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PLEASE POST!
NATIONAL ADVISORY
President
COMMITTEE
Sanford A. Newman
FIGHT
INVEST
POLICE
Associate Directors
Philip Arreola
Chief, Tacoma, WA
CRIME
IN KIDS
Amy R. Dawson
Brendan J. Fitzsimons
Sherman Block
Sheriff, LA County, CA
Communications Director
William Bratton
John W. Bartlett
Fmr. Commiss'r., NYC
Sam A. Cabral
President, Int'l Union of
Police Ass'ns, AFL-CIO
Positions Available
Dean M. Esserman
Chief, Stamford, CT
Edward A. Flynn
Chief, Arlington, VA
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS is a national organization of police, prosecutors
Thomas C. Frazier
Police Commissioner,
and crime survivors advocating public investments in programs which cut crime by
Baltimore, MD
helping kids get the right start in life, including quality child care and after-school
Gilbert G. Gallegos
President, Fraternal
programs, good schools, and child abuse prevention.
Order of Police
E. Douglas Hamilton
Chief, Louisville, KY
Media and Communications Director
Phil E. Keith
Chief, Knoxville, TN
R. Gil Kerlikowske
Press conferences, op-ed and editorial campaigns ar:
V part of our public
Commissioner, Buffalo, NY
Charles A. Moose
education and advocacy efforts. Press conferences have yielded more than 500
Chief, Portland. OR
Patrick V. Murphy
articles and editorials bringing our message to a total national audience of well over
Former Commiss'r, NYC,
100 million. Millions more have been reached through television and radio.
DC, Detroit, Syracuse
Dennis E. Nowicki
Chief, Charlotte. NC
Responsibilities: Coordinating state and national press events; drafting releases,
Ruben B. Ortega
Chief, Salt Lake City, UT
media advisories, op-eds, and press conference statements; encouraging coverage of
Bernard C. Parks
the crime prevention impact of investments in kids; supervising media work of state
Chief, Los Angeles, CA
Matt L. Rodriguez
staff; and managing press databases.
Fmr. Police Sup't, Chicago, IL
Joseph Samuels, Jr.
Chief, Oakland, CA
Qualifications: Excellent writing and communication skills. Experience in
Darrell Sanders
grassroots media campaigns preferred; issue advocacy experience, Macintosh
Chief, Frankfort, IL
Jerry Sanders
computer and desktop publishing skills a plus.
Chief, San Diego, CA
Darrel W. Stephens
Fmr. Chief, St. Petersburg, FL
This position begins June 1st. $22,000 to $37,000 commensurate with experience.
Patrick J. Sullivan, Jr.
Sheriff, Arapahoe Co., CO
Donald H. Warshaw
Research and State Policy Director
Chief, Miami, FL
PROSECUTORS
The Director of Research and State Policy will be responsible for:
Ronald Earle
District Atty., Travis Co., TX
Norman S. Early, Jr.
Research: Evaluating and synthesizing studies on the crime prevention impact of
Former D.A., Denver. CO
Ralph C. Martin, II
investments in children, writing reports for an audience of policy-makers, news
District Atty., Suffolk Co., MA
Elliot L. Richardson
media, and the public (rather than for an academic audience), suggesting new ways
Former Attorney General
to synthesize and present data for maximum policy impact.
and Secretary of HEW, of
State Policy Analysis: Researching and monitoring key legislative and policy
Defense and of Commerce
Grant Woods
proposals in multiple states. Working with our national Associate Director to guide
Attorney General, AZ
state staff in their policy and legislative advocacy.
CRIME SURVIVORS
Frances Davis
Qualifications: Ideal candidate will have experience in legislative advocacy,
Fdr., Mothers of All Children
Ellen Halbert
preferably at the state level, MA or Ph.D. in child development or related field (or
Editor, National Crime
equivalent expertise), but candidates who have only research and or only legislative
Victims Report
Carole Grant Hall
advocacy credentials will be considered. Excellent writing skills are required.
Director, Ginger Ridge
Prefer experience with drafting/editing policy reports and recommendations.
Residents' Initiative
Marc Klaas
Fdr., Klaas Fdn. for Children
$30,000 to $38,000 commensurate with experience
Dennis Lees, Ph.D.
Mgr., Mental Health Clinic
Jean Lewis
To Apply: send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: Director of Research
President, Parents of
Murdered Children
and State Policy Search or Communications Director Search, FIGHT CRIME:
Gordon Rondeau &
Elaine Rondeau
INVEST IN KIDS, 1334 G St. NW, Suite B, Washington, DC 20005-3107
Founders, Action America:
Murder Must End Now
FIGHT CRIME is an equal opportunity employer.
1334 G Street, NW
Suite B
Washington, DC 20005-3107
(202) 638-0690
Fax (202) 638-0673
www.fightcrime.org
A project of the Action Against Crime and Violence Education Fund
Expenditures on
Children by Families
1997 Annual Report
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Miscellaneous Publication Number 1528-1997
Abstract
Lino, Mark. 1998. Expenditures on Children by Families, 1997 Annual Report. U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Miscellaneous
Publication No. 1528-1997.
Since 1960, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided estimates of expenditures
on children from birth through age 17. This technical report presents the most recent
estimates for husband-wife and single-parent families using data from the 1990-92
Consumer Expenditure Survey, updated to 1997 dollars using the Consumer Price Index.
Data and methods used in calculating annual child-rearing expenses are described. Estimates
are provided for major components of the budget by age of child, family income, and
region of residence. For the overall United States, child-rearing expense estimates
ranged between $8,060 and $9,170 for a child in a two-child, married-couple family in
the middle income group. Adjustment factors for number of children in the household
are also provided. Results of this study should be of use in developing State child
support guidelines and foster care payments as well as in family educational programs.
Keywords: children, expenditures
While supplies last, single copies of this publication may be obtained at no cost from:
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA
1120 20th Street, NW
Suite 200 North Lobby
Washington, DC 20036
The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that publication of this report is necessary in the
transaction of the public business required by law of the Department.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the
basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or
familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment
opportunity employer.
March 1998
Executive Summary
Since 1960, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The 1994 food plans of USDA were used to allocate
has provided estimates of annual expenditures on
food expenses among family members. These plans,
children from birth through age 17. This technical report
derived from a national food consumption survey, show
presents the 1997 estimates for husband-wife and single-
the share of food expenses attributable to individual
parent families. The 1997 figures for husband-wife
family members by age and household income level.
families for the Nation as a whole are shown in table
These member food budget shares were applied to
ES-1. Other tables are shown at the end of the report.
estimated 1990-92 household food expenditures to
For husband-wife families, estimates are for three
determine food expenses on a child. Similarly, health
income groups and for single-parent families, two
care expenses were allocated to each family member
income groups. To partially adjust for price differentials
based on budget share data from the 1987 National
and varying patterns of expenditures, estimates are
Medical Expenditure Survey. This survey contains data
also provided for husband-wife families in urban areas
on the proportion of health care expenses attributable
in four regions (West, Northeast, South, and Midwest)
to individual family members. These member budget
and for rural areas throughout the United States, as
shares for health care were applied to estimated 1990-92
well as for the United States overall. For single-parent
household health care expenditures to determine
families, estimates are provided only for the United
expenses on a child.
States because of sample size limitations. Expenditures
Unlike food and health care, no research base
on children are estimated for the major budgetary
exists for allocating estimated household expenditures
components: Housing, food, transportation, clothing,
on housing, transportation, and other miscellaneous
health care, child care and education, and miscellaneous
goods and services among family members. USDA
goods and services.
uses the per capita method in allocating these
expenses; the per capita method allocates expenses
Methods
among household members in equal proportions. A
marginal cost method, which assumes that expendi-
Data used to estimate expenditures on children are
tures on children may be measured as the difference
from the 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey-
in total expenses between couples with children and
Interview portion (CE). Administered by the Bureau
equivalent childless couples, was not used because
of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor,
of limitations with this approach. The marginal cost
this survey is the most comprehensive source of
method depends on development of an equivalency
information on household expenditures available at
measure for which there is no established base. Various
the national level. The sample consists of 12,850
measures have been proposed, with each yielding
husband-wife households and 3,395 single-parent
different estimates of expenditures on children. Also,
households and was weighted to reflect the U.S.
some of the marginal cost approaches do not consider
population of interest, using BLS weighting methods.
substitution effects. They assume, for example, that
Multivariate analysis was used to estimate house-
parents do not alter their expenditures on themselves
hold and child-specific expenditures, controlling for
after a child is added to a household.
income level, family size, and age of the younger child
As transportation expenses resulting from work
so estimates could be made for families with these
activities are not related to expenses on children, these
varying characteristics (regional estimates were also
costs were excluded when estimating children's trans-
derived by controlling for region). Households with two
portation expenses. The overall USDA methodology
children were selected as the base since this was the
was repeated for families with one child and more than
average number of children in two-parent families.
two children so adjustments may be made for families
Estimated household and child-specific expendi-
of different sizes.
tures were allocated among family members. Since
Although based on the 1990-92 CE, the expense
the estimated expenditures for clothing, child care, and
estimates were updated to 1997 dollars using the
education only apply to children (adult-related expenses
Consumer Price Index (CPI) (1990 and 1991 expendi-
for these items were excluded), allocations of these
ture and income data were first converted to 1992
expenses were made by dividing the estimates equally
dollars; then all 3 years of data were updated to 1997
among the children.
dollars).
Table ES-1. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by husband-wife families, overall Urited States,
1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,500 (Average=$22,100)
0-2
$5,820
$2,220
$830
$730
$370
$400
$690
$580
3-5
5,920
2,190
920
700
360
380
780
590
6-8
6,070
2,120
1,190
820
410
440
460
630
9-11
6,090
1,910
1,420
890
450
480
280
660
12-14
6,880
2,130
1,490
1,000
760
480
200
820
15-17
6,790
1,720
1,610
1,350
670
510
330
600
Total
$112,710
$36,870
$22,380
$16,470
$9,060
$8,070
$8,220
$11,640
Before-tax income: $35,500 to $59,700 (Average=$47,200)
0-2
$8,060
$3,000
$990
$1,090
$440
$520
$1,130
$890
3-5
8,270
2,970
1,140
1,060
430
500
1,260
910
6-8
8,350
2,900
1,460
1,180
480
570
810
950
9-11
8,320
2,700
1,710
1,250
530
620
530
980
12-14
9,050
2,920
1,730
1,360
890
620
390
1,140
15-17
9,170
2,500
1,920
1,720
790
660
660
920
Total
$153,660
$50,970
$26,850
$22,980
$10,680
$10,470
$14,340
$17,370
Before-tax income: More than $59,700 (Average=$89,300)
0-2
$11,990
$4,770
$1,310
$1,520
$580
$600
$1,710
$1,500
3-5
12,230
4,740
1,480
1,490
570
580
1,860
1,510
6-8
12,180
4,670
1,790
1,610
620
660
1,280
1,550
9-11
12,090
4,470
2,080
1,680
680
710
890
1,580
12-14
12,930
4,690
2,180
1,790
1,120
710
690
1,750
15-17
13,260
4,270
2,300
2,180
1,020
750
1,210
1,530
Total
$224,040
$82,830
$33,420
$30,810
$13,770
$12,030
$22,920
$28,260
*Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. The figures represent
estimated expenses on the younger child in a two-child family. Estimates are about the same for the older child, so to calculate expenses for two
children, figures should be summed for the appropriate age categories. To estimate expenses for an only child, multiply the total expense for the
appropriate age category by 1.24. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three or more children, multiply the total expense for each
appropriate age category by 0.77. For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tMiscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
ii
Results
Expenses on children in single-parent households:
Expenses on younger child in two-child, husband-
wife households:
For the younger child in a two-child household,
the child-rearing expense patterns of single-parent
Estimated expenses vary considerably by household
households are similar to those of husband-wife
income level. Depending on age of the child, the
households. The primary difference is that the
expenses range from $5,820 to $6,880 for families in
majority of single-parent households are in the
the lowest income group (1997 before-tax income
lower income group.
less than $35,500), from $8,060 to $9,170 for families
in the middle income group (1997 before-tax income
In single-parent households with two children, about
between $35,500 and $59,700), and from $11,990
7 percent less is spent on the older child than on the
to $13,260 for families in the highest income group
younger child at a specific age category. In addition,
(1997 before-tax income more than $59,700).
more is spent if a single-parent household has only
one child and less is spent per child if a single-
As a proportion of total child-rearing expenses,
parent household has three or more children.
housing accounts for the largest share across
income groups, comprising 33 to 37 percent of
Other Expenditures on Children
expenses. Food is the second largest average
expense on a child for families regardless of
Expenditures estimated in this study are composed
income level, accounting for 15 to 20 percent of
of direct parental expenses made on children through
child-rearing expenses.
age 17 for seven major budgetary components. These
expenditures exclude college costs and other parental
Expenditures on children are lower in the younger
expenses on children after age 17. In addition, expendi-
age categories and higher in the older age categories.
tures on children made by people outside the house-
This held across income groups.
hold and by the government are not included. Indirect
costs involved in child rearing by parents (time costs,
foregone earnings and career opportunities) are also
Overall child-rearing expenses are highest for families
not included in the estimates.
in the urban West, followed by the urban Northeast
and urban South; families in the urban Midwest and
rural areas have the lowest child-rearing expenses.
Expenses on older child and on children in husband-
wife households of different sizes:
Tables 1-6 (see pp. 15-20) reflect total expenditures
on an older child in a two-child family, as well as on
a younger child (as shown by additional analyses).
Annual expenditures on children may be estimated
by summing the total expenses for the specific age
categories of the two children.
Compared with expenditures for each child in a
two-child family, households with one child spend an
average of 24 percent more on the single child, and
those with three or more children spend an average
of 23 percent less on each child.
iii
Contents
Executive Summary
i
Source of Data
1
Expenditures by Husband-Wife Families
1
Estimating Expenditures
1
Allocating Expenditures
4
Adjustments for Older Children and Household Size
5
Expenditures by Single-Parent Families
7
Adjustments for Older Children and Household Size
8
Alternative Estimates of Expenditures on Children
9
Estimating Future Costs
10
Other Expenditures
10
References
12
Appendix-Allocating Selected Expenditures Using Marginal
13
Cost Methods
Estimated Annual Expenditures Tables
15
Expenditures on Children by Families
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides
the total number of households in each year's survey to
estimates of expenditures on children from birth
about 20,000 households.
through age 17 by husband-wife and single-parent
From these households, husband-wife and single-
families. The figures for 1997 are shown in tables 1-7,
parent families were selected for this study if: (1) they
which have been placed for convenience at the end
had at least one child of their own, age 17 or under,
of this report. Recent USDA estimates are not directly
in the household, (2) they had six or fewer children,
comparable to estimates published in 1988 or earlier
(3) there were no other related or unrelated people
because of changes in methods (U.S. Department of
present in the household except their own children, and
Agriculture 1981). The estimates are comparable to
(4) they were complete income reporters. As defined
those made in 1989 and later as the methodology for
by BLS, complete income reporters are households
the estimates is essentially the same for these years. For
that provide values for major sources of income, such
husband-wife families, estimates are for three income
as wages and salaries, self-employment income, and
groups and for single-parent families, two income
Social Security income. Quarterly expenditures were
groups. To partially adjust for price differentials and
annualized. The sample consisted of 12,850 husband-
varying patterns of expenditures, estimates are also
wife households and 3,395 single-parent households
provided for husband-wife families in urban areas in
and was weighted to reflect the U.S. population of
four regions (West, Northeast, South, and Midwest)
interest, using BLS weighting methods.
and for rural areas throughout the United States, as
Although based on 1990-92 data, the expense
well as for the United States overall. Urban areas are
estimates were updated to 1997 dollars using the
defined as Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA's) and
Consumer Price Index (CPI) (1990 and 1991 expendi-
other places of 2,500 or more people outside an MSA;
ture and income data were first converted to 1992
rural areas are places of fewer than 2,500 people
dollars; then all 3 years of data were updated to 1997
outside an MSA.
dollars). Income levels of households were updated to
For single-parent families, estimates are provided
1997 dollars using the all-items category of the CPI,
only for the United States overall because of sample
and expenditures were updated using the CPI for the
size limitations. Expenditures on children are estimated
corresponding item (that is, the CPI's for housing, food,
for the major budgetary components: Housing, food,
etc.). Regional estimates were updated to 1997 dollars
transportation, clothing, health care, child care and
using the regional CPI's. Because there is no rural CPI,
education, and miscellaneous goods and services.
the CPI for size class D-nonmetropolitan areas with
The box on p. 2 describes each expenditure component.
populations less than 50,000-was applied to rural areas.
Source of Data
Expenditures by Husband-Wife Families
Data used to estimate expenditures on children are from
Estimating Expenditures
the 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey-Interview
The CE collects overall household expenditure data
portion (CE). This survey is the most comprehensive
for some budgetary components (housing, food, trans-
source of information on household expenditures
portation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and
available at the national level. Administered by the
services) and child-specific (or adult-specific) expendi-
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of
ture data for other components (clothing, child care,
Labor, the CE has been conducted annually since 1980
and education). Multivariate analysis was used to
and collects information on characteristics and income
estimate household and child-specific expenditures,
as well as expenditures of consumer units. For this
controlling for income level, family size, and age of the
study, the terms households and families are used
younger child so estimates could be made for families
for consumer units. About 5,000 households are inter-
with these varying characteristics. Regional estimates
viewed each quarter over a 1-year period. Each quarter
were derived by controlling for region. The three income
is deemed an independent sample by BLS, bringing
groups of husband-wife households (before-tax income
Categories of Household Expenditures
Housing expenses include shelter (mortgage interest, property taxes, or rent; maintenance and repairs; and insurance), utilities
(gas, electricity, fuel, telephone, and water), and house furnishings and equipment (furniture, floor coverings, major appliances,
and small appliances). It should be noted that for homeowners, housing expenses do not include mortgage principal payments;
such payments are considered in the CE to be a part of savings. So total dollars allocated to housing by homeowners are
underestimated in this report.
Food expenses include food and nonalcoholic beverages purchased at grocery, convenience, and specialty stores, including
purchases with food stamps; dining at restaurants; and household expenditures on school meals.
Transportation expenses include the net outlay on purchase of new and used vehicles, vehicle finance charges, gasoline and
motor oil, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and public transportation.
Clothing expenses include children's apparel such as diapers, shirts, pants, dresses, and suits; footwear; and clothing services
such as dry cleaning, alterations and repair, and storage.
Health care expenses include medical and dental services not covered by insurance, prescription drugs and medical supplies not
covered by insurance, and health insurance premiums not paid by employer or other organization.
Child care and education expenses include day care tuition and supplies; baby-sitting; and elementary and high school tuition,
books, and supplies.
Miscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
under $31,000, between $31,000 and $52,160, and over
among children changes. To adjust expenditures for
$52,160 in 1992 dollars) were determined by dividing
the older child and number of children, see discussion
the sample for the overall United States into equal
on pp. 5-7. As an estimated average expense was
thirds. Income intervals were used to be consistent
wanted for families with two children in a given income
with previous USDA studies and to allow ready refer-
group, with the younger child in a given age group,
ence to information for commonly used ranges of income.
and (when appropriate) who resided in a given region,
For each income level, estimates were made for
each expense was estimated separately. The specific
husband-wife families with two children, where the
equations used in estimating child-rearing expenses
younger child was in one of six age categories (0-2,
are listed in the box on p. 3.
3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17 years). Households
It should be noted that the estimates are based on
with four members (two children) were selected as the
CE interviews of households with and without specific
standard since four was the average size of two-parent
expenses, so for some families their expenditures may
families in 1990-92 based on CE data. The focus was
be higher or lower than the mean estimates, depending
on the younger child in a household because the older
on whether they incur the expense or not. This particu-
child was sometimes over age 17. If the older child
larly applies to child care and education for which about
had been selected as the household member of interest,
50 percent of families in the study had no expenditure.
expenditures for some items would be higher or lower.
For more detailed information on child care expenses
In addition, if households with one or three or more
for households with the expense, see Casper 1995.
children had been selected, per-child expenditures would
Also, the estimates only cover out-of-pocket expendi-
reflect the differences in family size. As the number of
tures on children made by the parents and not by others
children in a family increases, the allocation of resources
such as grandparents or friends. For example, the
2
Equations Used in Multivariate Analyses
For the overall U.S. estimates of husband-wife expenditures on children, the specific equation was
Ei = a + b1Y2 + b2Y3 + c1HS1 + c2HS3 + d1CA2 + d2CA3 + d3CA4 + d4CA5 + d5CA6
where
Ei
= household expenditures on a particular budgetary component (housing, food, transportation, health care, children's
clothing, child care and education, and miscellaneous goods and services)
Y2
= 1 if household had before-tax income between $31,000 and $52,160 in 1992 dollars, 0 otherwise
Y3
= 1 if household had before-tax income over $52,160 in 1992 dollars, 0 otherwise (the omitted category being
"household had before-tax income under $31,000 in 1992 dollars")
HS1
= 1 if husband-wife household with one child, 0 otherwise
HS3
= 1 if husband-wife household with three or more children, 0 otherwise (the omitted category being "husband-wife
household with two children")
CA2 = 1 if age of the younger child was 3-5, 0 otherwise
CA3 = 1 if age of the younger child was 6-8, 0 otherwise
CA4 = 1 if age of the younger child was 9-11, 0 otherwise
CA5 = 1 if age of the younger child was 12-14, 0 otherwise
CA6 = 1 if age of the younger child was 15-17, 0 otherwise (the omitted category being "age of the younger child was 0-2").
