social and cognitive development by offering educational, nutritional, health, social and other services.

Early Head Start (EHS), launched in 1995, provides support to low-income infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families. EHS programs enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development…

It has been fifty-two years since the birth of Head Start, and twenty-two years since “EHS” was hatched, so it is time for yet another new program to be conceived by members of our loving, caring government.

We can afford it, right?

Our state is flush with cash and “all families” need help from the government, right? (Or is Illinois in a “death spiral”? You decide.)

Head Start has been controversial for a long time — Google “head start debate” and you can learn more. Spoiler alert: conservatives don’t like it; liberals love it.

Now with Illinois Family Connects, “what we really hope is that every baby and every family will benefit from the opportunity to speak to and learn from a trusted home visitor,” says Diana Rauner.

Will the new program help?

It might be easier to guess if we took a look at the existing ones?

Three years ago, the Cato Institute’s David J. Armor wrote about some of the studies examining whether Head Start and Early Head Start were effective. You can read his report here.

This is the pull quote from the page with the report’s introduction:

The most rigorous studies of contemporary preschool programs show no lasting gains for preschool students after they enter regular grades.

Illinois Family Connects will no doubt help address that issue, right?

Mrs. Rauner said that every child will now “thrive” because of it.

Let’s amend that since Mrs. Rauner supports abortion: Every child that escapes the abortion knife will now thrive.

= = = = =
But that’s not enough.

Consider the following article from WBGZ radio that I found on the Alton Daily News web site:

Kindergarteners Will Be Monitored By The State

Part says, “First Lady Diana Rauner spoke at Wednesday’s State Board of Education meeting about how the state will begin keeping data.


Comments

The Nanny State at Work — 27 Comments

  1. Why should this surprise anyone ?

    After all, Diana Rauner is a self-admitted DEMOCRAT.

  2. I am just shocked at you, Cal. I had no idea you were so up on the agenda. Good work!

  3. John Biver?

    Really?

    Cal’s friend from his days with any anti education individual who would listen to his crazy ideas for over crowding in District 47.

    Can one say Jack Roeser etc.

  4. Didn’t this get shot down years back???

    They did it in Hawaii and it was terrible.

    Just creates more government jobs.

    Nanny state butting into your lives if you have a new baby, twins, etc to check you out.

    SAY NO!!~

  5. Jack Roeser was a great American is so true.

    Now for the comment regarding District 47 overcrowding, classrooms were closed, and the children were put into other classes, to create overcrowding.

  6. Cal you should do an Article on SB31, which is sitting on Rauner’s Desk. I would advise all reader’s to call Rauner’s Office at 217-782-0244 and Tell him to Veto that Bill. This bill would make Illinois a Sanctuary
    State.

  7. This is yet another case of public intrusion and interference in private business and lives.

    The hospitals already have incredible support systems in place for new families and new mommies.

    There are multiple for profit and not for profit outlets to do what Diana wants government to do.

    IF this program is as innocuous as she says it is with the goals actually being presented this is completely unnecessary and redundant.

    If, however, the State wants access to the sanctum santorum then what better entre neu than a free program to help your newborn “thrive”.

    Ugh. Liberals are just the most transparently racist, mysoginistic, classist garbage in our country.

    They are second only to the ultra conservative looney toon Islamists.

    At least liberals only kill people who disagree with them…. Wait a minute….

    Nope. Garbage liberals are every bit as radical and out of their minds as radical islamist fascists.

    Fun.

  8. “Liberals are just the most transparently racist, mysoginistic, classist garbage in our country.” As I continue my journey through compassionate conservative conversion therapy, I can’t help to be entertained by our own second coming of William F. Buckley Jr. pontificating on ideology and social values while vomiting blood and fire towards the adversary. It is a bumpy ride for sure, but I know I will get to the promised land of compassionate conservative paradise, where conspiracy theories, capitalist christianity, and universal privatization will prevail against all other forces of evil. Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  9. “Priest” as a Catholic, your comments disgust me. As a human being your comments worry me.

