Which United States is The Guardian talking about?

[GCP]

Headline today:

Unborn babies targeted in crackdown on criminality

Unborn babies judged to be at most risk of social exclusion and turning to criminality are to be targeted in a controversial new scheme to be promoted by Downing Street today.
In an effort to intervene as early as possible in troubled families, first-time mothers identified just 16 weeks after conception will be given intensive weekly support from midwives and health visitors until the unborn child reaches two years old.

snip

Unveiling the findings of a Downing Street review, Tony Blair will make clear the government is prepared to single out babies still in the womb to break cycles of deprivation and behaviour.

snip

Under the programme, which has been copied from the United States, young, first-time mothers will be assigned a personal health visitor at between 16 and 20 weeks into their pregnancy. They will continue to have weekly or fortnightly visits until the child is two - far more than the few postnatal visits generally on offer.

The support includes help with giving up smoking or drug use in pregnancy, followed by a focus on bonding with the new baby, understanding behaviour such as crying, and encouraging a mother to develop her skills and resources to be a good parent. The programme is voluntary and the intention is to capitalise on the so-called "magic moment" when parents are receptive to support for themselves and their baby.

In the US, three large trials have seen consistently positive results, including higher IQ levels and language development in children, lower levels of abuse, neglect and child injuries in families, and improvements in the antenatal health and job prospects of mothers.


News to me.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. We have this in Arkansas

at least we did in the '90s. I worked in a pre-school program for some of these children. I don't recall that the visits to the home kept up until the children were two, but then I worked with the older children, so that might have been why.

Note I when I said this program was in place. As far as I know, it was state rather than national--and my state is Arkansas. Kindly remember who was governor when this was instituted.

[GCP]

3. Ah yes, back in the day when sense governed!

It's such a good idea, but I was amazed when the Guardian mentioned it was an American idea. I wonder if it was allowed to conitnue.

[maddezmom]

2. here's a link

http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home

[baldguy]

4. The United States that Republicans are trying to destroy.

[T_i_B]

5. Here's the link

The "Baby ASBO's" idea came about at the time that Tony Blair announced that we would be leaving in the next 12 months.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/children/story/0,,2080331,00.html

[GCP]

6. Thanks - I forgot to link it n/t