For the regional estimates of husband-wife expenditures on children, the specific equation was
Ei = a + b1Y 2 + b2Y3 + c1HS1 + c2HS3 + d1CA2 + d2CA3 + d3CA4 + d4CA5 + d5CA6 + e1NE + e2S + e3MW + e4W
where
Ei through CA6 are the same as before and
NE
= 1 if household resided in the urban Northeast, 0 otherwise
S
=
1 if household resided in the urban South, 0 otherwise
MW = 1 if household resided in the urban Midwest, 0 otherwise
W
=
1 if household resided in the urban West, 0 otherwise (the omitted category being "household resided in a rural area
anywhere within the United States").
Ordinary least squares analysis was used to estimate expenditures for housing, food, transportation, and miscellaneous goods and
services. Tobit analysis was used to estimate expenditures for health care, children's clothing, and child care and education since over
10 percent of the sample reported zero expenses for these budgetary components. Because of these zero expenditures, tobit analysis
yields more efficient estimates than ordinary least squares analysis. The procedure outlined by McDonald and Moffitt (1980) was
used to transform the tobit analysis estimates into dollars.
Family expenditures on each budgetary component (Ei) were calculated by summing the coefficients for the appropriate income
level, household size, age of the younger child, and region when appropriate. For example, expenditures for a husband-wife
household in the urban Northeast, with before-tax income between $31,000 and $52,160 in 1992 dollars, two children, and the
younger child age 6-8 were calculated as Ei = a + b1Y2 + d2CA3 + e1NE.
3
value of clothing gifts to children from grandparents
Table 8. Children's food budget shares by age and
would not be included in clothing expenses. On the
income group in husband-wife families*
other hand, some of the expenditures reported by
parents may be gifts for children other than their own.
Income group
Regional income categories are based on the
Age of child
Lowest
Middle
Highest
national income categories in 1992 dollars, updated to
1997 dollars using regional/population size CPI's. The
Percent share
regional income categories were not divided into equal
0-2
18
17
17
thirds for each region. As previously mentioned, the
3-5
18
18
18
three income categories were calculated for the overall
6-8
22
22
21
United States by dividing the sample into equal thirds.
9-11
24
24
23
In the West, Northeast, and Midwest, a lower percentage
12-14
25
of households were in the lower income group because
24
24
income levels were higher in these regions compared
15-17
25
25
24
with the overall United States; in the South and rural
areas, a higher percentage of households were in the
*Estimated shares are for the younger child in two-child families.
lower income group. In the West and Northeast, a
higher percentage of households were in the higher
income group because income levels were higher in
these regions compared with the overall United States.
household use and individual intake, and food expendi-
ture data. They reflect the cost of a nutritious diet taking
Allocating Expenditures
into account food costs, food composition, nutritional
After the overall household and child-specific expendi-
needs, and consumption behavior. The food budget
tures were estimated, these total amounts were allo-
shares from the food plans were estimated by age of
cated among the four family members (husband, wife,
the child and household income level. The food budget
older child, and younger child). The estimated expendi-
shares were then applied to the estimated household
tures for clothing and child care and education were
food expenditures to determine food expenses on children.
only for children. It was assumed these expenses were
The calculated food budget shares are shown in table
equally allocated to each child so allocations of these
8. As an example of how food expenditures were
expenses were made by dividing the estimated expendi-
calculated on a 3-5 year old, who is the younger child
tures by two (the number of children in the household).
in a married-couple, two-child household in the middle
CE data on children's clothing expenditures were
income group, overall household food expenditures
for children age 15 and under. For the estimates, there-
were estimated from the multivariate analysis to be
fore, it was assumed that the clothing expenditures of
$5,565 in 1992 dollars for this family type. Based on
a 16- or 17-year-old were similar to those of a 15-year-
the food plans, the food budget share for this 3-5 year
old, and these older teenagers were assigned the
old was figured to be 18 percent. Thus, food expendi-
expenditures of a 15-year-old. Also, expenditures for
tures on the 3-5 year old were estimated to be $1,002
clothing services (dry cleaning, alterations, etc.) were
($5,565 X 18) in 1992 dollars.
estimated for the overall household and allocated on
The 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey
a per capita basis among its members.
(NMES) conducted by the Public Health Service, U.S.
Because the CE did not collect expenditures on
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
food and health care by family member, data from
contains data on out-of-pocket health care expenses
other Federal studies were used to apportion these
by age of individual household members (Lefkowitz
budgetary components to children by age and house-
and Monheit 1991). NMES data were used to determine
hold size. Food budget shares as a percentage of total
the proportion of health care expenses attributable to the
food expenditures for the younger child in a husband-
younger child in a husband-wife household with two
wife household with two children were determined
children. These individual member shares for health
using the 1994 USDA food plans (U.S. Department
care expenses were then applied to estimated house-
of Agriculture 1994). The food plans are based on
hold health care expenditures to determine expenses
4
on children. Applying these derived health care expense
different sizes. These formulas are discussed in the
shares to total household health care expenditures
next section.
for the three income groups in 1990-92 assumes these
Transportation expenses attributed to employment
shares have not changed since 1987 and do not vary
(employment being the primary purpose of the trip) are
by income. Published data on individual member shares
not related to expenses on children, so these costs
for health care expenses by household income level
were excluded from estimated expenses. Data from a
were not available. Health care budget shares by age
1990 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation
of the younger child in a husband-wife household with
(1994) were used to calculate the percentage of trans-
two children were 20 percent for a child age 0-5 and
portation expenditures attributable to employment-
22 percent for a child age 6-17.
related activities for husband-wife households with the
Unlike food and health care, no research base
youngest child of different ages. Employment-related
exists for allocating expenditures on housing, transpor-
transportation activities accounted for 40 percent of
tation, and miscellaneous goods and services among
travel for households with the youngest child under
individual household members. Two of the most
age 6, and 38 percent for households with the youngest
common approaches for allocating these expenses are
child age 6-17. Deducting these percentages from
the marginal cost method and the per capita method.
total transportation expenditures for the three income
The marginal cost method measures expenditures on
groups assumes these patterns do not vary by income
children as the difference in expenses between couples
level. Published data on transportation activities for
with children and equivalent childless couples. The
various family types by income level were not available.
method depends on development of an equivalency
measure for which there is no established base.
Adjustments for Older Children
Various measures have been proposed, with each
and Household Size
yielding different estimates of expenditures on children.
The estimates of expenses on children represent
These measures are described in more detail in the
expenditures on the younger child in a husband-wife
section "Alternative Estimates of Expenditures on
household with two children. Expenses for the older
Children" and the appendix. Some of the marginal cost
child may be different. To determine the extent of this
approaches do not consider substitution effects. They
difference and how the expenditures may be adjusted
assume, for example, that parents do not alter their
to estimate expenses on an older child, the previous
expenditures on themselves after a child is added to a
method was essentially repeated with the focus on the
household. In addition, it is possible that some couples
older child. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate
without children buy larger houses in anticipation of
expenditures for each budgetary component, controlling
children; other couples without children purchase less
for household size (a family with two children was used
expensive housing in anticipation of future child-rearing
as the standard) and age of the older child (the same
expenses. Comparing the expenditures of these couples
age categories as used with the younger child). House-
to similar couples with children could lead to under-
hold income and region of residence were not held
estimates or overestimates of expenditures on children.
constant, so findings apply to all families. The sample
For these reasons, the per capita method was
was smaller than that used for the principal analysis,
used for this study. This method simply allocates
since only households with an older child age 17 or
expenses among household members in equal
under were selected. The sample was weighted to
proportions. Although the per capita method has its
reflect the U.S. population of interest.
limitations, these were deemed less than those of the
Children's clothing and child care and education
marginal cost approach. A major limitation of the per
expenditures were divided between the two children
capita method is that expenditures for an additional
in the two-parent household. For food and health care,
child may be less than average expenditures. Because
household member shares were calculated for a four-
of this possibility, adjustment formulas for one child
person household (husband, wife, and two children
or three or more children were devised for use when
with the older child in one of the six age categories)
estimating expenditures on children for households of
using the USDA and HHS studies. The shares for the
5
Table 9. Estimated annual expenditures* on one, two, or three children by husband-wife families, overall
United States, 1997
One-child household
Annual expenditure
Age of child
0-2
$9,990 = ($8,060 X 1.24)
3-5
10,250 = ( 8,270 X 1.24)
6-8
10,350 = ( 8,350 X 1.24)
9-11
10,320 = ( 8,320 X 1.24)
12-14
11,220 = ( 9,050 X 1.24)
15-17
11,370 = ( 9,170 X 1.24)
Two-child household
Age of
Age of
younger child
older child
0-2
16
$17,230 = ($8,060 + $9,170)
3-5
16
17,440 = ( 8,270 + 9,170)
6-8
16
17,520 = ( 8,350 + 9,170)
9-11
16
17,490 = ( 8,320 + 9,170)
12-14
16
18,220 = ( 9,050 + 9,170)
15
16
18,340 = ( 9,170 + 9,170)
Three-child household
Age of
Age of
youngest child
older children
0-2
13, 16
$20,240 = [($8,060 + $9,050 + $9,170) X 0.77]
3-5
13. 16
20,400 = [( 8,270 + 9,050 + 9,170) X 0.77]
6-8
13,16
20,460 = I( 8,350 + 9,050 + 9,170) X 0.77]
9-11
13, 16
20,440 = [( 8,320 + 9,050 + 9,170) X 0.77]
12
13, 16
21,000 = (( 9,050 + 9,050 + 9,170) X 0.77]
*Estimates are for families with 1997 before-tax incomes between $35,500 and $59,700.
older child were then applied to estimated household
expenditures on children in a husband-wife, two-child
food and health care expenditures to determine
family may be estimated by summing the total expenses
expenses on the older child in each age category.
for the specific age categories of the two children. For
Housing, transportation, and miscellaneous expendi-
example, annual expenditures on a younger child
tures were allocated among household members on
age 9-11 and an older child age 15-17 in a husband-
a per capita basis. Transportation expenses were
wife, two-child family in the middle income group for
adjusted to reflect nonemployment-related activities.
the overall United States would be $17,490 ($8,320 +
It was found that tables 1-6 reflect total expendi-
$9,170) (table 9). It should be noted that for specific
tures on an older child in a husband-wife, two-child
budgetary components, annual expenses on an older
family, as well as on a younger child. Therefore, annual
child varied compared with those on a younger child.
6
Families spent more on clothing and education for an
Expenditures by Single-Parent Families
older child but less on transportation and miscellaneous
expenses.
The estimates of expenditures on children by husband-
The estimates should be adjusted if a household
wife families do not apply to single-parent families,
has only one child or more than two children. Families
which account for an increasing percentage of families
will spend more or less on a child depending on the
with children. Separate estimates of child-rearing
number of other children in the household and economies
expenses in single-parent households were made
of scale. To derive these adjustments, multivariate
using 1990-92 CE data. Most single-parent families
analysis was used to estimate expenditures for each
in the survey (90 percent) were headed by a woman.
budgetary component, controlling for household size
The method used in determining child-rearing
and age of the younger child but not household income
expenses for two-parent households was followed.
level and region of the country, so the results are
Multivariate analysis was used to estimate expenditures
applicable to all families. These expenditures were
for each budgetary component, controlling for income
then assigned to children using the previous method.
level, household size (a single parent with two children
Compared with expenditures for each child in a husband-
was used as the standard), and age of the younger
wife, two-child family, husband-wife households with
child (the same age categories as used with children
one child spend an average of 24 percent more on the
in two-parent families). Because of sample size limita-
single child, and those with three or more children
tions, expenses were not estimated by region.
spend an average of 23 percent less on each child.
Income groups of single-parent households
Therefore, to estimate annual overall expenditures
(before-tax income under $31,000 and $31,000 and
on an only child using tables 1-6, 24 percent should
over in 1992 dollars; these income groups are inflated to
be added to the total expense for each age category.
1997 dollars in the table) were selected to correspond
To estimate expenses on three or more children, 23
with the income groups used for husband-wife house-
percent should be subtracted from the total expense
holds. This income includes child support payments.
for each child's age category and these totals should
The two higher income groups of two-parent families
be summed. For a particular budgetary component,
(income between $31,000 and $52,160 and over
the percentages may be more or less. As family size
$52,160 in 1992 dollars) were combined because
increases, costs per child for food decrease less than
only 17 percent of single-parent households had a
for housing and transportation. Much housing space is
before-tax income of $31,000 and over. The sample
used in common, and car trips can serve more than
was weighted to reflect the U.S. population of interest.
one child.
Expenses for children's clothing and for child care
As an example of adjustments needed for different
and education were divided between the two children
numbers of children, total expenses on children in
in the one-parent household. For food and health care,
families with one, two, and three children are presented
household member expenditure shares were calculated
in table 9 for a household in the middle income group.
for a three-member household (single parent and two
In the example, the age of the older child is 16 in the
children, with the younger child in one of the six age
two-child household and the ages of the older children
categories) using the USDA and HHS studies. These
are 13 and 16 in the three-child household. As can be
shares for the younger child in a single-parent family
seen, less is spent per child as family size increases.
were then applied to estimated household food and
The estimated annual expense on a child age 0-2 with
health care expenditures to determine expenses for the
no siblings is $9,990; for two children ages 0-2 and 16,
younger child in each age category. Housing, transpor-
it is $17,230; and for three children ages 0-2, 13, and
tation, and miscellaneous expenditures were allocated
16, $20,240.
among household members on a per capita basis.
Transportation expenses were adjusted to account for
nonemployment-related activities in single-parent families.
Income and expenses were updated to 1997 dollars.
7
Table 10. Comparison of estimated expenditures*
before-tax income group of more than $59,700: total
on children by single-parent and husband-wife
expenses for the younger child up to age 18 were
families, overall United States, 1997
$225,360 for single-parent families versus $224,040
for husband-wife families in 1997 dollars. However,
Single-parent
Husband-wife
the average income of single-parent households was
Age of child
households
households
much lower. Therefore, child-rearing expenses in the
higher income group of single-parent families consume
0-2
$4,900
$5,820
a larger proportion of income than they do in husband-
3-5
5,510
5,920
wife families. Expenditures on children do not appear
6-8
6,230
6,070
to differ very much among single-parent and husband-
wife households. What differs is household income
9-11
5,820
6,090
levels. As single-parent families have one less potential
12-14
6,270
6,880
earner (the absent partner), their total household
15-17
6,970
6,790
income is lower and child-rearing expenses consume
a greater percentage of income.
Total
$107,100
$112,710
The estimates only cover out-of-pocket child-rearing
expenditures made by the parent who has the primary
*Estimates are for the younger child in two-child families with 1997
care of the child. The estimates do not include child-
before-tax income less than $35,500.
related expenditures made by the parent without primary
care or by others, such as grandparents. For example,
the parent with whom the child does not reside the
Estimates of child-rearing expenses for single-
majority of the time may incur transportation, food,
parent families are in table 7. For the lower income
and entertainment expenses during visitation days and
group (1997 before-tax income less than $35,500), a
maintain a larger living unit because the child stays
comparison of estimated expenditures on the younger
with him or her on weekends. The noncustodial parent
child in a two-child, single-parent family with those in
could also contribute to the child's clothing and health
a husband-wife family is presented in table 10, as pre-
care expenses. Such expenditures could not be esti-
viously discussed, 83 percent of single-parent families
mated from the data. Overall expenses paid by both
and 33 percent of husband-wife families were in this
parents on a child in a single-parent household, there-
lower income group. Total expenditures on a child up
fore, are likely to be greater than this study's estimates.
to age 18 were, on average, 5 percent lower in single-
parent households than in two-parent households. But
Adjustments for Older Children
more single-parent than husband-wife families fell in the
and Household Size
bottom range of this lower income group. Average
To determine the difference in expenditures on an
income for single-parent families in the lower income
older child in single-parent households, multivariate
group was $14,800, compared with $22,100 for husband-
analysis was used to estimate expenditures for each
wife families. Single-parent families in this lower income
budgetary component, controlling for household size
group, therefore, spend a larger proportion of their income
(a family with two children was used as the standard)
on their children. On average, child-related housing
and age of the older child. These expenditures were
expenses were higher, whereas expenditures on
then assigned to children for child-specific expen ditures
transportation, health care, child care and education,
or, for overall household expenditures, allocated to
and miscellaneous goods and services were lower in
children based on previous research (Lefkowitz and
single-parent families. Child-related food and clothing
Monheit 1991; U.S. Department of Agriculture 1994)
expenditures were similar, on average, in single-parent
or on a per capita basis.
and in two-parent families.
On average, single-parent households with two
For the higher income group of single-parent
children spend about 7 percent less on the older child
families (1997 before-tax income of $35,500 and over),
than on the younger child at a specific age category.
estimates of child-rearing expenses were about the
This is contrary to husband-wife households that spend
same as those for two-parent households in the
about the same amount on either child at a specific
8
age category. In addition, more or less is spent if a
The results of these different methods for esti-
single-parent household has only one child or three or
mating child-rearing expenses (including the most
more children. To determine these differences, multi-
recent USDA estimates) are presented in table 11, by
variate analysis was used to estimate expenditures for
number of children and total household expenditures.
each budgetary component, controlling for household
The results for the Engel and Rothbarth estimators are
size and age of the younger child. These expenditures
taken directly from the HHS study. The USDA estimates
were then assigned to children using the previously
are based on the 1995 study. USDA's child-rearing
described method. Compared with expenditures on the
estimates were consistently below those derived using
younger child in a two-child single-parent family, single-
a strict per capita approach. This was expected, as
parent families with one child spend an average of 35
not all goods and services are shared equally among
percent more on the single child, and those with three
family members. The Engel and Rothbarth techniques
or more children spend an average of 28 percent less
yield varying estimates, which differ as much as 20
on each child.
percentage points for a family with three children. So
when using the marginal cost method in estimating
Alternative Estimates of
expenditures on children, the choice of an equivalency
Expenditures on Children
measure is obviously critical since different measures
yield different results.
USDA's estimates of child-rearing expenses were
This study estimated child-related expenditures and
between those produced by the Engel and Rothbarth
overall household expenditures. Child-specific expenses
techniques. All estimates indicate that expenditures on
were assigned to children; overall expenses were
children do not increase proportionately as the number of
allocated to children based on previous research or on
children increases. Expenditures on two children are less
a per capita basis. There are other approaches to
than twice as much as those on one child.
estimating expenditures on children. Two common
methods are the marginal cost method and a strict
Although the USDA utilizes the per capita approach
per capita method.
rather than a marginal cost approach in allocating
A study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health
housing, transportation, and miscellaneous expendi-
and Human Services (1990) estimated husband-wife
tures to children in a household, a USDA study (Lino
child-rearing expenses, based on the 1980-87 CE,
and Johnson 1995) examined how these expenses
using these alternative methods and compared them
would be allocated using three different marginal cost
with USDA's estimates. The comparison was based on
approaches-the Engel, Rothbarth, and Barten-Gorman
child-rearing expense estimates as a percentage of
estimators. The USDA study differed from the HHS
total family expenditures, so the estimates did not have
study in that it only applied the results from the marginal
to be converted into real dollars. The marginal cost
cost methods to these three selected expenses. The
method, which measures expenditures on children as
focus was on the younger child in a two-child family.
the difference in expenses between couples with children
The Rothbarth method produced unrealistically low
and equivalent childless couples, was implemented using
estimates of expenditures on children. The Engel and
two equivalency measures-the Engel and Rothbarth
Barten-Gorman methods produced estimates of expendi-
estimators.
tures on a child for housing and miscellaneous goods
The Engel estimator assumes that if two families
and services that were below those produced by the
spend an equal percentage of their total expenditures
USDA per capita method. For transportation expenses
on food, they are equally well-off. The Rothbarth esti-
on a child, the Engel and Barten-Gorman methods
mator uses spending an equal amount on observable
produced estimates that were higher than the USDA
adult goods as the equivalency measure. The strict per
per capita method. For a detailed description of this
capita approach allocates household expenditures
study, see the appendix, p. 13.
equally among family members.
9
Table 11. Average percent of household expenditures attributable to children in husband-wife families
Estimator
Child expenditures
Engel
1
Rothbarth
1
Per capita
USDA
2
Number of children
Percent
One
33
25
33
26
Two
49
35
50
42
Three
59
39
60
48
Household expenditure level³
Low
49
36
50
45
Average
49
36
50
42
High
49
35
50
39
Percentages for these estimators taken from: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1990.
2Percentages taken from the 1995 USDA study. Average expenditures of families in each income level were used to make comparisons.
Percentages by number of children are based on average expenditures of middle-income families.
³Percentages by household expenditure level are for a family with two children.
Estimating Future Costs
can be seen, total family expenses on a child through
age 17 would be $178,840 for households in the lowest
The estimates presented so far represent household
income group, $242,890 for those in the middle, and
expenditures on a child of a certain age in 1997. To
$353,130 for those in the highest. In 1997 dollar values,
estimate these expenses over time future price changes
these figures would be $112,710, $153,660, and
need to be incorporated. To do this, a future cost
$224,040, respectively.
formula is used:
Inflation rates other than 5.0 percent could be used
in the formula if inflation projections change. Also, it
Cf = Cₚ (1 +
is somewhat unrealistic to assume that households
remain in one income category as a child grows older.
where
For most families, income rises over time so a family
may move from one income group to another. In addi-
Cf = projected future annual dollar expenditure on a
tion, such inflation projections assume child-rearing
child of a particular age
expenditures change only with inflation. Parental
Cp = present (1997) annual dollar expenditure on a
expenditure patterns also change over time.
child of a particular age
i
= projected annual inflation (or deflation)
Other Expenditures
n = number of years from present until child will
reach a particular age.