  10. What makes you think that in fact priest is really a priest ?

  11. Okay, Joek, you’re a new playmate.

    What about those comments “disgusted” you?

    Be specific.

    With insane liberals believing they need to intrude into every facet of human existence with government rather than allowing existing NFP or FP entities to realize their potential, with fascist Islamists wanting theocratic rule, with terrorist liberals killing people who disagree and with hate groups killing kids for expressing outrage with what part of that AREN’T you outraged?

    The lunatic fringe is being presented as mainstream.

    They are profoundly not.

    There are two lunatics, one from each end of the idiot fringe, who commented right above and they actually have the insane belief they’re doing some good.

    Neither ever furthers any conversation and both are widely derided for their lunacy.

    Be different Joek.

    Be The Only One.

    Further the conversation and tell us all how liberal fascistic behavior somehow isn’t an outrage.

  12. In the name of transparency, for-profit as well as non-for profit entities and corporations, and the holy trinity of McHenry county reactionary compassionate conservatism; our sunshine blogger, prodigious researcher, and our very own second coming of William F. Buckley, Jr. Let us pray. Oh Lord Almighty, before another eclipse falls upon us, deliver us from the liberal evil side of the ideological political spectrum. Amen. Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  13. My only question to Angel is how much of your salary are you willing to give up to be taxed?

    60% 70% 80% 90%?

    You keep chiding us compassionate conservatives, but my income was a heck of a lot less than yours,
    and my retirement income is even a heck of a lot less.

    Will you help me Angel pay my bills? Uber kind lib that you are? Tickle Tickle

  14. Who are the two lunatics, Priest? Where is this idiotic fringe you are talking about? Be very careful how you answer. You will loose any friends you may think you have in here.

  15. What did I tell you about nonstop entertainment in our sunshine blog? Loose friends? Footloose? 2018, please listen to me and do not delay…Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  16. Tickle Tickle Angel, no answer from you yet?

    Give me your address so I can send you my my next tax (increased) bill.

  17. Well, Joek, you have had the requisite 24 hours to respond about where your outrage with murderous liberal wackos went while you were “disgusted” over our outrage.

    Think before you post.

    If you truly are Catholic and you somehow believe murder is okay you can rest assured you’re missing one of the core tenets of Catholicism.

    Liberals continue to be the most insane, uneducated, insipid, elitist, racist, mysoginistic morons.

    Not one… ONE.. Has the ability to state any liberal policy position let alone defend it.

    Idiots.

  18. “Liberals continue to be the most insane, uneducated, insipid, elitist, racist, mysoginistic morons.” (We forgive the typo as we defer that to our grammar queen). Our own second coming of William F. Buckley, Jr. continues to entertain us with political commentary, social values pontification, and most recently, religious advice. We pride ourselves in our very own McHenry county Diogenes, this colorful human being cyber-traveling the web browser in search of one worthy liberal to debate, just one, while carrying his/her lamp of arrogance and toxic disdain for the adversary. Say hello to this extraordinarily colorful human being as he/she walks around the friendly confines of beautiful rural, family values McHenry county. I’m sorry to tell you though, as disappointing as this may sound, there is not much difference between this miserable human being and our own version of lunatic Alex Jones; that lovely commenter who entertains us with endless, ridiculous conspiracy theories on this sunshine blog. Their cat-fights are legendary to say the least, but at the end of the day, they are both just 2 name callers who, with their unique style, will always fall back to labeling the adversary as “morons” or “idiots.” 2018, are you here yet? Tic, tock, tic, tock…

  19. The Illinois Family Connects (IFC) pilot program is a product of the Illinois Home Visiting Task Force Committee.

    The Illinois Home Visiting Task Force Committee is in the Governors Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD).

    The OECD was created by Governor Pat Quinn with Executive Order 10-08 on June 7, 2010.

    OECD is in the Governor’s office.