Expenditures estimated in this study were composed
of direct parental expenses made on children through
An example of estimated future expenditures on the
age 17 for seven major budgetary components. These
younger child in a husband-wife family with two children
expenditures excluded costs related to childbirth and
is presented in table 12. The example assumes a child
prenatal health care. In 1995, health care costs aver-
is born in 1997, reaching age 17 in the year 2014, and
aged $6,378 for a normal delivery and $10,638 for a
the average annual inflation rate over this time is 5.0
Caesarean delivery (Health Insurance Association of
percent (the average annual inflation rate over the past
America 1996). These costs may be reduced by health
20 years) (U.S. Department of Commerce 1997). As
insurance.
10
Table 12. Estimated annual expenditures* on children born in 1997, by income group, overall United States
Income group
Year
Age
Lowest
Middle
Highest
1997
<1
$5,820
$8,060
$11,990
1998
1
6,110
8,460
12,590
1999
2
6,420
8,890
13,220
2000
3
6,850
9,570
14,160
2001
4
7,200
10,050
14,870
2002
5
7,560
10,550
15,610
2003
6
8,130
11,190
16,320
2004
7
8,540
11,750
17,140
2005
8
8,970
12,340
18,000
2006
9
9,450
12,910
18,760
2007
10
9,920
13,550
19,690
2008
11
10,420
14,230
20,680
2009
12
12,360
16,250
23,220
2010
13
12,970
17,070
24,380
2011
14
13,620
17,920
25,600
2012
15
14,120
19,060
27,570
2013
16
14,820
20,020
28,940
2014
17
15,560
21,020
30,390
Total
$178,840
$242,890
$353,130
*Estimates are for the younger child in husband-wife families with two children.
One of the largest expenses made on children after
The estimates do not include all government
age 17 is the cost of a college education. The College
expenditures on children. Examples of excluded
Board (1997) estimated that in 1997-98, annual average
expenses would be public education, Medicaid, and
tuition and fees were $3,027 at 4-year public colleges
subsidized school meals. The actual expenditures on
and $11,721 at 4-year private colleges; annual room
children (by parents and the government), therefore,
and board was $4,152 at 4-year public colleges and
would be higher than reported in this study, especially
$4,883 at 4-year private colleges. For 2-year colleges
for children in the lowest income group. Indirect costs
in 1997-98, annual average tuition and fees were
involved in child rearing were also not included in the
$1,538 at public colleges and $7,100 at private colleges;
estimates. Although these costs are typically more
annual room and board was $4,240 at 2-year private
difficult to measure than direct expenditures, they may
colleges (no estimates were given for 2-year public
be substantial. The time involved in rearing children is
colleges). Other parental expenses on children after
considerable. In addition, to care for children, current
age 17 could include those associated with children
earnings and future career opportunities may be dimin-
living at home or if children do not live at home, gifts
ished because of reduced time in the labor force for one
and other contributions to them. A 1996 survey found
or both parents. For more on these indirect costs, see
that 47 percent of parents in their fifties support children
Ireland and Ward 1995, Bryant et al. 1992, and Spalter-
over 21 years of age (Phoenix Home Life Mutual
Roth and Hartmann 1990.
Insurance Company 1996).
11
References
Spalter-Roth, R.M. and Hartmann, H.I. 1990. Unnecessary
Losses: Costs to Americans of the Lack of Family and
Bryant, W.K., Zick, C.D., and Kim, H. 1992. The Dollar
Medical Leave. Institute for Women's Policy Research,
Value of Household Work. College of Human Ecology,
Washington, DC.
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Casper, L.M. 1995. What Does It Cost to Mind Our
Service. 1994. Cost of food at home. Family Economics
Preschoolers? Current Population Reports, Household
Review 7(4):45.
Economic Studies, P70-52. U.S. Department of
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
Service. 1981. USDA Estimates of the Cost of Raising
The College Board. 1997. News from the College Board.
a Child: A Guide to Their Use and Interpretation.
Miscellaneous Publication No. 1411.
September 24 issue.
Health Insurance Association of America. 1996.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
Source Book of Health Insurance Data, 1996 ed.
1996. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1996,
116th ed.
Washington, DC.
Ireland, T.R. and Ward, J.O. 1995. Valuing Children in
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office
Litigation: Family and Individual Loss Assessment.
of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company, Inc.,
1990. Estimates of Expenditures on Children and Child
Tucson, AZ.
Support Guidelines.
Lazear, E.P. and Michael, R.T. 1988. Allocation of
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway
Income Within the Household. University of Chicago
Administration. 1994. 1990 Nationwide Personal
Press, Chicago.
Transportation Study.
Lefkowitz, D., and Monheit, A. 1991. Health Insurance,
Use of Health Services, and Health Care Expenditures.
National Medical Expenditure Survey Research Findings 12.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research Publication No. 92-0017.
Lino, M. and Johnson, D.S. 1995. Housing, transporta-
tion, and miscellaneous expenditures on children:
A comparison of methodologies. Family Economics
Review 8(1): 2-12.
McDonald, J.F., and Moffitt, R.A. 1980. The uses of
Tobit analysis. The Review of Economics and Statistics
62(2):318-321.
Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company. 1996.
Americans' Hopes, Fears and Dreams. 1996 Phoenix
Fiscal Fitness Survey.
Rothbarth, E. 1943. Notes on a method of determining
equivalent income for families of different composition.
In: C. Madge, ed., War-Time Pattern of Spending and
Saving. National Institute for Economic and Social
Research, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
12
Appendix
The Rothbarth method produced unrealistically
Allocating Selected Expenditures Using
low estimates of expenditures on children, which was
Marginal Cost Methods
probably due to the measure of well-being used in the
study. Rothbarth defined the measure of well-being as
excess income, which included expenses on luxuries
The USDA utilizes the per capita approach rather than
and savings. As the CE does not have a direct measure
a marginal cost approach in allocating housing, trans-
of excess income, a proxy had to be used (expenditures
portation, and miscellaneous expenditures to children
on adult clothing, alcohol, and tobacco). Because of
in a household. A USDA study (Lino and Johnson
this problem, results from the Rothbarth method were
1995) examined how these expenses would be allo-
discounted.
cated using three different marginal cost approaches.
The Engel method produced estimates of expendi-
Using data from the 1990 CE, the USDA study derived
tures on a child for housing and miscellaneous goods
the share of expenditures allocated to children from
and services that were 28 percent below those produced
the marginal cost methods and applied them to housing,
by the USDA per capita method. The Barten-Gorman
transportation, and miscellaneous expenses for
method produced estimates for housing expenses
married-couple families with two children with the
that were 44 percent below the per capita method and
focus being on the younger child. The three marginal
estimates for expenses on miscellaneous goods and
cost methods were the Engel, Rothbarth, and Barten-
services that were 28 percent below the per capita
Gorman estimators. Each of these estimators measure
method. For transportation expenses on a child, the
expenditures on children as the difference in expenses
Engel and Barten-Gorman methods produced estimates
between couples with children and equivalent childless
that were higher than the USDA per capita method
couples. However, they differ on how to determine the
because the latter excludes the proportion of house-
equivalency between couples.
hold transportation expenses that are employment
The Engel estimator is based on work done in the
related. Estimates of transportation expenses on a
19th century (see U.S. Department of Health and
child using the Engel method were 19 percent above
Human Services 1990 for a summary of Engel's work).
the USDA estimates, and those using the Barten-
It postulates that the percentage of a family's total
Gorman method were 26 percent above the USDA
expenditures allocated to food-their food share-is
estimates.
a measure of well-being. Families with the same food
If the Engel or Barten-Gorman methods are
share are assumed to be equally well-off. The Rothbarth
preferred over the per capita method for estimating
estimator, which is based on work done in the 1940's
child-rearing expenses for housing, transportation,
(Rothbarth 1943), postulates that the well-being of
or miscellaneous goods and services, the expense
families can be determined by the level of excess
estimates produced by USDA could be adjusted by
income available to them after necessary expenditures
the percentages given above. For example, if the
are met. Although Rothbarth defined excess income
Engel approach is believed to be more appropriate
to include luxuries and savings, the USDA study used
for measuring housing expenses on a child than the
expenditures on adult clothing, alcohol, and tobacco
USDA per capita approach, the USDA expense esti-
as the measure of well-being. Other studies applying
the Rothbarth method have used a similar definition
mates for housing should be reduced by 28 percent;
(Lazear and Michael 1988, U.S. Department of Health
or if the Engel approach is believed to be more appro-
priate for measuring transportation expenses on a
and Human Services 1990). Whereas the Engel and
child, the USDA expense estimates for transportation
Rothbarth methods use a proxy for the well-being of
should be increased by 19 percent.
a household, the Barten-Gorman method uses a more
general utility function to measure it (see Lino and
Johnson 1995 for more detail). Individual budgetary-
component shares attributable to children are derived
with this method.
13
The USDA study (Lino and Johnson 1995) con-
cluded the marginal cost methods described here are
not more appropriate than the per capita method in
estimating child-rearing expenses for these three
budgetary components. The marginal cost methods
have limitations that are equal to or exceed those of
the per capita method. As previously explained, each
version of the marginal cost method assumes a "true
equivalency measure." The assumption that families
who spend the same proportion of their total expendi-
tures on food are equally well-off has never been proven,
nor has the supposition that families behave according
to a specific utility function. Also, the marginal cost
method theorizes the difference in total expenditures
between couples with and without children can be
attributed solely to the children in a family. This has
never been proven either.
The marginal cost approach was not applied to the
housing, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses
of single-parent families as the selection of a comparison
group was too difficult. Single parents with children
face circumstances that are very different from those
faced by single people. Most single parents are mothers
with low family incomes. Single people include many
professionals with high incomes and high expenditures.
Comparing the two groups could lead to the illogical
finding that expenses on children are negative.
It should be noted that the equivalency measures
obtained from the Engel and Rothbarth techniques in
the HHS study described in the section "Alternative
Estimates of Expenditures on Children" differ from
those obtained in the USDA study using the same
techniques. Both techniques yielded lower estimates
in the USDA study than in the HHS study. Different
results from the two studies may be caused by: (1)
controlling for more variables, such as race, parents'
education, etc., when the HHS study estimated its
equivalency measures, and (2) the different years
of data used in the two studies.
14
Table 1. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by husband-wife families, overall Unted States, 1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,500 (Average=$22,100)
0-2
$5,820
$2,220
$830
$730
$370
$400
$690
$580
3-5
5,920
2,190
920
700
360
380
780
590
6-8
6,070
2,120
1,190
820
410
440
460
630
9-11
6,090
1,910
1,420
890
450
480
280
660
12-14
6,880
2,130
1,490
1,000
760
480
200
820
15-17
6,790
1,720
1,610
1,350
670
510
330
600
Total
$112,710
$36,870
$22,380
$16,470
$9,060
$8,070
$8,220
$11,640
Before-tax income: $35,500 to $59,700 (Average=$47,200)
0-2
$8,060
$3,000
$990
$1,090
$440
$520
$1,130
$890
3-5
8,270
2,970
1,140
1,060
430
500
1,260
910
6-8
8,350
2,900
1,460
1,180
480
570
810
950
9-11
8,320
2,700
1,710
1,250
530
620
530
980
12-14
9,050
2,920
1,730
1,360
890
620
390
1,140
15-17
9,170
2,500
1,920
1,720
790
660
660
920
Total
$153,660
$50,970
$26,850
$22,980
$10,680
$10,470
$14,340
$17,370
Before-tax income: More than $59,700 (Average=$89,300)
0-2
$11,990
$4,770
$1,310
$1,520
$580
$600
$1,710
$1,500
3-5
12,230
4,740
1,480
1,490
570
580
1,860
1,510
6-8
12,180
4,670
1,790
1,610
620
660
1,280
1,550
9-11
12,090
4,470
2,080
1,680
680
710
890
1,580
12-14
12,930
4,690
2,180
1,790
1,120
710
690
1,750
15-17
13,260
4,270
2,300
2,180
1,020
750
1,210
1,530
Total
$224,040
$82,830
$33,420
$30,810
$13,770
$12,030
$22,920
$28,260
*Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. The figures represent
estimated expenses on the younger child in a two-child family. Estimates are about the same for the older child, so to calculate expenses for two
children, figures should be summed for the appropriate age categories. To estimate expenses for an only child, multiply the total expense for the
appropriate age category by 1.24. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three or more children, multiply the total expense for each
appropriate age category by 0.77. For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tMiscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
15
Table 2. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by husband-wife families, urban West, 1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,200 (Average=$22,000)
0-2
$6,420
$2,650
$900
$790
$360
$340
$700
$680
3-5
6,560
2,630
1,000
770
350
320
790
700
6-8
6,730
2,600
1,290
880
390
370
470
730
9-11
6,820
2,450
1,540
950
430
400
280
770
12-14
7,570
2,630
1,610
1,070
720
410
200
930
15-17
7,520
2,260
1,740
1,410
640
430
330
710
Total
$124,860
$45,660
$24,240
$17,610
$8,670
$6,810
$8,310
$13,560
Before-tax income: $35,200 to $59,300 (Average=$46,900)
0-2
$8,670
$3,410
$1,060
$1,160
$420
$460
$1,160
$1,000
3-5
8,900
3,390
1,220
1,140
410
440
1,280
1,020
6-8
8,990
3,350
1,560
1,250
460
500
820
1,050
9-11
9,030
3,210
1,840
1,310
510
540
530
1,090
12-14
9,720
3,390
1,840
1,440
850
550
400
1,250
15-17
9,900
3,020
2,050
1,790
750
580
680
1,030
Total
$165,630
$59,310
$28,710
$24,270
$10,200
$9,210
$14,610
$19,320
Before-tax income: More than $59,300 (Average=$88,700)
0-2
$12,450
$5,040
$1,370
$1,600
$550
$540
$1,760
$1,590
3-5
12,740
5,030
1,550
1,580
540
520
1,910
1,610
6-8
12,680
4,990
1,870
1,680
590
590
1,320
1,640
9-11
12,630
4,840
2,180
1,750
640
630
910
1,680
12-14
13,430
5,020
2,280
1,870
1,070
640
710
1,840
15-17
13,800
4,650
2,400
2,250
960
670
1,240
1,630
Total
$233,190
$88,710
$34,950
$32,190
$13,050
$10,770
$23,550
$29,970
*Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the regional Consumer Price Index. The figures
represent estimated expenses on the younger child in a two-child family. Estimates are about the same for the older child, so to calculate
expenses for two children, figures should be summed for the appropriate age categories. To estimate expenses for an only child, multiply the total
expense for the appropriate age category by 1.24. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three or more children, multiply the total
expense for each appropriate age category by 0.77. For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tThe Western region consists of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
and Wyoming.
#Miscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
16
Table 3. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by husband-wife families, urban Northeast, t 1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,300 (Average=$22,000)
0-2
$6,100
$2,650
$930
$610
$400
$390
$560
$560
3-5
6,210
2,640
1,020
580
390
370
630
580
6-8
6,420
2,600
1,310
690
430
420
360
610
9-11
6,570
2,450
1,570
760
480
450
210
650
12-14
7,390
2,630
1,640
880
820
460
150
810
15-17
7,300
2,260
1,760
1,220
720
490
250
600
Total
$119,970
$45,690
$24,690
$14,220
$9,720
$7,740
$6,480
$11,430
Before-tax income: $35,300 to $59,300 (Average=$46,900)
0-2
$8,280
$3,410
$1,080
$980
$470
$510
$950
$880
3-5
8,500
3,390
1,240
960
460
490
1,060
900
6-8
8,660
3,360
1,580
1,060
510
560
660
930
9-11
8,740
3,210
1,850
1,130
560
600
420
970
12-14
9,520
3,390
1,860
1,260
950
610
310
1,140
15-17
9,620
3,020
2,060
1,610
850
640
520
920
Total
$159,960
$59,340
$29,010
$21,000
$11,400
$10,230
$11,760
$17,220
Before-tax income: More than $59,300 (Average=$88,800)
0-2
$12,010
$5,050
$1,380
$1,420
$610
$600
$1,480
$1,470
3-5
12,260
5,030
1,560
1,400
590
570
1,620
1,490
6-8
12,300
4,990
1,880
1,510
650
650
1,090
1,530
9-11
12,320
4,840
2,190
1,580
710
700
740
1,560
12-14
13,190
5,020
2,280
1,700
1,180
710
570
1,730
15-17
13,430
4,650
2,410
2,070
1,070
740
980
1,510
Total
$226,530
$88,740
$35,100
$29,040
$14,430
$11,910
$19,440
$27,870
*Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the regional Consumer Price Index. The figures
represent estimated expenses on the younger child in a two-child family. Estimates are about the same for the older child, so to calculate
expenses for two children, figures should be summed for the appropriate age categories. To estimate expenses for an only child, multiply the total
expense for the appropriate age category by 1.24. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three or more children, multiply the total
expense for each appropriate age category by 0.77. For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tThe Northeast region consists of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
and Vermont.
#Miscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
17
Table 4. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by husband-wife families, urban South, 1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,600 (Average=$22,200)
0-2
$5,890
$2,190
$800
$720
$400
$450
$780
$550
3-5
6,030
2,170
900
700
390
430
870
570
6-8
6,140
2,130
1,160
800
430
490
530
600
9-11
6,220
1,980
1,410
870
480
520
320
640
12-14
7,020
2,170
1,470
1,000
800
540
230
810
15-17
6,970
1,790
1,600
1,330
710
560
390
590
Total
$114,810
$37,290
$22,020
$16,260
$9,630
$8,970
$9,360
$11,280
Before-tax income: $35,600 to $60,000 (Average=$47,400)
0-2
$8,220
$2,960
$970
$1,090
$470
$590
$1,270
$870
3-5
8,440
2,940
1,120
1,070
460
560
1,400
890
6-8
8,500
2,910
1,430
1,170
510
640
910
930
9-11
8,500
2,760
1,700
1,240
560
680
600
960
12-14
9,210
2,940
1,710
1,360
930
690
450
1,130
15-17
9,420
2,560
1,910
1,720
830
720
770
910
Total
$156,870
$51,210
$26,520
$22,950
$11,280
$11,640
$16,200
$17,070
Before-tax income: More than $60,000 (Average=$89,700)
0-2
$12,080
$4,630
$1,270
$1,530
$610
$680
$1,890
$1,470
3-5
12,360
4,610
1,450
1,510
600
650
2,050
1,490
6-8
12,280
4,580
1,750
1,610
650
740
1,430
1,520
9-11
12,200
4,420
2,040
1,680
710
780
1,010
1,560
12-14
13,020
4,610
2,140
1,800
1,160
800
790
1,720
15-17
13,440
4,230
2,260
2,170
1,060
820
1,390
1,510
Total
$226,140
$81,240
$32,730
$30,900
$14,370
$13,410
$25,680
$27,810
*Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the regional Consumer Price Index. The figures
represent estimated expenses on the younger child in a two-child family. Estimates are about the samefor the older child, so to calculate
expenses for two children, figures should be summed for the appropriate age categories. To estimate expenses for an only child, multiply the total
expense for the appropriate age category by 1.24. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three or more children, multiply the total
expense for each appropriate age category by 0.77. For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tThe Southern region consists of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
#Miscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
18
Table 5. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by husband-wife families, urban Midvest, t 1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,700 (Average=$22,300)
0-2
$5,270
$1,970
$760
$640
$350
$360
$670
$520
3-5
5,400
1,960
850
620
340
340
750
540
6-8
5,540
1,920
1,100
720
380
390
450
580
9-11
5,640
1,770
1,340
790
430
430
270
610
12-14
6,400
1,950
1,400
920
720
440
190
780
15-17
6,330
1,570
1,530
1,260
630
460
320
560
Total
$103,740
$33,420
$20,940
$14,850
$8,550
$7,260
$7,950
$10,770
Before-tax income: $35,700 to $60,100 (Average=$47,500)
0-2
$7,540
$2,740
$920
$1,010
$420
$490
$1,110
$850
3-5
7,760
2,730
1,070
990
410
460
1,230
870
6-8
7,830
2,690
1,370
1,100
450
530
790
900
9-11
7,870
2,540
1,640
1,170
500
570
510
940
12-14
8,560
2,720
1,640
1,290
850
580
380
1,100
15-17
8,720
2,340
1,840
1,650
750
600
650
890
Total
$144,840
$47,280
$25,440
$21,630
$10,140
$9,690
$14,010
$16,650
Before-tax income: More than $60,100 (Average=$89,900)
0-2
$11,350
$4,410
$1,230
$1,460
$550
$570
$1,690
$1,440
3-5
11,620
4,390
1,400
1,440
540
550
1,840
1,460
6-8
11,550
4,350
1,690
1,540
590
620
1,260
1,500
9-11
11,500
4,200
1,980
1,610
640
660
870
1,540
12-14
12,330
4,390
2,070
1,740
1,070
680
680
1,700
15-17
12,650
4,010
2,190
2,110
970
700
1,190
1,480
Total
$213,000
$77,250
$31,680
$29,700
$13,080
$11,340
$22,590
$27,360
*Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the regional Consumer Price Index. The figures
represent estimated expenses on the younger child in a two-child family. Estimates are about the same for the older child, so to calculate
expenses for two children, figures should be summed for the appropriate age categories. To estimate expenses for an only child, multiply the total
expense for the appropriate age category by 1.24. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three or more children, multiply the total
expense for each appropriate age category by 0.77. For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tThe Midwest region consists of Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,
and Wisconsin.
#Miscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
19
Table 6. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by husband-wife families, Rural areas, 1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,900 (Average=$22,400)
0-2
$5,310
$1,660
$770
$830
$360
$440
$700
$550
3-5
5,460
1,650
870
810
350
420
790
570
6-8
5,600
1,610
1,130
920
390
480
470
600
9-11
5,690
1,450
1,370
990
440
520
280
640
12-14
6,460
1,640
1,430
1,110
750
530
200
800
15-17
6,410
1,260
1,560
1,460
660
550
330
590
Total
$104,790
$27,810
$21,390
$18,360
$8,850
$8,820
$8,310
$11,250
Before-tax income: $35,900 to $60,400 (Average=$47,800)
0-2
$7,640
$2,450
$940
$1,210
$430
$580
$1,160
$870
3-5
7,850
2,430
1,090
1,180
420
550
1,290
890
6-8
7,900
2,390
1,390
1,290
460
630
820
920
9-11
7,950
2,240
1,660
1,360
520
670
540
960
12-14
8,630
2,420
1,660
1,480
870
680
400
1,120
15-17
8,820
2,040
1,860
1,840
780
710
680
910
Total
$146,370
$41,910
$25,800
$25,080
$10,440
$11,460
$14,670
$17,010
Before-tax income: More than $60,400 (Average=$90,500)
0-2
$11,470
$4,130
$1,240
$1,650
$560
$670
$1,760
$1,460
3-5
11,750
4,120
1,410
1,630
550
640
1,920
1,480
6-8
11,680
4,080
1,710
1,730
600
730
1,320
1,510
9-11
11,630
3,930
2,000
1,800
660
770
920
1,550
12-14
12,450
4,110
2,100
1,930
1,100
790
710
1,710
15-17
12,800
3,730
2,220
2,310
990
810
1,240
1,500
Total
$215,340
$72,300
$32,040
$33,150
$13,380
$13,230
$23,610
$27,630
Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the population size Consumer Price Index.
The figures represent estimated expenses on the younger child in a two-child family. Estimates are about the same for the older child, so to
calculate expenses for two children, figures should be summed for the appropriate age categories. Toestimate expenses for an only child, multiply
the total expense for the appropriate age category by 1.24. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three or more children, multiply
the total expense for each appropriate age category by 0.77. For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tRural areas are places of fewer than 2,500 people outside a Metropolitan Statistical Area
#Miscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
20
Table 7. Estimated annual expenditures* on a child by single-parent families, overall Unted States, 1997
Child care
Transpor-
Health
and
Miscel-
Age of child
Total
Housing
Food
tation
Clothing
care
education
laneous
Before-tax income: Less than $35,500 (Average=$14,800)
0-2
$4,900
$1,990
$920
$680
$340
$190
$430
$350
3-5
5,510
2,260
960
600
360
280
590
460
6-8
6,230
2,410
1,220
690
420
330
540
620
9-11
5,820
2,310
1,410
500
430
420
260
490
12-14
6,270
2,310
1,410
580
720
450
320
480
15-17
6,970
2,450
1,540
900
840
440
250
550
Total
$107,100
$41,190
$22,380
$11,850
$9,330
$6,330
$7,170
$8,850
Before-tax income: $35,500 or more (Average=$53,900)
0-2
$11,210
$4,290
$1,410
$2,080
$480
$440
$1,060
$1,450
3-5
12,030
4,560
1,500
2,000
500
590
1,330
1,550
6-8
12,800
4,700
1,800
2,090
580
680
1,240
1,710
9-11
12,380
4,610
2,160
1,900
580
810
730
1,590
12-14
13,120
4,610
2,120
1,970
960
860
1,030
1,570
15-17
13,580
4,750
2,240
2,140
1,110
850
840
1,650
Total
$225,360
$82,560
$33,690
$36,540
$12,630
$12,690
$18,690
$28,560
*Estimates are based on 1990-92 Consumer Expenditure Survey data updated to 1997 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. The figures
represent estimated expenses on the younger child in a single-parent, two-child family. For estimated expenses on the older child, multiply
the total expense for the appropriate age category by 0.93. To estimate expenses for two children, the expenses on the younger child and older
child-after adjusting the expense on the older child downward-should be summed for the appropriate age categories. To estimate expenses
for an only child, multiply the total expense for the appropriate age category by 1.35. To estimate expenses for each child in a family with three
or more children, multiply the total expense for each appropriate age category by 0.72-after adjusting the expenses on the older children downward.
For expenses on all children in a family, these totals should be summed.
tMiscellaneous expenses include personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
21
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Access CNPP's home page at: http://www.usda.gov/fcs/cnpp.htm
Below are the options you will see.
What's New at CNPP
About CNPP
The Mission of the CNPP
FCS Library of Files (includes CNPP files)
Nutrition Insights. From the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Expenditures on Children by Families, 1995 and 1996 Annual Reports
Healthy Eating Index
Food Guide Pyramid
Cost of Food at Home at Four Cost Levels: May 1996--December 1997
Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 1995
1995 Dietary Guidelines
Using The Food Guide Pyramid: A Resource for Nutrition Educators
For more information, contact:
USDA, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
1120 20th Street NW, Suite 200 North Lobby
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 418-2312
23
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS
AMY R. DAWSON
Associate Director
1334 G Street, NW
(202) 638-0690
Suite B
FAX (202) 638-0673
Washington, DC 20005-3107
E-mail: [email protected]
®
NATIONAL ADVISORY
President
COMMITTEE
FIGHT
INVEST
Sanford A. Newman
POLICE
Associate Directors
Philip Arreola
Chief. Tacoma, WA
CRIME
IN KIDS
Amy R. Dawson
Sherman Block
Brendan J. Fitzsimons
Sheriff, LA County, CA
Communications Director
William Bratton
John W. Bartlett
Fmr. Commiss'r., NYC
Sam A. Cabral
President, Int'l Union of
Police Ass'ns, AFL-CIO
Dean M. Esserman
Chief, Metro North. NY
NATIONAL CRIME AND
Thomas C. Frazier
VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Police Commissioner,
RESOURCE COUNCIL
Baltimore, MD
Gilbert G. Gallegos
President, Fraternal
J. Lawrence Aber, Ph.D.
Order of Police
QUALITY CHILD CARE AND
Director, National Center for
E. Douglas Hamilton
Children in Poverty
Chief. Louisville, KY
Phil E. Keith
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Barbara T. Bowman, M.A.
President, Erickson Institute of
Chief, Knoxville, TN
Advanced Study in Child
R. Gil Kerlikowske
Development
Commissioner, Buffalo, NY
John A. Calhoun, M.P.A.
Charles A. Moose
POWERFUL WEAPONS AGAINST CRIME
Executive Director, National
Chief, Portland, OR
Crime Prevention Council
Patrick V. Murphy
Former Commiss'r. NYC.
Donald J. Cohen, M.D.
DC, Detroit, Syracuse
Director, Yale Child Study Ctr.
Dennis E. Nowicki
Sanford Dornbusch, Ph.D.
Chief, Charlotte, NC
Reuban B. Ortega
A Report
Professor Emeritus, Stanford;
Advisory Board Chair, Stanford
Chief, Salt Lake City, UT
Center on Adolescence
Matt L. Rodriguez
Craig W. Floyd
Fmr. Police Sup't. Chicago, IL
from
Chair, National Law Enforce-
Joseph Samuels
ment Officers Memorial Fund
Chief, Oakland. CA
James A. Fox, Ph.D.
Darrell Sanders
Chief, Frankfort, IL
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS
Dean, College of Criminal
Justice, Northeastern University
Darrel W. Stephens
John W. Gardner, Ph.D.
Fmr. Chief, St. Petersburg, FL
Patrick J. Sullivan, Jr.
Former US Secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare;
Sheriff, Arapahoe Co., CO
Donald H. Warshaw
February 1998
Consulting Professor, Stanford
Chief, Miami, FL
Richard Gerber, M.D.
Robert S. Warshaw
Associate Clinical Professor of
Chief, Rochester, NY
Psychiatry, GWU Med. School
Elizabeth M. Watson
Alice S. Honig, Ph.D.
Former Chief. Austin, TX
Professor Emerita, Child
Development, Syracuse Univ.
PROSECUTORS
Thomas C. Joe, M.A.
Ronald Earle
Director, Center for the
District Atty., Travis Co., TX
Executive Summary
Study of Social Policy
Norman S. Early, Jr.
J. Ronald Lally, Ed.D.
Former D.A., Denver, CO
Dir., Ctr. for Child and Family
Ralph C. Martin, II
Studies, Far West Laboratory
District Atty., Suffolk Co., MA
Steven Marans, Ph.D.
Jack O'Malley
Director, Program on Child
Fmr. State's Atty., Cook Co.. IL
Development-Community
Elliot L. Richardson
Policing, Yale Child Study Ctr.
Former Attorney General
Full Report is available on the
Ray Marshall, Ph.D.
and Secretary of HEW, of
Defense and of Commerce
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS' web site at
Former US Secretary of Labor;
Jim Ryan
Chair in Economics and Public
http://www.fightcrime.org/
Affairs, Univ. of Texas Austin
Attorney General, IL
Grant Woods
Jack McDevitt, Ph.D.
Attorney General, AZ
Professor, College of Criminal
Justice, Northeastern Univ.;
CRIME SURVIVORS
Co-Director, Center for Criminal
Justice Policy Research
Frances Davis
Lisbeth B. Schorr
Fdr., Mothers of All Children
Ellen Halbert
Lecturer in Social Medicine,
Harvard University
Editor, National Crime
Victims Report
David P. Weikart, Ph.D.
Carole Grant Hall
President, High/Scope
Director, Ginger Ridge
Educational Research Fdn.
Residents' Initiative
Bernice Weissbourd
Marc Klaas
Pres., Family Resource Council
Fdr., Klaas Fdn. for Children
Richard Weissbourd, Ph.D.
Dennis Lees, Ph.D.
Professor, Kennedy School of
Mgr., Mental Health Clinic
Government, Harvard
Jean Lewis
Chuck Wexler, Ph.D.
President, Parents of
Executive Director, Police
Murdered Children
Executive Research Forum
Gordon Rondeau &
Edward Zigler, Ph.D.
Elaine Rondeau
Director, Bush Center in Child
Founders. Action America:
Development and Social Policy,
Murder Must End Now
Yale University
1334 G Street, NW
Suite B
Washington, DC 20005-3107
(202) 638-0690
Fax (202) 638-0673
www.fightcrime.org
A project of the Action Against Crime and Violence Education Fund
QUALITY CHILD CARE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS:
POWERFUL WEAPONS AGAINST CRIME
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
WE MUST SPARE NO EFFORT in making sure that dangerous criminals are
behind bars. But that strategy by itself will never be enough to make our
communities safe. Police, prosecutors, crime survivors, criminologists and child
development experts all report the same conclusion: Quality educational child
care for preschool children and after-school programs for school-age kids are
among the most powerful weapons in America's anti-crime arsenal.
The time for philosophical debate about whether such investments "might work"
is over. The proof is in: Good child care and after-school youth
IT IS TIME TO CUT CRIME'S
development programs for at-risk youngsters sharply reduce
MOST important SUPPLY
crime and help children develop the skills and values to become
LINE: ITS ABILITY TO TURN
good neighbors and responsible adults instead of criminals.
KIDS INTO CRIMINALS.
When we fail to invest in the proven programs that help kids get
the right start, we all pay an enormous price.
It is time to cut crime's most important supply line: Its ability to turn America's
kids into criminals.
QUALITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS:
PROVEN TO CUT CRIME DRAMATICALLY
"OUR FIGHT AGAINST CRIME NEEDS TO START IN THE HIGH CHAIR,
Perry Preschool & Home Visit
Program's Impact
not wait for the electric chair," says Winston-Salem (NC) Chief
of Police George Sweat.
Decrease In Crime
Preschool and weekly home visits led to
He's right.
an 80% drop in the number of chronic
offenders.
Percent
Powerful evidence from one study after another proves that
40%
35%
Arrested
quality child care in the first five years of life can greatly reduce
5 or More
30
Times
the risk that today's babies and toddlers will become tomorrow's
Through
juvenile delinquents and criminals.
20
Age 27
10
7%
The early childhood development programs for at-risk children
which have proven most effective in preventing future
0
delinquency and crime are those which, like the Head Start
NO SERVICES
RECEIVED
SERVICES
program for three-and four-year-olds and the Early Head Start
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
1
"OUR FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
program for children younger than three, supplement
NEEDS TO START IN THE
educational day care with programs to involve parents and to
coach and support them in child-rearing.¹ For example:
HIGH CHAIR, NOT WAIT FOR
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR.
<> A High/Scope Foundation study at the Perry Preschool in
Michigan offered at-risk three- and four-year-olds a quality
Head Start-style preschool program, supplemented by
weekly in-home coaching for parents. Twenty-two years
later, those who had been denied the services as toddlers were
five times more likely to be chronic lawbreakers by age 27.2
" A similar program in Syracuse, providing child development
and health services for at-risk infants and toddlers and
SYRACUSE FAMILY
parenting support for their mothers and fathers, found that
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
kids denied the services were ten times more likely to be
PROGRAM'S IMPACT
delinquent by age 16.³
Drop in Delinquency
Parent Training, home visits, early
ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS to provide coaching in
childhood education, health, and other
human services dramatically cut
parenting skills for at-risk parents is through home visits to those
delinquency.
parents who want help. Home visitor programs have been proven
20%
17%
to strikingly reduce child abuse and neglect while they improve
Percent
15
Reported
parenting, help children develop into good neighbors, and even
Delinquent
reduce the risk that the parent will engage in criminal activity.
by
10
Ages 13-16
Although abuse and neglect are not normally included in crime
5
statistics, most Americans would agree that they are among the
1.5%
nation's most serious crimes. If we included them in our
0
NO SERVICES
RECEIVED
SERVICES
definition of serious crimes, abuse and neglect would make up
nearly one-fifth of all serious crimes reported each year. Child
abuse and neglect also sharply increase the risk that a child will
grow up to become a criminal.⁴
The risk of abuse and neglect declines when parents have adequate
knowledge of how children develop in their early years. The potential for
abuse skyrockets, for example, when a parent thinks infants are supposed to
be toilet-trained at six months, or doesn't understand that young children "go
to pieces" when they are tired, or doesn't know that shaking a
IF WE INCLUDE THEM IN OUR
child can cause brain damage.
DEFINITION OF SERIOUS
CRIMES, ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Studies show that roughly half of all abuse and neglect among
MAKE UP NEARLY ONE FIFTH
high-risk families might be eliminated if such parents were
offered family support programs, including parenting-coaching
OF ALL SERIOUS CRIMES
visits to those who want them.⁵
REPORTED EACH YEAR.
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
2
QUALITY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS BUILD VALUES AND SKILLS
WHILE THEY SHUT DOWN "PRIME TIME FOR JUVENILE CRIME"
THE PEAK HOURS FOR VIOLENT JUVENILE CRIME are from 2:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In the hour after the school bell rings, juvenile
crime suddenly triples and prime time for juvenile crime begins.
THE PEAK HOURS FOR
Half of all violent juvenile crime occurs between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00
VIOLENT JUVENILE CRIME
p.m., and two-thirds occurs in the nine hours between 2:00 p.m. and
ARE FROM 2:00 P.M. TO
11:00 p.m.⁶
8:00 P.M.
Quality after-school, weekend and summer programs for
children and youth can cut crime dramatically - by offering
school-age kids a safe haven from negative influences, and
providing constructive activities that teach them not only the
Peak Hours for Violent Juvenile Crime
skills they need to succeed, but also core values like responsibility,
hard work, and respect and concern for others.
7am-2pm
2-8 pm
20.2%
50.4%
For example:
1pm-7am
0 A study of juvenile arrests in a public housing project which
9.1%
instituted an after-school skills development program
showed that the number of juvenile arrests declined by 75
8-11 pm
14.2%
percent by the end of the after school program.⁷
Portion of all violent juvenile crime occuring
in each time period
« In the first year after the Baltimore Police Department opened
an after-school program in a high-crime area, crime in that
neighborhood dropped 42%.8
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
<> A Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers/Big Sisters'
Mentoring Program
carefully-designed mentoring program showed that young
Kids denied mentors were two to three times
more likely to start using drugs.
people randomly assigned to receive a trained mentor were
Percentage of 10- to 16-year-olds
only about half as likely to begin illegal drug use or to hit
who started using drugs.
Minority Youth
someone as those randomly assigned to the control group.⁹
12.5%
All Youth
12.5%
0 Participants randomly assigned to a high school Quantum
to
11.5%
Opportunities Program of counseling, academic and life
skills support, community service, and financial incentives,
were less than one-quarter as likely to be convicted of a
5
crime during the high-risk high school years as those in a
5.3%
control group. In other words, denying kids these services
3.8%
quadrupled the likelihood that they would be convicted of a
crime while in high school. The impact on crime was virtually
0
No Mentors
Mentorees
No Mentors
Mentorees
immediate, and those who participated in the program were
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
3
DENYING KIDS THESE
fifty percent more likely to graduate high school on time and
SERVICES QUADRUPLED
two-and-a-half times more likely to attend post-secondary
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY
schooling. 10 Programs like Quantum Opportunities show what
WOULD BE CONVICTED OF
can happen when after-school enrichment activities are
A CRIME WHILE IN HIGH
integrated with in-school help for at-risk youngsters.
SCHOOL THE IMPACT ON
CRIME WAS VIRTUALLY
Quality school-age programs have been shown to have special
IMMEDIATE.
importance for low-income youngsters, especially those growing
up in neighborhoods where "hanging out" means being exposed
to negative influences from peers and from older children and adults. These
youngsters learn to be more cooperative, get along better with others resolve
conflicts more amicably, read more, participate in more academically enriching
activities, and improve grades and school conduct, when they are provided
quality after-school programs. 11
As the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development observed in its seminal
report on youth development programs, "risk will be transformed into opportunity"
when we provide young people with the out-of-school youth development
programs that can turn "their non-school hours into the time of their lives."12
CHILD CARE: A SYSTEM IN CRISIS
OUR NATION'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS.
As this decade began, the Committee for Economic Development, made up of
executives from America's largest corporations, declared, "The lack of availability
of quality child care that is developmentally appropriate, has educational value,
and is affordable has created a crisis of national proportions that
As WE NEAR THE END OF
affects most families but hits low-income families the hardest.'
THE DECADE, THAT CRISIS
HAS ESCALATED.
As we near the end of the decade, that crisis has worsened.
As OF 1995, more than three out of five women with children younger than six,
and more than three out of four women with school-age children, were working
outside the home. 14 Even among mothers of one-year-olds, more than half work
full- or part-time. 15 For many of these parents, especially those at the bottom of the
income ladder, debate about whether they should work or stay home ignores reality.
With full-time work at the minimum wage bringing in about $9,000 a year
after social security taxes, many families find that they can't possibly make
ends meet and provide for their children unless both parents work outside
the home. Moreover, one out of four children live with only one parent, 16
and half of all children can now expect to live an average of at least five years
in a single-parent family.¹⁷
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
4
supporting adults, whatever is spent on their development and
education will be returned many times over in higher productivity,
incomes, and taxes and in lower costs for welfare, health care, crime, and
myriad other economic and social problems."2
"WHEN CHILD CARE AND
AFTER-SCHOOL programs
"The question is not whether we can afford these programs,"
SAVE DOLLARS AND CUT
says former U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of Health,
CRIME, WHY SHOULDN'T
Education and Welfare Elliot L. Richardson. "It is whether we
OUR FEDERAL AND STATE
can afford to jeopardize the safety of millions of Americans and
GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE
saddle future generations with the cost of failing to make these
THE FUNDING THAT WILL
proven investments today. When child care and after-school
ENABLE COMMUNITIES TO
programs save dollars and cut crime, why shouldn't our federal
GET THE JOB DONE?"
and state governments provide the funding that will enable
communities to get the job done?"
AN EMERGING UNANIMITY Among ANTI-CRIME LEADERS
THE PEOPLE FIGHTING CRIME ON THE FRONT LINES are less concerned
with political ideology than with hard-nosed practical solutions. They insist
on dealing with the real world as they find it, and on doing what really
works to fight crime.
Everyone agrees, of course, that dangerous criminals need to be locked up. But
those who work day in and day out to track down, arrest, and prosecute
criminals know that this vital defense is only a stop-gap measure. In the words
of Baltimore Police Commissioner Thomas C. Frazier, "Police know that we
cannot just arrest our way out of the crime problem."
"We can make ourselves and our children safer," says Buffalo Police
Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, "by investing in child care and after-
school programs for America's most vulnerable kids, instead of waiting to
spend far more - in money and lives - on those who become America's
'Most Wanted' adults."
92 PERCENT OF POLICE
It is now clear that crime fighters have reached a nearly
CHIEFS NATION-WIDE
unanimous conclusion: We need to go on the offense by investing
AGREED THAT "AMERICA
in the child care, parenting education and after-school programs
COULD SHARPLY REDUCE
that can keep kids from becoming criminals in the first place.
CRIME IF GOVERNMENT
INVESTED
MORE
IN
A POLL OF POLICE CHIEFS conducted for FIGHT CRIME: INVEST
PROGRAMS TO HELP
IN KIDS by Northeastern University criminologist Jack McDevitt
CHILDREN AND YOUTH GET
tells the story:21
A GOOD START."
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
7
<> 92 percent of police chiefs nationwide agreed that "America could sharply reduce
crime if government invested more in programs to help children and youth get a
good start" by "fully funding Head Start for infants and toddlers, preventing
child abuse, providing parenting training for high-risk families, improving
schools and providing after-school programs and mentoring."
0 Nine out of ten chiefs also agreed that "if America doesn't pay for greater
investments in programs to help children and youth now, we will all pay far more
later in crime, welfare, and other costs."
0 When asked to pick the strategy that would be "most effective" in the long
term in reducing crime and violence, the chiefs chose "increasing
investment in programs that help all children and youth get a good start"
nearly four to one over "trying more juveniles as adults" or even "hiring
additional police officers."
"IGNORING PREVENTION INVESTMENTS LEAVES US STUCK ON A TREADMILL,"
says former U.S. Attorney General Richardson, "running harder and harder to
put people in jail while more kids are turned into criminals about as fast as we
can lock them up."