    It is not a separate state agency.

    +++++++++++++++

    Home Visiting Task Force Committee

    “The Home Visiting Task Force advances a comprehensive vision for home visiting that includes improving – the quality of and access to evidence-based home visiting programs for all at-risk families; increases coordination between home visiting programs at the state and local levels, as well as between home
    visiting and all other publicly-funded services for families; and serves as the advisory body for Illinois’ federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant program funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

    Home Visiting Task Force Subgroups

    – HVTF Executive Committee

    – Child Welfare

    – Universal Newborn Safety

    – B-3 Home Based Safety

    – Mental Health BA Credential

    – Development

    – Universal Screening Work Group

    – Research & Evaluation Work Group

    – Sustainability Work Group”

    illinois.gov/gov/OECD/EarlyLearningCouncil/Pages/HomeVisitingTaskForce.aspx

    +++++++++++++++

    Governors Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD)

    “The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD) leads the state’s initiatives to create an
    integrated system of quality, early learning and development programs to help give all Illinois children a strong educational foundation before they begin kindergarten.

    Research shows that children with a solid educational foundation in their first five years are significantly more likely to be successful in school, college, career and life.

    Governor Quinn created the Office of Early Childhood Development in 2009 to focus the state’s efforts and maximize its investment in early learning programs.

    Quality, early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy to promote growth.

    Every dollar invested in early education saves $7 in special education, public assistance, corrections and lost taxes.

    OECD activities:

    – Manage the Early Learning Council, a public private partnership that helps improve the lives of Illinois children and families.

    – Oversee ExcelRate Illinois, the new Quality Rating and Improvement System for early learning and development programs.

    – Oversee the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, including pilot projects on Coordinated Intake and Community System Development.

    – Convene and collaborate with state agencies focused on children and families (such as Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois State Board of Education) to address common issues

    – Strengthen training and supports for early learning workforce

    – Serve as a resource for parents, families and child care providers

    – Direct the Early Learning Challenge and Innovation Zones

    – Gather data to inform policymaking”

    illinois.gov/gov/OECD/Pages/AboutUs.aspx

    +++++++++++++++++++++

    FHN

    “FHN is a regional healthcare system committed to the health and well-being of the people of northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin.”

    fhn.org/learnMore.stm

    ++++++++++++++++++++

    FHN

    New Stephenson County Families to Receive Home Visit

    “Stephenson County has been awarded a state and federal grant and the opportunity to be one of just two Illinois counties to offer a new program called Illinois Family Connection Newborn Home Visiting Program.

    FHN and the Stephenson County Health Department are partnering to offer the program free of charge to all Stephenson County families of babies born at FHN Memorial Hospital.

    The program is offered in partnership with the Ounce of Prevention Fund and will provide in-home visits to newborns born at FHN Memorial Hospital whose mothers reside in Stephenson County.

    Other partners for the program include the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, the Illinois
    Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Home Visiting Task Force, and the Illinois MIECHV (Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting) State Team.”

    fhn.org/Illinois-family-connects.asp

    ++++++++++++++++

    Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development

    Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

    What is the MIECHV Program?

    “Authorized by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home (MIECHV) program is designed to

    (1) strengthen and improve the programs and activities carried out under Title V of the Social Security Act;

    (2) improve coordination of services for at-risk communities; and

    (3) identify and provide comprehensive services to improve outcomes for families who reside in at-risk
    communities.

    Illinois NIECHV is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (fiscal lead) and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (programmatic lead).

    Illinois has been awarded a MIECHV formula grant (X02) and a competitive grant (D89).”

    illinois.gov/gov/OECD/Pages/MIECHVP.aspx

    ++++++++++++++++++

    State of Illinois

    Executive Department

    Executive Order 8 (2010)

    Executive Order Creating the Office of Early Childhood Development

    https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/government/execorders/2010_08.aspx

    ++++++++++

    State of Illinois

    Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD)

    Taking Stock Study: Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD)

    Accomplishments and Opportunities

    Introduction

    In 2009, the Illinois Early Learning Council recommended the creation of a Governor’s Office of early Childhood Development (OECD) to facilitate cross system collaboration to advance a more unified early
    childhood system, which ensures high quality care and education for children birth to age 5.