MANY CRIME VICTIMS agree. Their tragedies have given them a deep and
fundamental understanding that wait-for-the-crime approaches
CRIME VICTIMS' TRAGEDIES
are too little, too late for too many Americans. The voices of crime
HAVE GIVEN THEM A DEEP
survivors speak eloquently of the need for a comprehensive and
AND
FUNDAMENTAL
aggressive "invest-in-kids" prevention strategy:
UNDERSTANDING THAT
WAIT-FOR-THE-CRIME
"What happened to me didn't have to happen. If we as a
APPROACHES ARE TOO
nation were investing in programs like quality child care and
LITTLE TOO LATE FOR TOO
after-school programs, to give kids the right start, I probably
MANY AMERICANS.
wouldn't have needed those 600 stitches and all those
surgeries to repair the damage."
- Ellen Halbert, former Vice-Chair, Texas Board of Criminal Justice.
Ms. Halbert, of Austin, was brutally raped, beaten and stabbed by an
intruder in her home in 1986.
"To make America safe, we need to be as willing to guarantee our kids space in
child care or an after-school program as we are to guarantee a criminal room and
board in a prison cell. If we want to do more than flex our muscles and talk
about crime - if we want to really keep Americans safe - we must start
investing in the programs we know can steer kids down the right path."
- Jean Lewis, President,
National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
8
In some two-parent, middle-income families, adjustments in the tax code may
modestly affect parental decisions to work outside the home. But such measures
are no substitute for ensuring access to quality child care in the pre-school years,
and quality after-school, summer and weekend child and youth
THE HEAD START CHILD
development programs for our most at-risk population - the
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
youngsters who must be our first crime prevention priority.
FOR AT-RISK PRESCHOOLERS
IS so UNDERFUNDED IT CAN
The issue for many families - - and for law enforcement - is not
REACH JUST FOUR IN TEN
whether parents will work. It is whether the care children receive
ELIGIBLE KIDS - AND
while their parents are working will be good enough to help the kids
USUALLY FOR JUST HALF OF
get a good start in life, or whether it will be care that damages their
THEIR PARENTS' WORK DAY,
development and ultimately damages the public safety.
FOR ONLY PART OF THE YEAR.
TODAY, QUALITY CHILD CARE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS are financially
out of reach for millions of America's most at-risk children and youth. Their
families - mostly young and still near the lowest earning levels of their working
lives - can no more afford to pay for quality child care during these years than they
could afford to pay the full cost of the education we provide through public schools.
Yet the Head Start child development program for at-risk preschoolers is so
underfunded it can reach just four in ten eligible kids - and usually for just half
of their parents' work day, for only part of the year. And despite
all the evidence that the first three years of life are critical to
FOR THOSE OF US ON THE
brain development, programs like Early Head Start, designed for
FRONT LINES OF THE
kids under three, have funds to serve only a tiny fraction of the
BATTLE AGAINST CRIME, THE
babies and toddlers who need them.
ONCE-QUIET CRISIS IN
CHILD CARE IS NOW NOISY,
Meanwhile, the Child Care and Development Block Grant,
PERVASIVE, INSISTENT,
which assits communities in helping working families afford
AND TRAGIC. IT SCREAMS
quality care, today can serve only one in ten of the kids who
THROUGH OUR POLICE
most need it. Parenting education and family resource programs,
SIRENS RUSHING TO YET
whether linked directly to child care or operating separately, can
ANOTHER CRIME THAT
serve only a tiny fraction of the at-risk families who would
NEVER HAD TO HAPPEN. IT
benefit most. And after-school programs are largely unavailable,
IS HEARD IN THE CRIES OF
especially for the children who need them most.
AGONY OF THOUSANDS OF
CRIME VICTIMS AND THEIR
FOR THOSE OF US ON THE FRONT LINES of the battle against
FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES
crime, the once-quiet crisis in child care is now noisy, pervasive,
ARE NEEDLESSLY LOST OR
insistent, and tragic. It screams through our police sirens rushing
SHATTERED EACH YEAR. IT IS
to yet another crime that never had to happen. It is heard in the
VISIBLE AS YELLOW CRIME
cries of agony of thousands of crime victims and their families
SCENE TAPE, BODY BAGS, AND
whose lives are needlessly lost or shattered each year. It is visible
BLOOD-STAINED SIDEWALKS
as yellow crime scene tape, body bags, and blood-stained
ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS.
sidewalks on the nightly news.
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
5
IF WE WANT OUR OWN
If there is one point in the discussion of child care that no
American can afford to miss, it is this: If we want our own
FAMILIES TO BE SAFE, WE
families to be safe, we all have a stake in making sure that every
ALL HAVE A stake IN
working family has access to quality child care and after school
MAKING SURE THAT EVERY
programs, and that all at-risk families have access to parenting
WORKING FAMILY HAS
education coaching.
ACCESS TO quality CHILD
CARE AND AFTER SCHOOL
Make no mistake about it: Our nation's child care crisis is a crime
PROGRAMS.
prevention crisis.
THAT'S THE BAD NEWS. THE GOOD NEWS is that there is no mystery about
how to solve that crisis.
PENNY-WISE, POUND-FOOLISH POLICY CHOICES:
WASTING MONEY AND LIVES
WHEN AMERICA FAILS TO INVEST IN CHILDREN, we all pay far more later -
not just in lives and fear, but also in tax dollars. For example:
« Economist Steven Barnett found that the High/Scope Foundation's Perry
Preschool study saved $150,000 per participant in crime costs alone. Even
after subtracting the interest that could have been earned by investing the
program's funding in financial markets, the project produced a net savings
of $7.16 - including more than six dollars in crime savings - - for every
dollar invested. 18
THE HIGH/SCOPE
FOUNDATION'S PERRY
Barnett estimates that the cost, including increased crime and
PRESCHOOL STUDY SAVED
welfare costs among others, of failing to provide at least two
$150,000 PER PARTICIPANT
years of quality early childhood care and education to low-
IN CRIME COSTS ALONE.
income children is approximately $100,000 per child. That's a
total of about $400 billion for all poor children now under five.
0 A recent unpublished study prepared by Professor Mark A.
Cohen of Vanderbilt University estimates that each high-risk
youth prevented from adopting a life of crime could save the
PROFESSOR MARK A.
country from $1.7 million to $2.3 million. 19
COHEN OF VANDERBILT
UNIVERSITY ESTIMATES
As AMERICA DEBATES how to use expected budget surpluses, we
that EACH high-risk
should consider this reminder from the business executives of the
YOUTH PREVENTED FROM
Committee for Economic Development:
ADOPTING A LIFE OF CRIME
COULD SAVE THE COUNTRY
"Education is an investment, not an expense. If we can
FROM $1.7 MILLION TO
ensure that all children are born healthy and develop the
$2.3 MILLION.
skills and knowledge they need to be productive, self-
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
6
"Saying we can cure crime by building more prisons is like saying
"WE COULD BE SAVING
we can cure death by building more cemeteries. But we could be
THOUSANDS OF LIVES
BY
saving thousands of lives - and sparing thousands of families
INVESTING NOW IN THE
unimaginable heartbreak - - by investing now in the child care and
PROGRAMS PROVEN TO
after-school programs proven to give kids the right start in life."
GIVE KIDS THE RIGHT
-Marc Klaas, President, Klaas Foundation for Children
START IN LIFE."
Mr. Klaas' 12-year-old daughter Polly was kidnapped
and murdered in 1993.
FROM THE FRONT LINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST CRIME:
A CALL FOR ACTION
TODAY HUNDREDS OF OUR NATION'S MOST DISTINGUISHED POLICE CHIEFS,
sheriffs, prosecutors, crime victim advocates and scholars have joined in calling
on all public officials to protect the public safety by adopting common sense
policies to:
Provide for all infants, toddlers and preschool children access to
quality child care at a price their parents can afford.
That means child care in which staffing levels are high enough and training
good enough to assure that children receive the nurturing and stimulation they
need to start school ready to succeed and to learn the concern for others and
other core values which begin to develop in the first years of life. To be most
effective in reducing crime, quality child care and development programs for our
most at-risk families should be linked to parenting education and family support.
At the federal level, this means we should be assuring through Early Head Start
or other quality programs that our most at-risk babies and toddlers receive the
care they need from birth to age three. It means that we should
CHILD CARE IN WHICH
be assuring that Head Start has enough funding to serve all the
low-income children who need it, and to provide full-day, high-
STAFFING LEVELS ARE
quality year-round care for the children of working parents. And
HIGH ENOUGH AND
it means sufficient increases in funding for the Child Care and
TRAINING GOOD ENOUGH
Development Block Grants to states so that all families will have
EARLY HEAD START HEAD
the help they need to access quality care.
START [AND] SUFFICIENT
INCREASES IN FUNDING
For states, it means that more should follow the lead of states like
FOR THE CHILD CARE AND
North Carolina and Ohio, which have sharply increased their
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
own investment in quality child care and development programs
GRANTS TO STATES.
to help their children get the right start.
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
9
[STATES] SHOULD FOLLOW
Strengthen families and reduce child abuse, neglect
and delinquency by offering all parents (at their
THE LEAD OF STATES LIKE
NORTH CAROLINA AND OHIO,
option) "parenting coaches" through proven home
WHICH HAVE SHARPLY
visiting programs, as well as access to community-
based family resource programs.
INCREASED THEIR OWN
INVESTMENT IN QUALITY
States like Missouri and Hawaii have led the way in showing
CHILD
CARE
AND
that they can implement large-scale, effective, parenting
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
education and family resource programs, including coaching by
AND OF STATES LIKE
MISSOURI AND Hawaii,
home visitors for those who want them, without intruding on
[WHICH] HAVE LED THE WAY
family privacy. And the plain fact is, many parents desperately
need - and want - more knowledge about normal child
IN SHOWING THAT THEY CAN
development and coaching in parenting skills.
implement LARGE-SCALE,
EFFECTIVE, PARENTING
EDUCATION AND FAMILY
When at-risk parents who want to learn more about parenting
RESOURCE PROGRAMS.
- including many young parents who may never have seen
healthy parenting in their own homes - are denied that help,
their children and all of us are endangered.
Provide for all of America's school-age children and teens access to
after-school, weekend and summer programs that offer recreation,
academic support and community service experience.
Neither the risk that children will go astray, nor the opportunity to help
them realize their potential to become good neighbors and responsible
adults, ends when they start school. Early childhood programs must be
followed by school-age child care and child and youth development programs.
Of course, the after-school options needed for a first-grader, an eighth-grader,
and a high school junior differ markedly from one another. But all our
youngsters, and especially those in low-income or high-crime areas who are
most at risk of delinquency or of becoming crime victims, need
ALL OF OUR YOUNGSTERS,
access to programs that can help them develop the skills and
ESPECIALLY THOSE IN LOW-
values they need to succeed as adults.
INCOME OR HIGH-CRIME
AREAS WHO ARE MOST AT
For the federal government, that will require a major increase in
RISK OF DELINQUENCY OR OF
a commitment currently so small that it barely begins to be
BECOMING CRIME VICTIMS,
noticed. For states and localities, it may mean implementing
NEED ACCESS TO PROGRAMS
programs like New York City's Beacon schools, through which
THAT CAN HELP THEM
community groups provide after-school programs in
DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND
coordination with schools. Other states and localities may choose
models which enable children and teens to access the services of
VALUES THEY NEED TO
community organizations off the school premises - models like
SUCCEED AS ADULTS.
the Schools of the 21st Century, sometimes called Family
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
10
Resource Centers, now in over 500 schools in 17 states, which use public
schools as the hub of a network of services, such as parenting education, full-
day, high-quality care for 3-5 year-olds, and child care before and after
school and during summer vacations. 22
CONCLUSION
TAKEN AS A WHOLE, OUR FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS are falling
far short of the investment in child care, parenting-education, and after-
school programs needed to meet their responsibility to protect the public
safety. That shortfall is part of a gaping crime prevention deficit that
jeopardizes the safety of every American.
It is time that leaders at the state and federal level laid out a plan
No RESPONSIBILITY OF
to eliminate that deficit.
FEDERAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENT IS MORE
We all know that the actual delivery of services like child care
and after-school programs must take place not in our legislatures
FUNDAMENTAL THAN
but in our communities, through partnerships of parents, federal,
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC
state and local government, and community organizations. But
SAFETY.
no responsibility of federal and state government is more
fundamental than protecting the public safety.
That responsibility simply cannot be met without providing communities with
the resources to assure that all families, and especially those whose children are
most at risk of going astray, have access to quality child care, parenting-
education, and after-school programs at a price they can afford.
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
11
ENDNOTES
1 Yoshikawa, H., "Long-Term Effects of Early Childhood Programs on Social Outcomes and
Delinquency," Long Term Outcomes of Early Childhood Programs, The Future of Children, Vol. 5.,
No. 3 (Winter 1995), pp. 56, 59; Zigler, E. and Styfco, S.J., "Can Early Childhood
Intervention Prevent Delinquency? A Real Possibility," Constructive and Destructive Behavior:
Implications for Family, School and Society (forthcoming), 25-27.
2 Schweinhart, L.J., Barnes, H.V., Weikart, D.P., Significant Benefits: The High/Scope Perry
Preschool Study Through Age 27 (Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Press, 1993).
3 Lally, J.R., Mangione. P.L., and Honig, A.S., "The Syracuse University Family Development
Research Program: Long-Range Impact of an Early Intervention with Low-Income Children and
their Families." In D.R. Powell, ed., Parent Education as Early Childhood Intervention: Emerging
Directions In Theory, Research and Practice (Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing, 1988), pp. 79-104.
4 Widom, C.S., and Maxfield, M.G., "The Cycle of Violence Revisited Six Years Later.," "Arch.
Pediatr. Adolesc. Med, Vol. 150 (1996).
5 Olds, D,. et al, "Improving the Life-Course Development of Socially Disadvantaged Parents: A
Randomized Trial of Nurse Home Visitation," Amer. Journal of Public Health 78, pp. 1436-45 (1988).
6 Sickmund, M., Snyder, H.N., Poe-Yamagata, E., "Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1997
Update on Violence," National Center for Juvenile Justice (Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention); Fox, J.A., and Newman, S.A., "After-School Programs or
After-School Crime" (Washington, DC: Fight Crime: Invest In Kids, September 1997), P. 1.
7 Jones, M.A., and Offord, D.R., "Reduction of Antisocial Behavior in Poor Children by
Nonschool Skill Development," Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied
Disciplines 30 (1989), PP. 737-750.
8 Interview with Baltimore Police Commissioner Thomas Frazier, January 12, 1998.
9 Tierney, J., Grossman, J., and Resch, N., "Making a Difference An Impact Study of Big
Brothers/Big Sisters," Public/Private Ventures (November 1995), P. 33.
10 Taggart, R., Quantum Opportunities Program, Philadelphia: Opportunities Industrialization
Centers of America, 1995, p. 4.
11 Miller, B.M., Out-of-School Time: Effects on Learning in the Primary Grades (Wellesley, MA:
School-Age Child Care Project [now called the National Institute on Out-of-School Time],
Center for Research on Women, Wellesley College, 1995), p. 19; Posner, J.K., and Vandell, D.L.,
"Low-Income Children's After-School Care: Are There Beneficial Effects of After-School
Programs", Child Development 65 (Society for Research in Child Development, 1994), pp. 440-456.
12 Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, Task Force on Youth Development and
Community Programs, A Matter of Time: Risk and Opportunity in the Non-School Hours (New
York: Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1992), p. 15.
13 Committee for Economic Development, Research and Policy Committee, The Unfinished
Agenda: A New Vision for Child Development and Education (New York: Committee for
Economic Development, 1991), p. 31.
14 Children's Defense Fund, "Child Care Basics" (Washington, D.C., January 1998), p.1, citing
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unpublished data from March 1995, p.4.
15 Carnegie Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young Children, Starting Points: Meeting the
Needs of Our Youngest Children (New York: Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1994) p. 43.
16 Ibid., p. 4.
17 Ibid.
18 Barnett, W.S., "Cost Benefit Analysis" in Schweinhart, L.J., Barnes, H.V., Weikart, D.P.,
Significant Benefits: The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study Through Age 27 (Ypsilanti, MI: High/
Scope Press, 1993). pp. 161-162.
19 Cohen, Mark A., "The Monetary Value of Saving a High Risk Youth" (unpublished), July
1997. Permission for use granted by Professor Cohen.
20 Committee for Economic Development, supra, n.13, pp. 27-28.
21 "Police Chiefs Say More Government Investments in Kids are Key to Fighting Crime."
(Washington, D.C.: Fight Crime: Invest In Kids, 1996), p. 1.
22 Finn-Stevenson, M., Destimone, L., and Chung, A.-M. (in press). "Linking child care and
family support services with the Schools of the 21st Century," Children and Youth Services
Review; Schorr, L. B., Common Purpose (1997), pp. 47-55, 239-40.
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
12
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS is a national anti-crime organization led by those
on the front lines of the battle against crime: Police chiefs, sheriffs, police
organization leaders, prosecutors, crime victims and those from whom murder
has taken loved ones.
No single name appears as author of this report because it is a collaborative
product, drawing on the advice and contributions of scores of the nation's
most distinguished law enforcement leaders and crime survivors, who serve
on FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS' Advisory Committees, and of the
distinguished scholars who serve on FIGHT CRIME'S National Crime and
Violence Prevention Resource Council.
Chapter Two, "After-School Programs or After-School Crime," is drawn largely
from a separate FIGHT CRIME report of that title, presented to the Attorney
General of the United States in September 1997, and co-authored by Resource
Council Member James Alan Fox, Ph.D., and myself.
We want to express special appreciation to Helen Blank and Gina Adams at the
Children's Defense Fund, Michelle Seligson of the National Institute on Out-
of-School Time, Jane Quinn of the Dewitt Wallace Readers Digest Foundation,
and Edward Zigler, Director of Yale University's Bush Center in Child
Development and Social Policy, for sharing so generously of their expertise.
On FIGHT CRIME'S staff, Judge Bernard Ries was especially central to the report's
preparation, building on work begun by Elissa Rumsey during her tenure at
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS. John Bartlett, Brendan Fitzsimons, Wendy
Tucker and Jonah Van Zandt made important contributions. Amy Dawson and
Justin Heimberg coordinated Advisory Committee and Resource Council efforts
on the Call for Action which accompanies this report.
FIGHT CRIME'S work, including this report, is possible only because of the
generous supporters listed on the following page, and others who have made
smaller gifts or assisted in other ways.
Sanford A. Newman, President
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS
This report is available free of charge on the FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS web site at
http://www.fightcrime.org/. Copies may also be ordered by sending $12 for postage and
handling (or $4 for the executive summary) to FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, Child Care
and After-School Report, 1334 G Street NW, Suite B, Washington, D.C. 20005-3107.
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS is a non-profit anti-crime organization which gratefully
accepts tax-deductible contributions.
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
13
MAJOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS
DeWitt Wallace Reader's Digest Fund
David and Lucille Packard Foundation
Public Welfare Foundation
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
Center on Crime, Communities and Culture
Hitachi Foundation
Rockefeller Family Fund
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
McCormick-Tribune Foundation
Russell Fund, Tides Foundation
Woods Foundation of Chicago
Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation
Ottinger Foundation
Butler Family Fund
Threshold Foundation
David and Tracey Stern
Nathan Cummings Foundation
Margaret Jacobs
Bert Edwards
The Joyce Foundation
The Neisser Fund
American Income Life Insurance
Blum-Kovler Foundation
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
New Prospect Foundation
Irving B. Harris Foundation
Albert A. List Foundation
Edward Oppenheimer
Emaye Charities
The Sisters of St. Francis of Phildelphia
Relations Foundation
Ruth Horwich
A.L. Mailman Foundation
Charles N. Mason, Jr.
Elaine L. Newman
Francis Beidler Charitable Trust
George Wallerstein
Franklin Miller
Muriel M. Pear
Paul and Anne Sperry
Ariel Foundation
Richard Gerber
Arnold Golodetz
Andrew Tobias
James and Julia Wallace
Richard Schifter
Williston Shor
Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful Weapons Against Crime
14
The Washington Post
Price
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1998
C
Metropol
Police Officials
Their lobbying support adds a new
twist to the growing child-care debate,
The group reterred to several stud-
which could become a major legislative
ies, including one at the Perry Pre-
battle this year. Republican leaders have
Back Spending
school program in Michigan, which is
rejected the administration's plan as too
similar to Head Start, which found
expensive and many have said any
children who had been in the program
child-care measure must provide help to
On Child Care
were five times less likely to become
stay-at-home parents as well as working
chronic lawbreakers than a comparable
parents.
group that had not attended the pro-
Yesterday, the debate shifted again as
gram.
the crime prevention argument trig-
By Barbara Vobejda
One of the important ingredients of
gered a new round of criticism.
such programs, said Newman, was par-
Washington Post Staff Writer
"The whole idea that kids commit
ent education. which helps reduce child
After lobbying Congress to ban weap-
crimes simply because their parents
abuse and neglect. That, in turn, helps
ons and put more officers on the street,
aren't around is specious," said Darcy
reduce the likelihood those children will
police officials from around the country
Olsen, a policy analyst at the libertarian
grow up to be lawbreakers.
have seized on what they say will be an
Cato Institute. "Most people in the
Child care and after-school programs
even more powerful anti-crime weapon:
country have spent time without their
"are smart spending." Flynn said. "They
child care.
parents at one time or another and not
can save us billions of tax dollars" that
Yesterday, more than 170 police
become criminal."
might otherwise be spent on imprison-
chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors called
Brenda Hunter, à psychologist who
ing offenders and the other costs related
for the states and federal government to
appeared last week with the conserva-
to crime.
increase support for quality educational
tive Family Research Council in opposi-
The group called for a bigger invest-
child care for preschoolers and after-
tion to the president's plan, said "the
ment than Clinton's plan-more than
school programs for older children.
research is being misinterpreted" by
$130 billion over five years-to provide
They said after-school programs
those advocating more child care.
all families that need it good child care,
would keep children occupied in posi-
"The research supports consistent,
after school care and help with parent-
tive ways at a time of day when juvenile
sensitive and responsive nurturing and
ing skills.
crime peaks. And they cited research
mother is the best person to provide
indicating that children who have at-
that," she said.
tended early education programs simi-
But law enforcement officials at yes-
lar to Head Start are less likely to
terday's news conference urged that the
become delinquent offenders.
child-care debate not pit working par-
The 'group praised President Clin-
ents against stay-at-home parents.
ton's recent proposal to spend nearly
Artington County Police Chief Ed-
$22 billion over five years to improve
ward A Flynn, one of the police officials
child careland help low-income parents
appealing for more child-care funding,
pay for it. If enacted, "it would be one of
called it an "endless no-win debate over
the most important steps Congress has
the philosophy of the family unit." The
taken to fight crime," said Sanford A.
reality, he said, is that most parents
Newman, president of a Washington
work out of economic necessity.
group that brought together the law
enforcement officials, called Fight
Crime: Invest in Kids.
BETWEEN THE LINES
aged more easily for social change. Sure,
the logic that connects this massacre to a
larger social agenda is thin. But logic can
HARNESSING
be overrated. And so my irritation at me-
dia "lessons" subsides into a question.
Which is worse: to take a random tragedy
and make it a symbol that galvanizes the
THE HYSTERIA
country? Or to let the moment pass with-
out any effort to channel the fear and emo-
tion into something constructive? I'd ar-
gue that the latter is worse.
So let's see where we can take this.
As the shots in Jonesboro fade, let's channel
First, guns. The school massacre in Dun-
blane, Scotland, led to Great Britain's
our grief into the larger cause of helping kids
banning handguns altogether. That won't
happen here, though the passage of the
Brady bill shows gun control is less unre-
alistic than we often assume. A more
BY JONATHAN ALTER
fruitful approach may lie in emulating the
anti-tobacco lawsuits. If the owner of a
NE OF THE MOST SHOCKING
car is responsible when a family member
O
things about the Jonesboro
gets in an accident, why not the owner of
massacre is that it's still
a gun? If you need a key to get toilet pa-
shocking-that America's
per in many public restrooms, why not a
bottomless capacity for vio-
key for a gun? Last summer the White
lence has not fully numbed us yet. Kids
House per suaded some gun manufactur-
who kill is hardly a new story, but here
That's good. The question is how we will
deploy our emotional firepower.
PRIME TIME LIVE-ABC TV-AP
ers to make more weapons with safety
we are having a national debate about it.
locks, but the real way to bring change is
to sue like hell after every incident. State
attorneys general, who spearheaded the
Throughout last week, the arc of the
tobacco suits, are getting motivated, and
story was familiar enough. We heard all
juries may be sympathetic. The argument
of the predictable follow-up angles about
Easy answers elude us, but images like those of
that the easy availability of guns has
life at the Westside Middle School the
Andrew Golden's learning how to shoot should
nothing to do with the death toll is now
day after. (The fire alarm is now discon-
force us to keep asking the hard questions
patently absurd. Anyone ever heard of a
nected. Very helpful.) Lawyers took to the
drive-by stabbing?
air to debate the proper punishment for prepubescent kids. A few
Police chiefs are all for gun control, but they also strongly
news organizations felt some pangs of context and mentioned a
support after-school programs. Fifty percent of all juvenile
new government report showing violence at American schools
crime is committed between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
has actually dropped significantly in recent years. But that was a
We have 5 million latchkey kids in this country who lack adult
mere quibble amid the grief.
supervision and supportive activities. A recent survey of 548
Beyond sympathy for the Jonesboro families and worry over
police chiefs conducted by Northeastern University showed
which of my own kids' classmates could go postal, my first reac-
that the chiefs chose "investment in programs" to help children
tion to the media's latest dance macabre was irritation. Why must
by nearly 4-1 over "trying more juveniles as adults" or even
every event be turned into a morality play, with "lessons" to be
"hiring additional police officers" as the best way to fight
drawn? Stuff happens. Bad stuff. Every day. It's unlikely that any
juvenile crime.
law or program or curriculum could have prevented these mur-
Yet the juvenile-justice bill pending in the Senate is over-
ders. The strictest gun-control laws imaginable would still allow
whelmingly tilted toward more enforcement. By failing to ear-
for ownership by wildlife-management-area supervisors like An-
mark more for prevention, we're "ignoring the most powerful
drew Golden's grandfather, whose rifles were used in the attack.
weapon in our anti-crime arsenal," says Sanford Newman. of a
And even the best parenting can yield horrific outcomes. (Jeffrey
group called Fight Crime-Invest in Kids. And fighting crime is
Dahmer's father, who wrote a moving book, seems an especially
not the only way to make more funding for prevention a biparti-
decent sort.) The easy answers elude us, yet we search endlessly
san issue. Character education- greater emphasis on explicitly
for them anyway. As nature abhors a vacuum, so media abhor
teaching right from wrong-is also prevention. Today's goal in
the unexplainable.
Washington and state capitols should be to make prevention as
We're often told nowadays that the news cycle is too short.
much of a mom-and-apple-pie issue as, say, hunting.
Technology allows everyone to report from the scene much faster
The problem of troubled youth is, as Colin Powell says, the
than in the past, and all of the analysts are already out in force by
biggest threat to the future of the United States. The amazing thing
dinner time on day one. But in another sense, the cycle of these
about the problem is that we actually know what the solution to it
tragic stories is much longer than it used to be. Before cable news
is. The solution, especially for the 15 million kids living in poverty,
and TV-magazine shows, a story about a massacre or serial killer
is a relationship with a caring adult: a teacher, mentor, coach. It
would get serious attention on the network evening news (as well
doesn't always work. It may not have worked in the cases of
as saturation coverage locally) but mostly disappear the next day.
Andrew Golden and Mitchell Johnson, who already came from a
Today it might live on for a week or more, kneaded into a hun-
supportive environment. And it sure isn't easy. But as the shots
dred media shapes.
fired in Jonesboro reverberate around the world, let's harness the
Because the tragic stories linger longer now, they can be lever-
hysteria to the larger work before us.
APRIL 6, 1998 NEWSWEEK
27
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT NEWSPAPERS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1998
VOL 71, NO. 190 2/6/98
Police chiefs support
child care programs
CHILDREN FROM PAGE D-1
"Fight Crime, Invest in Kids" is a
nonprofit organization funded by
school and set up an after-school
private foundations that include the
ns
C
niefs
el
sports program.
Rockefeller Family Fund, the John
Joyce Lee Itkin, Allegheny Coun-
and Catherine MacArthur Founda-
ty clerk of courts and wife of state
tion, the Hitachi Foundation and the
House Minority Whip Ivan Itkin of
Woods Foundation.
S ipport
Point Breeze, who is the only de-
The group's report is the latest
clared Democratic gubernatorial
entry in the congressional debate
candidate, has worked to create the
over child care legislation. While
c hild care
program. She modeled it after a
many believe that Congress will
California effort called "Cops and
pass some child care legislation this
Jocks."
year, others worry that it will be lost
"Idle time breeds crime," DeFa-
in the battle over whether the feder-
zio said. "Programs like this are like
al government should be encourag-
programs
saving money, investing for the
ing parents - especially mothers -
future."
to care for their children them-
The law enforcement group,
selves, instead of funneling money
By Karen MacPherson
gathered under the name-"Fight
into child care programs.
Post-Gazette Washington Bureau
Crime, Invest in Kids," issued its
Edward Flynn, chief of the Ar-
WASHINGTON - The best anti-
report at a Capitol Hill news confer-
lington, Va., County Police Depart-
crime weapons are good-child care,
ence. Its members urged lawmak-
ment, told the news conference that
ers to pass legislation pumping
such a debate "ignores the reality"
parent education "coaches't and af-
billions of dollars into child care,
that many parents must work.
ter-school programs - not more
prisons or tougher laws; a.group of
after-school and parent-education
The focus shouldn't be on the
nearly 200 police chiefs and sheriffs
programs that provide "coaches"
"ideal family," but instead on find-
for those who want them.
ing ways to fight crime, Flynn con-
said in a report released yesterday.
tended. Investing money in
The group contended. in its re-
programs to help children and their
port, endorsed by Allegheny County
parents should be seen as being
Sheriff Peter DeFazio and Pitts-
"tough on crime," he added.
burgh Police Chief Robert McNeilly
Sanford Newman, president of
Jr., that research clearly. showed
"Fight Crime, Invest in Kids,"
the "dramatic crime-prevention po-
praised President Clinton's new
tential of early childhood care and
child care initiative as "a major step
after-school programs.
in the right direction" and said it
"It is time to cut crime's most
could be a major crime-fighting tool.
important supply line: Its ability to
Clinton's plan would spend $22
turn America's kids into criminals,"
billion over five years to help more
the report said.
low-income Americans pay for qual-
ity child care, expand the number of
"Our federal and state govern-
Head Start and after-school pro-
ments are falling far short of the
grams and increase the child care
investment in child care, parenting
tax credit.
education and after-school pro-
Another plan by GOP senators
grams needed to meet their respon-
would spend $11 billion over five
sibility to protect the public safety."
years, with emphasis. on extending
For example, statistics make
the child care tax credit to families
clear that the peak hours for violent
with a stay-at-home parent.
juvenile crime are from 3 p.m. to 8
But even Clinton's proposal
p.m:, which is why after-school pro-
"meets only one-fifth of the most
grams could be such a crime deter-
urgent child care needs," Newman
rent, the report noted.
said.
In a telephone interview, DeFa-
The law enforcement group ac-
zio agreed that programs such as
knowledges that its own proposal
the newly minted "Youth Athletes
could cost $20 billion annually. But
and Law Enforcement" program in
the cost of maintaining prisons and
the Pittsburgh area were designed
the emotional costs paid by crime
to "give kids something to do" after
victims are far greater, the group
contends.
school besides getting into trouble.
The program, just beginning, will
"If you can guarantee a space in a
prison to a criminal, you ought to be
have police officers "adopt". a high
able to guarantee a space in a Head
Start program to a toddler or a place
SEE CHILDREN, PAGE D-2
in an after-school program to a
school-ager," Newman said.
20 ce back care programs
The Dallas Morning Nelus
Friday, February 6, 1998
as way to help reduce crime
Asked to pick the "most effec-
"It's cheaper to help kids develop
By Barbara Kessler
grams geared to help kids avoid
Stall Writer of The Dallas Morning News
tive" strategy to reducing crime.
now than to incarcerate them later,"
trouble, he said. They include offi-
over the long term, 60 percent of the
Mr. Gallegos said, citing a decades-
cer-child mentoring partnerships
Children's advocates who believe
chiefs selected "increasing invest-
long study that showed every dollar
and after-school activities such as
improved child care and after-
ment in programs that help all chil-
spent on quality preschool saved $7
inner-city scouting and a horseback
school programs are key to slowing
dren and youth get a good start,"
in later welfare and prison costs.
riding club.
crime have gained some powerful
according to the poll.
Aside from the long-term bene-
Most of the 186 supporters of the
allies more often associated with
More than 92 percent of the
fits of nudging children toward pro-
report are prosecutors and police
cracking down on criminals than
chiefs agreed that the government
ductive, law-abiding futures, after-
chiefs, but about 20 are nationally
coddling kids.
should fully fund Head Start for in-
school programs can immediately
prominent crime-victim advocates.
A study and call to action signed
fants and toddlers, work to prevent
reduce crime, said Dr. James Alan
Ellen Halbert, the first crime victim
by nearly 200 police chiefs, prosecu-
child abuse, provide parent training
Fox, dean of Criminal Justice at
appointed to the Texas Board of
tors and crime victims released
for high-risk families and improve
Northeastern University in Boston.
Criminal Justice, said "crime pre-
Thursday suggests that crime could
after-school and mentoring pro-
The "prime time for juvenlle
vention is victim prevention." She
be cut dramatically, perhaps in half,
grams.
crime" is between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
urged Congress to address crime be-
by Improving the supervision and
The anti-crime group, based in
when about 50 percent of juvenile
fore it occurs.
lives of children, especially those
Washington, D.C., and formed in
violent crimes occur, he said. Stud-
considered at-risk for delinquency.
1996, supports President Clinton's
les in certain cities have shown a
"Anything else is too little and
Specifically, the report urges
child-care proposals but also claims
noticeable drop in neighborhood
too late," said Ms. Halbert, who was
Congress and local lawmakers to put
bipartisan support.
crime reports when after-school pro-
raped, stabbed, beaten with a ham-
more money and effort into child
Some Republicans have said they
grains are established.
mer and left for dead by a teenager
care, parent coaching and after-
favor broad federal tax cuts for fam-
Several Texans signed the 50-
who broke into her home in 1986.
school and summer programs.
ilies, instead of diluting tax dollars
page report, titled "Quality Child
"I'm really convinced that we are
"There's no mystery here about
through the package of programs
Care and After-School Programs:
a nation that doesn't value our chil-
the steps we can take to reduce
and grants to states proposed by Mr.
Powerful Weapons Against Crime,"
dren. We are letting them grow up
crime. The bad news is, we're not
Clinton. Other Republicans are
which draws on wide research by
in poverty and neglect and 1 believe
doing it," said Sanford A. Newman,
crafting different child-care propos-
nationally known child-care experts
if we'd invested in early childhood
president of the nonprofit group
als.
and criminologists.
programs this wouldn't have hap-
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, which
But in a media conference, Re-
The Texas signers include Travis
pened to me."
compiled the study.
publican Sheriff Patrick Sullivan of
County District Attorney Ronald
The report is based partly on re-
He cited the national shortage of
Arapahoe County, Colo., said the
Earle, Harris County Attorney Mi-
search showing that child care is
affordable, quality child care for all
signers of the call to action are not
chael Fleming. police chiefs Russ
often inadequate and too costly for
familiés, and he noted that Head
advocating "big government."
Leach of El Paso and Al Phillipus of
poor working families and that
Start preschool programs are able to
"But I do believe government has
San Antonio and sheriffs Larry Oli-
America suffers from a chronic
serve only 4 of every 10 low-Income
to look at where it's investing its
varez of Neuces County and Margo
shortage of after-school and summer
children eligible.
dollars," he said. "We need to redi-
Frasier of Travis County.
programs for elementary through
Dallas Police Chief Ben Click has
rect some money into early child
Chief Click believes the group's
high school children.
agreed to serve as an adviser to the
group, joining police chiefs and
care and spend wisely."
priorities dovetail with his focus on
In the Dallas Independent School
Child care is not the "budget-
youth development and crime pre-
commissioners from Baltimore, Mi-
District, about 18,000 elementary
buster" that the naysayers portray,
vention, said Dallas Police Depart-
ami; Salt Lake City and Portland,
school children participate in on-
Ore:
said Gilbert Gallegos, national presi-
ment spokesman Ed Spencer.
site after-school programs - many
The study details a recent poll of
dent of the Fraternal Order of Police
While maintaining a policy of
of them free or available for a nomi-
and a former deputy chief in Albu-
"aggressive enforcement" toward
548 police chiefs who found they
nal fee, said spokesman Loretta Si-
querque who also spoke at the Tues-
crime, the Dallas department has re-
mon.
favored increased attention to chil-
day media conference.
cently added many community pro-
But the number served is still
dren's programs over hiring more
police officers or trying more juve-
only about one-fifth of the 99,000
niles as adults as the best way to
students enrolled in those grades.
fight crime
22A SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1998, THE HERALD
The Miami Herald
JOHN S. KNIGHT (1894-1981)
JAMES L KNIGHT (1909-1991)
DAVID LAWRENCE JR., Publisher and Chairman
JOE NATOLI
JIM HAMPTON
DOUGLAS C. CLIFTON
President
Editor
Executive Editor
MARTHA MUSGROVE and JOE OGLESBY
LARRY OLMSTEAD
Associate Editors
Managing Editor
A gold star for top cops
he evidence is
ies on crime that show
T
in. So 170 of the
LOOKING AT EVIDENCE
that a healthy child
nation's top
ready to start school is
cops and shoriffs have
Nation's police chiefs
less likely ever to be
joined with prosecu-
support more and better
engaged in crime.
tors, crime victims,
day care for U.S. kids.
Ditto for children who
and others in support-
are in recreational and
ing more and better
other programs when
day care as a crime-fighting weapon.
school's not in session.
They also threw support to other chil-
The chiefs' call is in support of Presi-
dren's programs, such as intense home
dent Clinton's initiatives on day care. It
counseling for troubled families and
well could translate to Gov. Lawton
after-school programs for all kids
Chiles's $84 million budget increase for
through the teenage years.
day care in Florida and for a Healthy
Off their beat? No. Most wise police
Families counseling program. And there
officers know that crime prevention has
are local efforts in South Florida to
a lot more to do with working on social
expand such programs as Success by Six
ills than sirens and handcuffs. This new
and Boys and Girls Clubs.
effort is through a foundation-funded
Taking care of children shouldn't be a
organization, Fight Crime: Invest in
partisan matter, although it is getting
Kids. Miami Chief Donald Warshaw is
bogged down in debates detached from
on its board. Palm Beach Sheriff Bob
daily realities over whether mothers
Neumann was the other South Florida
should stay home when many families
signatory of a "call to action" on day
have few choices. The chiefs bring a
care and after-school programs that was
fresh perspective to the debate, although
sent to Congress on Thursday.
their message is an old one: As the twig
The evidence comes from many stud-
is bent, so grows the tree.
FEB 14 '98 05PM
P.2.
St. Petersburg Times UCSI
Group links lack of supervision, crime
By ROB NELSON
Times StaffWriter
TAMPA - A non-profit advocacy group says crime
rates can be cut significantly if children are given
constructive places to go after school - what Presi-
dent Clinton called the "prime time" for juvenile crime
in his recent State of the Union speech.
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a group based in
Washington, D.C., released a report Thursday high-
lighting the connection between a lack of childhood
supervision and later involvement with crime.
The bipartisan crime prevention organization is
made up of police officers, prosecutors, criminologists
and crime survivors from across the country. Hillsbor-
ough County Sheriff Cal Henderson, St. Petersburg
police Chief Goliath Davis III and St. Petersburg City
Administrator Darrel W. Stephens are among the 200
members of the group's advisory committee and re-
source council, Fight Crime officials said.
"(Police officers) know what works in fighting
crime," group member and Miami police Chief Donald
Warshaw said in a telephone news conference. "In
polls of what they think will work, investing in the
after-school hours almost always wins out over hiring
more officers and building more prisons."
George Sweat, police chief in Winston-Salem. N.C.,
was more-blunt in echoing Warshaw's emphasis on the
importance of early intervention.
"Our fight against crime needs to start in the high
chair, not wait for the electric chair," he said.
Almost half the Incidents of juvenile crime occur
between 2 and 8 p.m., experts say. Many of those
crimes are committed by children who grew CD with
out quality care and supervision in the after-school
hours, which makes them several times more likely to
become chronic lawbreakers by adulthood, the Fight
Crime: Invest in Kids report said. If they had access to
quality, affordable child care, many of those youthful
offenders would never have been on the streets in the
first place, experts said.
"We're a nation that doesn't value its children."
said Ellen Halbert, a Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
member who was beaten and stabbed in 1986 bv an
18-year-old intruder who left her for dead after check-
ing her pulse. "If we had invested in kids earlier, then
maybe attacks like mine never would have happened."
The organization is calling for government and the
private sector to develop better, larger after-school
child care programs; as well as create guidance
courses for young parents. The benefits to taxpayers
would far outweigh the costs, experts say. According
to a study conducted by Mark A Cohen, a professor at
Vanderbilt University, every child prevented from
entering a life of crime saves the country around
$2million.
"There's no mystery about the steps we could
take," said Sanford Newman, president of the group.
"The bad news is. we're just not doing it vet.
PHILADELPHIA DAILY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6. 1998
NEWS
THE PEOPLE PAPER
Group: Programs
for kids a priority
Associated Press
tives to do the same.
Supporters of get-tough measures
WASHINGTON - Child care and
pending in Congress say they are
after-school programs steer chil-
designed to fix weaknesses in the
dren away from crime, and the
juvenile justice system and that
government should spend more
prevention is addressed in other
money on them, a private group
said yesterday.
legislation. They also have said that
The group, dubbed "Fight Crime:
spending more money won't neces-
Invest in Kids," said more Than 180
sarily reduce crime.
law-enforcement leaders and crime
President Clinton's budget pro-
victims support their position and
posal for 1999, released Monday,
have urged Congress to put more
seeks increases for Head Start and
emphasis on preventing crime.
several programs to boost child
"When we deny millions of pre-
care, including child care tax cred-
schoolers early childhood care and
its for middle-income people, child
Philadelphia, PA
when we deny school-age children
care subsidies for poor parents and
News
after-school programs. their risk of
day care block grants for states.
becoming criminals skyrockets,"
The Fight Crime group issued a
Philadelphia
said Sanford Newman, group presi-
report yesterday citing studies
Met Area
dent.
showing the benefits of the pro-
Filday
D 169,721
The group has criticized juvenile
grams they back.
crime bills pending in Congress,
In a letter to Congress, the group
saying they will starve child care
asked lawmakers 10 spend an addi-
FEB 6, 1998
and after-school programs that i:i-
tional $10 billion on Head Start and
clude sports, music and drama ac-
at least S20 billion for the Child
tivities. The bills would toughen
Care and Development Block Grant
federal laws dealing with juvenile
to make child care available to
crime and give states strong incen-
more parents.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871
MONDAY/MARCH 16, 1998
Ortega's Answer to Kid Crime: Alternative Act: ities
Ortega Contends
Give Youths Something to Do
"We know crime is going to occur. But
Youth Programs
our best potential for reducing it is in
After School, Police Boss Says
our kids. We need to give them structure
Can Cut Crime
and positive activity after school.