    In the past five years, OECD has undergone changes in leadership and has taken responsibility for securing
    major federal funds including the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECH-V) grant.

    Illinois receives funding from the BUILD Initiative to support the state’s work to set policy, offer services and advocate for children from birth to age five.

    In the fall 2014, BUILD commissioned a quick turn-around study of OECD to take stock of the accomplishments and opportunities of the office.

    Since the office had been in existence for five years and numerous federal grant initiatives had been launched since the creation of OECD, the timing was right for taking a step back and obtaining stakeholder perspectives regarding the impact and role of the office.”

    illinois.gov/gov/OECD/Documents/Reports/Schilder%20-%20Taking%20Stock%20-%202.2.15.pdf

    +++++++++++

    The following document is not directly related to the Illinois Family Connects pilot program, but indicates some of what is occurring in the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with early childhood.

    Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development

    January 2017

    Preparing for the Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) Re-Competition:

    Apply to receive individualized Technical Assistance (TA) and Support during application process

    “The new year is here, and with it comes new opportunities.

    ISBE expects to release the re-designed RFPs to apply for FY18 ECBG funding in January 2017, with a bidders’ conference to follow shortly afterward.

    Communities will have 60 days to submit their proposals.

    The FY18 ECBG funding will focus on five policy priorities:

    – Prioritizing high need communities

    – Serving children from priority populations – homelessness, 50% federal poverty level and below, children with special needs (IEP/IFSP), and current or recent child welfare involvement;

    – Increasing number of slots that meet the Preschool Expansion model – full-day and comprehensive services;

    – Encouraging/supporting community collaborations; and

    – Building a birth to 3rd grade continuum of high quality services

    ilheadstart.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Preparing-for-the-FY-18-Early-Childhood-Block-Grant-Notiice_01.10.207-FINAL-1.pdf

    ++++++++++++

    The Ounce

    Who We Are

    Since 1982, the Ounce of Prevention Fund has persistently pursued a single goal: that all children living in America – particularly those born into poverty – have quality early childhood experiences in the crucial first five years of life.

    theounce.org/who-we-are

    ++++++++++++

    The Ounce

    Federally-funded Home Visiting Programs in Illinois: Highlighting Innovative Projects

    “The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program is the federal home visiting initiative and provides the main source of federal funding for home visiting in Illinois.

    In addition to using NIECHV funds to expand and improve direct services to families, Illinois has used MIECHV funds for a variety of innovative projects.

    MIECHV funding enables Illinois to create laboratories for researching and testing pilots and demonstration projects, as well as valuable trainings, tools and approaches that can be applied more broadly.

    Showing the beneficial impacts of these innovative projects on a smaller scale will build a case for expanding them to more programs across the state.”

    theounce.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/HighlightingInnovativeProjects6.27.17.pdf

    ++++++++++++++

    Illinois MIECHV Fact Sheet

    (Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting)

    What is MIECHV?

    MIECHV is a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, and community-based organizations.

    The main goals of the Illinois MIECHV program are:

    – to improve health and development outcomes for at-risk children through evidence-based home visiting programs, and

    – to develop a comprehensive early childhood system in MIECHV communities.

    +++++++++++++++++

    The Affordable Care Act

    Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

    On March 23, 2010, the President signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act) (P.L. 111-148).

    It authorized the creation of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, which facilitates collaboration and partnership at the federal, state, and community levels to improve health and development outcomes for at-risk children through evidence-based home visiting programs.

    illinois.gov/gov/OECD/Documents/HVTF_MIECHVP/MIECHVP/B1.pdf

  20. I tend to agree with the middle of Angel’s post. The rest was pretty much opinionated trash.

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