"Right now, too many of them have
BY HOLLY MULLEN
Continued From A-1
only the malls and the streets."
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
And then, Ortega, who was sitting for a
You could call it the weekday "witch-
recent interview at a conference table in
powerful Democrats in Congress
ing hour." The clock strikes 3 p.m.
his spacious eighth-floor office at police
notably Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-
Schools are just letting out, kids are on
headquarters in downtown Salt Lake
Mass., who on March 2 introduced
the streets and the crime rate suddenly
City, said something many politically
a bill calling for $7.25 billion over
skyrockets.
conservative Utahns would rather not
five years for after-school, week
hear.
Statistically, youths commit more
end and summer programs for
crime between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. than
A1 Hartmann/The Salt Lake Tribune
The government needs to help. A lot.
school-age children. Kennedy has
any other time of the day. It's true in
Salt Lake Police Chief Ruben Ortega
"We need funds," Ortega says. "We
suggested paying for the pro-
Utah and the rest of the nation. And, ac-
need the elected and appointed leader-
grams through a tobacco tax or by
cording to a 1995 study by the Utah Com-
mission to turn that trend around. Re-
ship to support after-school programs
cutting corporate tax breaks.
mission on Criminal and Juvenile Jus-
cently elected chairman of the Major Cit-
for children. These programs cost mon-
The government would ear-
tice, late afternoon is "crime time"
ies Chiefs, an organization of police
ey, but it's an investment that will pay
mark the money for youth pro-
almost equally in the urban and rural
off."
chiefs from the largest cities in the Unit-
grams only, which is the piece of
areas of the state.
ed States and Canada, Ortega has an
In this, Ortega has the support of some
the bill Republicans cannot agree
It's no surprise then that Salt Lake
agenda, and he isn't the least bit timid
with, says Jeanne Lopatto, press
City Police Chief Ruben Ortega is on a
about it.
See ORTEGA, Page A-7
secretary for the Senate Judiciary
Committee and a staff member of
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, who
chairs the panel.
"There is a clear difference in
It is this combination of early
methods of funding and adminis-
intervention and prevention that
tering these programs," Lopatto
is succeeding on the streets of
says. Hatch has introduced his
Boston, a city that Ortega and
own proposal, dubbed the Violent
many other law-enforcement
and Repeat Juvenile Offender Act
leaders cite for its groundbreak-
of 1997, which would give the
ing approach to fighting youth
states $2.5 billion over five years
crime.
to spend on anti-crime measures
Until the shooting death of a
largely as they see fit.
16-year-old boy on Dec. 11, 1997,
the city had gone for 29 months
Youth Crime Prevention: The
without a juvenile murder.
Hatch bill would earmark 60 per-
cent of the grants for youth crime
Network of Cooperation:
prevention, Lonatto says.
Boston's program relies on coop-
"The mor
buld go to the
eration by po'
Jurts and so-
states, as opposc_ to the federal
cial agencies to tar_ at the most vi-
government telling them what to
olent and repeat youth criminals,
do and how to spend it. The states
says Jim Jordan, spokesman for
know best how to use the money."
Police Commissioner Paul Evans.
Already there are numerous af-
"With the help of some good in-
ter-school programs in place for
telligence, we're targeting which
children along the Wasatch Front.
youngster is most likely to get
Some of them, such as community
killed or to kill somebody," Jor-
centers, receive government aid.
dan says. Once the "regulars" are
Others, like the Boys and Girls
identified, police and probation
Clubs, YMCA and other nonpro-
officers ride herd on them.
fits, depend largely on private
In 25 percent of Boston's mur-
foundations and donations for
ders, the shooter was already on
support. Still others, like Kids To-
probation. And those suspects av-
gether, one after-school program
eraged nine criminal arraign-
offered in some Salt Lake City
ments - on cases ranging from
and Jordan school districts, oper-
petty property crimes to homi-
ate for profit.
cide, Jordan says.
The Salt Lake City police are
Once the repeat offenders were
making their own contribution,
taken out, a "startling revelation
Ortega says, but it still is not
occurred," Jordan says.
enough. The department sponsors
The number of violent crimes
three Boy Scout and three Girl
by youth began to collapse.
Scout troops in low-income neigh-
Four years ago, when President
borhoods. There is also a police
Clinton proposed the massive
Explorer post with 20 teen-age
crime bill, the cry went up against
girls and boys.
many of the programs geared to-
These early intervention pro-
ward youth.
grams go hand-in-hand with en-
"Midnight basketball" became
forcement, Ortega says.
the buzzwords for all that was sil-
"We'll never arrest ourselves
ly, frivolous and unnecessary.
out of the crime problem," Ortega
This time around, Ruben Orte-
says. "But we can decrease it by
ga is feeling more optimistic that
identifying the peediest kids early
Kennedy's bill will succeed, that
and working with them.
more of that elusive federal aid
"I can walk into any grade
will come this way.
school in town and the teachers
That's because Ortega sees af-
can tell me who is at risk to fail,"
ter-school care as a bipartisan is-
Ortega says. "They come to school
sue. He wants to believe that poli-
dirty and hungry. They are with-
ticians will rise above their petty
drawn. They are truant. We've
differences and invest in children.
got to get to these children and let
He shrugs his shoulders and
them know someone cares about
smiles.
what happens to them."
"I gotta believe," he says, "that
this is one issue the Democrats
and Republicans can agree on."
NATIONAL ADVISORY
President
COMMITTEE
FIGHT
INVEST
Sanford A. Newman
POLICE
Associate Directors
'Philip Arreola
Chief, Tacoma, WA
CRIME
IN KIDS
Amy R. Dawson
Brendan J. Fitzsimons
Sherman Block
Sheriff, LA County, CA
Communications Director
William Bratton
John W. Bartlett
Fmr. Commiss'r., NYC
Sam A. Cabral
President, Int'l Union of
Police Ass'ns, AFL-CIO
Memorandum
Dean M. Esserman
Chief. Stamford, CT
Edward A. Flynn
To:
Friends of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS
Chief, Arlington, VA
Thomas C. Frazier
From: Sandy Newman
Police Commissioner,
Baltimore, MD
Date:
March 26, 1998
Gilbert G. Gallegos
Re:
Update
President, Fraternal
Order of Police
E. Douglas Hamilton
Chief, Louisville, KY
Phil E. Keith
There have been some remarkable developments at FIGHT CRIME:
Chief, Knoxville, TN
INVEST IN KIDS in the last few months. This year has seen major
R. Gil Kerlikowske
Commissioner, Buffalo, NY
advances for FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS in fundraising, in the
Charles A. Moose
enlistment of police prosecutors and crime survivors to advocate for our
Chief. Portland. OR
Patrick V. Murphy
agenda and serve on our advisory committees, and in building public
Former Commiss'r. NYC.
and Congressional support for major investments in child care and
DC, Detroit. Syracuse
Dennis E. Nowicki
after-school programs.
Chief, Charlotte. NC
Ruben B. Ortega
Additional 150 Police Chiefs, Prosecutors, and
Chief, Salt Lake City. UT
Bernard C. Parks
Crime Survivors Join our Advisory Committees!
Chief, Los Angeles, CA
Matt L. Rodriguez
Fmr. Police Sup't. Chicago, IL
In the past two months FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS has
Joseph Samuels, Jr.
doubled the size of its National and State Advisory Committees which
Chief, Oakland. CA
Darrell Sanders
now include over 250 of the nation's best known and most respected
Chief, Frankfort. IL
police chiefs, prosecutors, and crime survivors. This is especially
Jerry Sanders
Chief. San Diego, CA
significant because all have signed, as a condition of membership, our
Darrel W. Stephens
Crime Prevention Agenda, which calls for sweeping investments aimed
Fmr. Chief, St. Petersburg. FL
Patrick J. Sullivan, Jr.
at giving kids the right start in life.
Sheriff, Arapahoe Co., CO
Donald H. Warshaw
Chief. Miami, FL
As we build momentum, it becomes clearer that the only obstacle to
PROSECUTORS
increasing the size of our state and national committees is the amount
of staff time that we can devote to doing this.
Ronald Earle
District Atty., Travis Co., TX
Norman S. Early, Jr.
Building Support for Child Care and After-School Programs
Former D.A., Denver, CO
Ralph C. Martin, II
District Atty.. Suffolk Co., MA
Our efforts this year are focused on the enormous opportunities to
Elliot L. Richardson
win major increases in federal support for child care and after-school
Former Attorney General
and Secretary of HEW, of
programs. In 1998, we will be working with valuable allies such as the
Defense and of Commerce
Children's Defense Fund, the Child Care Action Campaign, the Child
Grant Woods
Attorney General, AZ
Welfare League of America, and the YMCA, as well as other groups to
CRIME SURVIVORS
use our unique voice to help the public understand the crime prevention
impact of investments in kids.
Frances Davis
Fdr., Mothers of All Children
Ellen Halbert
A. New Report and Call for Action Issued
Editor, National Crime
Victims Report
Carole Grant Hall
On February 5th, we held a press briefing releasing our latest
Director, Ginger Ridge
research report, Quality Child Care and After-School Programs: Powerful
Residents' Initiative
Marc Klaas
Weapons Against Crime. Drawing on programs and research from across
Fdr., Klaas Fdn. for Children
the country, this report clearly shows the crime prevention impact of
Dennis Lees, Ph.D.
Mgr., Mental Health Clinic
investments in child care and after-school programs and the critical need
Jean Lewis
for more investments in these programs.
President. Parents of
Murdered Children
Gordon Rondeau &
Elaine Rondeau
Founders, Action America:
Murder Must End Now
1334 G Street, NW
Suite B
Washington, DC 20005-3107
(202) 638-0690
Fax (202) 638-0673
www.fightcrime.org
A project of the Action Against Crime and Violence Education Fund
Along with our report, we released a Call to Action signed by all the members of our
National and State Advisory Committees and our Resource Council, urging public officials to
cut crime and protect public safety by assuring that all kids and parents have access to
quality child care, parenting coaching and family supports, and after-school, weekend and
summer youth development programs.
Clips generated by our press briefing are still rolling in from scores of newspapers
around the country including the Washington Post, the Dallas Morning News, the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette and the Miami Herald. You may have also noted that this week's Newsweek
contains an article by columnist Jonathan Alter regarding the importance of investments in
kids in light of the tragedy in Jonesboro last week. The article quotes FIGHT CRIME President
Sandy Newman and draws from statistics used in our reports. I've attached a copy of this
article with news clips from our recent press briefing.
B. Major Cities Police Chiefs Endorse Our Call
In early February, FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS Associate Director Amy Dawson and
I gave a presentation about the crime prevention impact of investments in kids at the winter
meeting of the Major Cities Police Chiefs Organization, an organization made up of police
chiefs from 52 of the largest cities in the US and Canada.
The response from the Major Cities Chiefs was beyond anything we could have hoped
for. Nearly half its members already belong to FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS Advisory
Committees, and we expect to have nearly all of them signed within the next couple of
months. More gratifying still, they passed a resolution nearly identical to the Call to Action
we released on February 5th urging all elected officials to reduce crime and increase public
safety by investing in child care, after-school programs, and parenting coaching. And then
last week the National District Attorney's Association added a similar call for child care
and after-school programs.
We are all excited about the impact this will have as these chiefs and prosecutors bring
the message home that investing in our nation's most vulnerable children and families is one
of the best ways to reduce crime and violence.
C. Bringing Our Message to Congress
Baltimore Police Commissioner Thomas Frazier represented FIGHT CRIME in a briefing
to over 75 key Congressional staffers on the crime prevention impact of after-school
programs as well as press conference convened by the Child Care Action Campaign on
pending child care and after-school proposals. At both events, staffers and reporters were
impressed as Commissioner Frazier explained that he was so convinced of the need for after-
school programs that he has assigned police officers to create and staff 27 after-school
centers in strategically selected neighborhoods - largely neighborhoods where other agencies
were afraid to keep facilities open in the afternoon and the evening. He reports that, in the
neighborhoods where his first center was opened, crime dropped 42% within a year.
Commissioner Frazier also testified on March 5th, to the Senate Committee on Labor
and Human Resources about the crime prevention impact of early childhood investments and
after-school programs. In February, Arlington Chief of Police, Edward A. Flynn, testified on
behalf of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS to the Senate Subcommittee on Children and
Families.
In addition to our members' participation in Congressional briefings and hearings, many
of our Advisory Committee members have been directly contacting their Congresspersons or
Senators to urge them to support larger investments in child care and after-school programs.
Growth at the State Level
Along with intensifying our national efforts to educate opinion leaders and the public,
we're stepping up our organizing of committees in target states in 1998. We recently hired
Kim Joris, a former police officer and detective, to coordinate our operations in North
Carolina. Kim comes to us after recently serving on the Governor's Highway Safety Program
and has significant experience in public relations and organizing. Together with our state
partner, the Illinois Council for the Prevention of Violence, we are currently looking for a staff
person to coordinate FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS ILLINOIS, and we plan to launch as
many as eight new state chapters this year.
Our efforts last year in Illinois provide a hint of the kind of impact such intense
organizing efforts can have. So far we've been able to recruit the heads of all four of the
state's major law enforcement organizations as well as the state's Attorney General,
Chicago's Police Superintendent, the President of the International Association of Chiefs of
Police, and police, prosecutors and crime survivors from diverse communities state-wide to
serve on our committee in Illinois. Our allies in Illinois, the Day Care Action Council and
Voices for Illinois Children, led the fight for these initiatives, but they would tell you that the
voices of FIGHT CRIME played a valuable part in ultimately winning $40 million in extra
funding for child care and early childhood programs last year. We've been able to
accomplish all this even though we have yet to hire a state coordinator.
New Funders Build Fight Crime's Capacity
The news on the fundraising front has been terrific so far this year. This month,
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS received a grant of $75,000 a year for the next three
years from the DeWitt Wallace, Reader's Digest Fund and a one-year grant of $75,000
from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. These grants are the biggest that our
organization has received so far.
In December and January, we also received a grant for an additional $20,000 from
the Naomi and Nehemia Cohen Foundation on top of $5,000 they had already
pledged, an $11,000 grant from the Threshold Foundation, a $5,000 renewal from the
Blum-Kovler Foundation, as well as smaller grants from other valued supporters who
helped us meet the terms of a $10,000 challenge grant from David Stern and Tracey
Hughes.
These grants are going to make a big difference in the coming year as we gear up to move
our operations to the next level.
The Legislative Front
A number of child care initiatives have been introduced by the President and members of
Congress over the last two months. President Clinton's proposal would provide $4 billion a
year for child care and an additional $200 million a year for after-school programs. If
passed, this could be the biggest step that Congress has ever taken to fight crime and help
children get the right start in life. We've also noted, however, that this bill meets only one-
fifth of the most urgent need for child care and after-school programs and we've urged
Congress to tell the President "we'll see you and raise you".
The most ambitious child care proposal on the table was introduced by Senator
Kennedy (D-MA) and calls for around $6 billion a year for child care programs. House
Democrats have recently introduced bills which would earmark about $3 billion a year, from
a new tobacco tax, to improve and expand child care. Senators Chaffee (R-RI) and Hatch
(R-UT) have introduced a more modest proposal. I've enclosed a summary of the Clinton
proposal, and would be glad to give you summaries of the other bills if you would like.
Although all of these proposals fall short of meeting the needs of America's children, it is
heartening to watch as consensus grows on both sides of the aisle that it's time for major
steps forward in helping kids get quality child care and after-school programs. While the
legislative situation is very fluid and it is difficult to predict an outcome at this point, it is
clear that the level of interest, in Congress and across the country - and the opportunity for
substantial action - is very high.
This year's balanced budget and surpluses being recorded in states around the country
have made it difficult for politicians to argue, as they have in the past, that there isn't enough
money for these programs. It is clear that 1998 offers the best opportunity in decades to win
major investments for kids at the state and federal level.
The groundwork we have laid so far has put us in a position to make an important
contribution to this year's developments regarding programs for children. As we gear up to
take advantage of this opportunity, we are beginning to glimpse the potential impact of our
strategy. For example, our September press conference centered on our After-School Programs
or After-School Crime report, showing that after-school programs could dramatically reduce
crime. The report analyzed new data (compiled by the National Center for Juvenile Justice)
revealing that after-school hours are the peak hours for juvenile crime and that violent
juvenile crime triples in the first hour after school dismissal.
Now, we routinely see the report's analysis alluded to in support of after-school
programs. For example, it has repeatedly been cited by the President (including in his State
of the Union message and his earlier announcement of his child care and after-school
initiative) and in statements by the Vice President, the Attorney General, members of
Congress and state legislators around the country. We may even be nearing the point where
these key data about juvenile crime become "common knowledge," routinely linked to the
need for after-school programs. Earlier, a minority report of the Judiciary Committee noted
that our public education efforts and other advocacy had played a key role in persuading the
full committee to restore $60 million in prevention programs which had been cut in
subcommittee.
Despite considerable progress, we know that we have only begun to scratch the surface
of the difference that we expect to make for kids. We remain focused on the enormous
opportunities that lie ahead and the hard work that will be needed by Fight Crime and so
many others to turn those opportunities into concrete improvements in the lives of children.
Enclosures
Selected Press Clips
Call to Action
Executive Summary of Our Report: Quality Child Care and After-School
Programs: Key Weapons Against Crime
Job Descriptions
P.S. If you know people we should consider for the positions outlined on the attached
job description sheet, please let them know about the openings here.
NATIONAL ADVISORY
President
COMMITTEE
Sanford A. Newman
FIGHT
INVEST
POLICE
Associate Directors
Philip Arreola
Chief, Tacoma, WA
CRIME
IN KIDS
Amy R. Dawson
Brendan J. Fitzsimons
Sherman Block
Sheriff, LA County, CA
Communications Director
William Bratton
John W. Bartlett
Fmr. Commiss'r. NYC
Sam A. Cabral
President, Int'l Union of
Police Ass'ns, AFL-CIO
Dean M. Esserman
Chief, Stamford, CT
A CALL FOR ACTION FROM AMERICA'S
Edward A. Flynn
Chief, Arlington, VA
FRONT LINE AGAINST CRIME
Thomas C. Frazier
Police Commissioner,
Baltimore. MD
Gilbert G. Gallegos
President, Fraternal
Order of Police
The following statement has been signed by:
E. Douglas Hamilton
Chief, Louisville. KY
Phil E. Keith
0 over 250 of the nation's leading police chiefs, sheriffs, and
Chief, Knoxville. TN
R. Gil Kerlikowske
prosecutors;
Commissioner, Buffalo, NY
Charles A. Moose
0 the presidents of the Fraternal Order of Police and the
Chief. Portland, OR
Patrick V. Murphy
International Union of Police Associations, which together
Former Commiss'r. NYC,
DC. Detroit. Syracuse
represent 360,000 police officers; and
Dennis E. Nowicki
Chief. Charlotte. NC
Ruben B. Ortega
0 the President of the National Organization of Parents of
Chief, Salt Lake City, UT
Bernard C. Parks
Murdered Children and many of the nation's crime survivors
Chief, Los Angeles, CA
most active in victim advocacy; and
Matt L. Rodriguez
"Fmr. Police Sup't. Chicago. IL
Joseph Samuels, Jr.
« more than twenty of America's leading criminologists and law
Chief. Oakland, CA
Darrell Sanders
enforcement, child and youth development experts.
Chief, Frankfort. IL
Jerry Sanders
Chief. San Diego. CA
Darrel W. Stephens
A similar statement has also been endorsed by the Major Cities Chiefs
Fmr. Chief. St. Petersburg. FL
Patrick J. Sullivan, Jr.
Association, the organization of police chiefs from 49 of the largest urban areas
Sheriff. Arapahoe Co., CO
Donald H. Warshaw
in North America representing 26 states and 3 Canadian provinces.
Chief. Miami, FL
PROSECUTORS
Ronald Earle
District Atty., Travis Co., TX
Norman S. Early, Jr.
Former D.A., Denver, CO
As POLICE, PROSECUTORS AND CRIME SURVIVORS, we struggle every day
Ralph C. Martin, II
District Atty., Suffolk Co., MA
against crime and its devastating impact. We are determined to see that
Elliot L. Richardson
Former Attorney General
dangerous criminals are arrested and put behind bars. But anyone who thinks
and Secretary of HEW, of
Defense and of Commerce
that jailing a criminal is enough to undo the agony that crime leaves in its
Grant Woods
Attorney General, AZ
wake hasn't seen crime up close. That is why no one knows better that we
CRIME SURVIVORS
that the most important weapons against crime are the investments which
Frances Davis
keep kids from becoming criminals - investments which enable all children
Fdr., Mothers of All Children
Ellen Halbert
Editor, National Crime
to get the right start they need to become contributing citizens, and which
Victims Report
Carole Grant Hall
show them that as adults they will be able to meet their families' basic needs
Director, Ginger Ridge
Residents' Initiative
through honest hard work.
Marc Klaas
Fdr., Klaas Fdn. for Children
Dennis Lees, Ph.D.
We know from scientific research and from our own experience that these
Mgr Mental Health Clinic
Jean Lewis
President, Parents of
investments work to reduce crime. But they can only work for the children
Murdered Children
Gordon Rondeau &
they reach.
Elaine Rondeau
Founders, Action America:
Murder Must End Now
1334 G Street, NW
Suite B
Washington, DC 20005-3107
(202) 638-0690
Fax (202) 638-0673
www.fightcrime.org
A project of the Action Against Crime and Violence Education Fund
CRIME DOES NOT RESPECT BOUNDARIES OF NEIGHBORHOODS, cities, or even
states. When any of America's children fail to get the right start, their classmates
are exposed to peer pressure that may undermine even the most dedicated
parenting, and all of us are endangered.
Delivering these crime prevention investments to all children often requires
community partnerships of government, parents, charities and volunteers, and
the private sector. But that doesn't mean that public officials can meet their
obligations by wishing someone else were doing the job. Since protecting the
public safety is the most fundamental government responsibility, government
must provide the policies and the funding necessary to create and sustain the
necessary partnerships. When public officials fail to meet that responsibility,
they take away our most effective weapons in the war against crime, forcing us to
fight with one hand tied behind our backs.
WE THEREFORE CALL ON ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY
by adopting common sense policies to:
Provide for all infants, toddlers and preschool children access to quality child
care at a price their parents can afford;
Strengthen families and reduce child abuse, neglect and delinquency by
offering all parents (at their option) "parenting coaches" through proven
home visiting programs, as well as access to community-based family
resource centers.
Provide for all of America's school-age children and teens after-school
programs, and access to weekend and summer programs that offer recreation,
academic support and community service experience.
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS
1334 G STREET NW, SUITE B
WASHINGTON, DC 20005
(202) 638-0690
FAX (202) 638-0673
HTTP://WWW.FIGHTCRIME.ORG/
13/31/98 TUE 16:11 FAX 617 432 3448
PHDCN
007
FYI-
2 studies from
COLLECTIVE EFFICACY FOR CHILDREN:
Schecage
NEIGHBORHOOD DIMENSIONS AND STRUCTURAL ANTECEDENTS
Andy
Robert J. Sampson and Felton Earls
any
Revised version of paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological
up
Association, Toronto, Canada, 1997.
I
think
ABSTRACT
these
all excity very
This paper specifies theoretical properties of neighborhoods that constitute the collective support
of childrearing. Using data collected in 1995 from a study of more than 8,500 residents of 342
Neera
neighborhoods in Chicago, we examine three such properties: intergenerational closure of adult-
child ties, reciprocal exchange among adults, and informal social control of children. Multi-level
analyses reveal that measures of these constructs yield moderate to high between-neighborhood
reliabilities, and are related among themselves and to other dimensions of social
organization-friend/kinship networks, services for youth, and local participation in voluntary
associations-in a manner consistent with theoretical expectations. After adjusting for individual-
level differences in informants' reports of neighborhood properties, we also assess the predictive
explanatory power of neighborhood structural characteristics. Results show that neighborhood
stability and concentrated affluence, more so than poverty and ethnic-race composition, comprise
the glue that fastens social support for children. In fact, an analysis of more than 100 all-black
neighborhoods shows that residential stability emerges as the most important systemic factor
promoting collective child support.
03/31/98 TUE 16:11 FAX 617 432 3448
PHDCN
008
Project Abstract - Harvard School of Public Health (Nb. ACYF-PA-CC-9701 Child Care
Research Partnerships)
In this time of welfare to work transition for low-income single parents, the availability,
affordability, flexibility and quality of child care have major implications for children's successful
transition to school and parent's successful transition to economic self-sufficiency. The proposed
parmership of the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN; based at the
Harvard School of Public Health), the Child Care Division of the Illinois Department of Human
Services (IDHS). and the Children's Services of the Chicago Department of Human Services (CDHS)
is intended to bring together three distinctive data bases on low-income families and children. We
intend to integrate our data bases in order to study factors related to the supply of different types of
early child care services including Head Start, preschool, and different forms of center or family-
based day care and their use by low income families. Moreover, we wish to study factors related to the
use-supply relationship. We will analyze data on the supply/availability of child care in conjunction
with 1) the PHDCN data on formal and informal social networks in the community (e.g., collective
efficacy), 2) demographic characteristics of neighborhood and other community resources and 3)
levels of community violence and victimization. Furthermore, we will examine how parent
involvement in the schooling and day care of their children is influenced by the characteristics of those
settings and by the neighborhoods and families in which they reside. From this we can see how this
involvement influences the child's developmental outcome.
Central to this enterprise will be a comprehensive assessment of the school, Head Start, and
day care settings that the parents of approximately 900 PHDCN young children from low income
families (i.e., eligible for Head Start or Day Care subsidies) decide to use. If a service is used, we will
examine how parents perceive the quality, accessibility, affordability and flexibility of these care
arrangements. We will also independently rate the global quality of center and home-based care
settings using trained observers. These assessments will be supplemented in Head Start programs with
CDHS data from the On-Site Program Review Inventory (OSPRI) and other program data.
One particular interest in comparing these three data bases is to determine how parental
involvement in the child's out-of-home care or early education program relates to sustainability of
positive developmental outcomes as children enter kindergarten and elementary school. We suspect
that parental involvement in their child's programs and care and the collective efficacy of
neighborhoods to mutually support the child's successful transition to school. We intend to present
parents, providers, state and city administrations and child development researchers with the results of
our data analyses, and reports of our dialogue sessions on policy as they become available. Our
analyses and policy deliberations will be done with respect for parents as the primary advocates for
their children in addition to their roles as community citizens and labor force participants.
10 key words: child care, Head Start, quality, parents, poverty, work, welfare, community, violence,
advocacy
The Washington Times
FINAL
PHONE (202) 636-3000
http://www.washtimes.com
WASHINGTON, D.C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1998 *
R##
SUBSCRIBER SERVICE 3333
25
cents
more than "child storage." That damages child
After-school crime busting
development, including kids' ability to get along
with others and succeed in school, and ultimate-
ly puts your family's safety at risk.
FBI data tells us that violent juvenile crime
By Edward A. Flynn
ing, save lives and compensate taxpayers for the
triples in the hour after the school bell rings, and
billions we've paid to treat health problems
half occurs between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The good
I
f you've been reading the huge ads the big
caused by smoking.
news: After-school programs can cut crime by as
tobacco companies have been running recent-
In fact, if Congress allocates at least half of the
much as 75 percent. And they help kids do bet-
ly, you might think tobacco legislation will
new revenues to support educational child devel-
ter in school, treat adults with respect, and
cause a new American crime problem by creat-
opment and after-school programs, it can dra-
resolve conflicts without violence.
ing a black market in cigarettes.
matically reduce crime, violence and addiction.
Unsupervised after-school hours aren't just
In fact, the tobacco bill is an oppor-
The tobacco companies are
prime time for juvenile crime. They're also prime
tunity for Congress to take its most
worried about their bottom
time for youngsters to become crime victims, and
powerful step ever to fight crime-
line. 1 look at crime's bottom
for other threats to children's health like teen sex
by investing half the new revenues in
ine./Educational child care
and substance abuse. There's good evidence that
the child care and after-school pro-
for young children and after-
after-school supervision can cut in half the risk
grams proven to prevent crime and
school programs for school-
that kids will smoke, drink or use drugs.
make communities safe.
age kids are two of the most
So in addition to their proven anti-crime
The tobacco magnates' claims
powerful weapons to fight
impact, after-school programs - because of the
deflate when you look at the facts:
crime and to protect our kids
supervision they can offer while parents are at
They use grossly inflated projec-
from getting hooked on tobac-
work, and their positive effect on kids' values -
tions of cigarette cost increases, as
CO. For example:
are powerful anti-smoking and anti-drug pro-
much as three times higher than
Studies have shown that
grams as well.
the $1.25 or so the Treasury Depart-
denying at-risk toddlers qual-
Law enforcement leaders nationwide - from
ment and most economists agree
ity educational child care
the Police Executive Research Forum and the
will be added to the price of ciga-
may multiply by up to five
Major Cities Chiefs organization to the National
rettes.
times the risk that they will
District Attorneys Association and Fight Crime:
They ignore protections in the
become chronic law break-
Invest In Kids - have called on legislators this
bill, like requiring that each pack of
ers as adults, and by up to ten
year to provide the funds so communities can
cigarettes carry a serial number so
times the risk they will be
ensure all kids access to educational child care and
it can be easily traced, that will
delinquent at age 16.
after-school programs while parents are at work.
probably reduce the shuggling that now occurs'
What's more, as a recent Rand report shows,
The way to do that - the one-two punch that
between states.
these programs actually produce savings to gov-
also fights teen smoking - is by designating at
While there could be some increase in inter-
ernment - primarily from lower criminal jus-
least half of new federal tobacco tax revenues to
national smuggling, the best way to deal with that
tice and social service expenditures - as much
support child care and after-school programs.
is to make sure a bit of tobacco revenues are left
as four times higher than their cost.
This would be one of the most powerful steps
available to enforce the new law T not to elimi-
But today millions of Americans who must
Congress has ever taken against crime, and a
nate tobacco penalties that would reduce smok-
work earn less than the cost of quality child care
tremendous investment to help America build a
for two kids. Because Head Start and child care
healthy and productive generation for the twen-
block grants don't have the resources to help most
ty-first century, decrease long-term government
Edward A. Flynn is Chief of the Arlington Coun-
of those who need them, parents are forced to
financial burdens like welfare and crime costs,
ty Police Department.
leave their children in poor-quality care - little
and start saving innocent lives today.
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
© Copyright 1998, The Anzona Republic
Kids come first, officers say
Group advocates anti-crime programs
The law-enforcement officials want
to be delinquent.
the Legislature to approve the money
If kids are unsupervised from 2
during its 1999 session. They said the
p.m. to 8 p.m., they are twice as likely
By Karina Bland
will keep children out of trouble,
investment would make their jobs
to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or
The Arizona Republic
including child-abuse prevention and
easier.
use drugs.
A bunch of badge-toting big guys
child care, preschools, after-school and
A report by the national group
After-school programs can cut juve-
with guns on their hips -- cops and
summer programs
which includes more than 300 police
nile crime as much as 75 percent.
sheriffs from across the state - talked
At an afternoon news conference at
chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and crime
The investment we make today will
tough about kids Tuesday, though not
Phoenix Day Child and Family Learning
victims - reported that:
pay rich dividends in peace of mind and
the ones they pick up for stealing.
Center, seven Arizona police chiefs and
Kids who do not get quality child
public safety and children who grow up
They talked about babies and small
two sheriffs, members of a national
care might be up to 10 times more
to be good neighbors," Paradise Valley
children, the ones who haven't done
anti-crime group called 'Fight Crime:
ikely to become delinquent leenagers
Police Chief John Wintersteen said.
anything wrong. At least not yet.
Invest in Kids" - asked lawmakers for
and up to five times more likely to
Nationwide, 92 percent of police
To keep it that way, these law-
money to fund programs for kids.
become chronic law-breakers.
chiefs said crime could be sharply
enforcement officers want the state
Statewide, 21 law-enforcement officials
The children of parents who have
Legislature to pay for programs that
have joined the group.
proper parenting skills are half as likely
-- Please see OFFICERS, Page B2
B2
c
The Arizona Republic
Wednesday, June 24. 1998
+
-
Charles Krejcsi/The Arizona Republic
Joining the call were (from left) Glen
police Chief David Dobrotka, Peoria Chief Micl
Strope, Tucson c
Douglas Smith, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe An
,,
Surp
Chief Garvin Arrell, Paradise Valley Chief John
Officers back programs for kids
- OFFICERS, from Page BI
nearly $580 million budget sur-
to participate.
plus.
Last week, the Arizona Sher-
reduced if government invested
The problem is, early in-
iffs and County Attorneys As-
more in programs that help
tervention programs often take
sociation unanimously passed a
children. according to a July
years to show results. thereby
resolution calling for more
1996 survey by Northeastern
losing favor with lawmakers
emphasis on prevention and
University.
who prefer policies with more
intervention programs.
"The government can fund
immediate payoffs.
But when Yuma County Sher-
room and board for our crimi-
Last session. lawmakers elim-
iff Ralph Ogden took the
nals," Maricopa County Sheriff
inated Health Start. a program
resolution to lawmakers. "They
Joe Arpaio said. "They should
that taught women about prena-
said. We know kids are impor-
start funding these programs."
tal care. how to care for babies
tant. but
the sheriff said.
But given the choice between
and health care.
shaking his head. So. the
such programs and building a
Lawmakers kept Healthy
officers said they will just get
new jail, Arpaio said he would
Families. a child-abuse preven-
louder and lobby harder. he
choose the jail because crimi-
tion program. but froze its
said.
nals shouldn't be on the streets.
funding and required partici-
Still. it shouldn't be a matter
pants to perform community
of choosing between one and
service. They also decided that
the other. other officers ob-
many of the parents most likely
served. The money is available,
to abuse children. those re-
Wintersteen said. citing the
ferred to state Child Protective
state's tobacco tax fund and a
Services. would not be allowed
UTAH
Deseret News
EDITION
Starts locall owned dal newspaper
http://www.desnews.com
YEAR / No. 335
SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH
FRIDAY. MAY 15, 199
Best crime prevention is to invest in kids
By Ruben Ortega
hood crime by as much as 40 percent to 75
ter-school programs are also proved to
percent in some cities,
save billions of tax dollars down the road.
From across Utah and across the nation,
And we shouldn't wait until kids start
law enforcement leaders are coming for-
A leading economist estimates that the
ward to call for some major new steps in
school. Studies have shown that denying
cost, including crime and welfare costs, of
America's fight
at-risk toddlers quality child care may
failing to provide at least two years of
This op-ed by Fight
against crime. But
multiply by as much as five to 10 times the
quality child care to low-income children
Crime: Invest in Kids
My view"
what we're asking for
risk that they will become criminals later.
is approximately $100,000 per child.
Advisory Committee
may not be what you'd
Today, millions of parents who must
That's hundreds of billions of tax dollars
member Ruben Ortega
expect.
work earn less than the cost of quality
we could save by supporting child care.
also ran in the Salt Lake
Those of us on the front lines under-
child care. They are forced to leave their
When we as a nation make Head Start
stand that, as important as our work is,
children in poor quality baby-sitting that
and Early Head Start available to every el
City Tribune, circ
we'll never be able to just arrest and im-
actually damages child development, in-
igible child, help struggling families pay
184,000
prison our way out of the crime problem
cluding kids' ability to get along with oth-
for good child care and provide communi-
America most powerful and under-
ers and succeed in school, and ultimately
ties with the funds to give every school-age
used weapons against crime are the public
puts your family's safety at risk.
child positive alternatives to the street in
investments that help families and com-
Head Start, America's principal child
the after-school hours, we will win a stun-
munities provide good child care and af-
development program for our most at-risk
ning victory against crime.
ter-school programs that teach at-risk kids
kids, is so starved for funds it can serve
Government cannot meet its most fun-
the values and skills to be good citizens in-
less than half of eligible preschoolers, can
damental responsibilities- protecting
stead of criminals.
serve them only part of their parents'
public health and the public safety -
The evidence now proves that boosting
workday, only part of the year and reaches
without making sure every community can
public investment in child care and after-
scarcely any kids under 3.
provide its kids the quality child care and
school programs could dramatically cut
No wonder a recent poll showed police
after-school programs proved to help
crime.
chiefs ranked increasing investments like
their children grow up right.
The after-school hours are prime time
child care and after-school programs our
That's why Congress should allocate at
for juvenile crime, FBI data show violent
"most effective" anti-crime weapons by a
least half of new federal tobacco tax reve-
juvenile crime triples in the hour after the
four-to-one margin over trying more juve-
nues to support child care and after-school
school bell rings, and nearly half occurs
niles as adults or even hiring more police.
programs. This two-fisted attack boosting
between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Being unsuper-
Nine out of 10 chiefs said, "America could
tobacco prices to keep kids from smoking
vised in the afternoon also doubles the risk
sharply reduce crime if government in-
and investing those funds in programs that
that kids will smoke cigarettes, drink alco-
vested more" in child care and after-
build better young citizens would be
hol or use drugs.
school programs.
among the most powerful steps Congress
Salt Lake City, UT
Yet every day, more then 5 million
Last month, through a new organization
has ever taken to fight crime and increase
latchkey kids spend their afternoons with-
called Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, more
DESERET NEWS
public safety and public health.
out adult supervision.
than 200 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecu-
Indeed, crime may be America's most
Selt Lake City - Ogden
Communities need after-school pro-
tors and crime victims called on legislators
Met Area
fundamental public health issue. It's time
grams to give all kids safe, positive alter-
to support these investments. Days later,
for us to pay now for prevention, instead
Friday
D 70,633
natives to unsavory street corners and
the Major Cities Chiefs, police chiefs from
of waiting to spend far more later- in
teach them important skills and values
America's 49 largest cities, unanimously
money and lives— on preventable crime.
like respect, responsibility and hard work.
endorsed the same call for action
MAY 15, 1998
Ruben Ortega is chief of the Salt Lake
After-school programs have cut neighbor-
Investments in quality child care and of-
City Police Department.
10A
WEDNESDAY. MAY 27. 1998
The Charlotte Observer
Peter Ridder, CHAIRMAN AND PUBLISHER
Jennie Buckner, EDITOR John Luby, GENERAL MANAGER
Ed Williams, EDITOR, EDITORIAL PAGES Frank Barrows, MANAGING EDITOR
Opi
www.charlotte.com/observer/opinion/
Tom Bradbury, Jack Betts, Fannie Flono, Mary Newsom, Maria Henson, ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Jane McAlister Poj
EDITORIALS
Crime stoppers
N.C. police and prosecutors say start young
hey're the courthouse and jail house
reduce child abuse and negect, which would be
T
crowd. They have every reason to be
no small feat in North Carolina where more than
cynical, every reason to say build more
30,000 children were victims of substantiated
cells, every reason to say throw away the
abuse and neglect in 1996. They also cut the
key.
2
chances that children will become delinquent,
But they offer a different message. They
according to the studies. North Carolina offers a
remind us that prevention is as important as
home-visiting program to at-risk parents, but it
punishment in combatting crime.
serves only 300 families in seven counties. The
It's worth commending Mecklenburg District
law enforcement group would like to add to that
Attorney Peter Gilchrist and Charlotte-Mecklen-
number 1,150 families across 24 more counties.
burg Police Chief Dennis Nowicki for their
The cost: $3.2 million.
support of a group called "Fight Crime: Invest in
These options aren't cheap. Expanding Smart
Kids. The group, whose advisory committee
Start for child care from 55 counties to all 100
includes 19 prosecutors and law enforcement
counties would cost $57 million. Watch the
leaders from across the state, has a timely,
money: Lawmakers this session might be willing
bipartisan appeal for legislators.
to argue for more training school beds and
The group says increasing investments in
tougher penalties for juvenile delinquents. That's
Smart Start, after-school programs and parent-
the usual approach during an election year. But
ing education that includes home visits to
the real test of their willingness to combat crime
high-risk families would be "the secret weapon"
will come if they pay attention to Fight Crime
that could prevent crime and ultimately protect
and argue for an early investment in children
N.C. families.
With that investment, they'll offer public safety
Winston-Salem Police Chief George Sweat put
in future years and a better society all around.
it bluntly in his statement last week: "Our fight
against crime needs to start in the high chair, not
wait for the electric chair.'
The group stresses the importance of develop-
ment programs for children in their first five
years of life. That's when it's crucial to have
decent child-care options with well-trained pro-
viders who can instruct little ones, not just
babysit them. And Fight Crime reminds us that
some parents must be taught, too. The best way
to coach parents, Fight Crime says, is through
home visitor programs. They've been proven to
Portland Press Herald, Saturday, April 4, 1998 7A
EQRUM
MAINE VOICES
WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST
Spend tobacco tax for child care
Top police officials
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR:
zation called "Fight Crime: Invest in
quality care to those often high-ris
Kids" - have called on state and
children. we are putting ourselve
know the biggest threat to
national legislators to support these
and our own families in danger (
children's health is violent
Michael Clitwood is chief of
crime-preventing investments. And
becoming crime victims in the year
the Fordand Police Department
last month the Major Cities Chiefs.
ahead
crime.
police chiefs from America's 49 lar-
And every day in America. it
gest cities. unanimously endorsed a
feal school bell starts more the
By MICHAEL CHITWOOD
similar call for action
$ million latchkey kids - includir
de crime triples in the hour after the
The situation as it stands is alarm-
thousands across Maine - on c
Congress will soon be considering
school beil rings, and nearly half
ing. Nationwide, millions of parents
unsupervised afternoon that tc
proposals to discourage smoking
occurs between 2 pra and 8 pm
who must work earn less than the
often involves violence and othe
during the teen-age years. when
The good news: After-school oro-
cost of quality child care.
unhealthy behaviors.
most smokers start by adding a tax
grams have cut crime by as much as
Police are no-bonsense fols
of $1.50 per pack to the price of
40 percent to 75 percent in some
We're accustemed to asking -wk
cigarettes. This would be a major
high-crime neighborhoods
works," and acting accordingly. A=
step forward for children's health
Research also shows that after.
we understand that while we mu
and public health
school program participants are
work every day to put dangero:
These tobacco tax bills aiso offer
more likely to do well in school to
criminals behind hars. no amount
Congress the chance to deliver a
treat adults with respect. and to
police or prisons can undo th
one-two punch. to prevent crume
resolve condicts without violence.
anguish of crime victims.
while they improve public health
Unsupervised after-school hours
There's no more fundament:
After all the most immediate threats
ares't just prime time for juvenile
government responsibility than pr.
to child health come not from
crime Thy're also prime time for
tecting the public safety Congres
smoke but from fire - gunfire -
youngsters to become crune victims.
can't meet that responsibility with
and from other violent crimes.
and for other threats to children's
out permanent funds so every con
How can Congress cut crume with
health like teen sex and drug abuse
munity can ensure its families #
tobacco tax but?
And they are too often the hours
quality child care and after-scho
By investing federal tobacco tax
when children first get booked on
programs to help kids grow is
revenues in two of America's most
tobacco After-school programs
right
powerful anti-crime weapons - qua-
could have a powerful effect on these
The uzy to do that - the one-tr
lity child care and after school
problems as well
punch that also Eghts teen smokir
programs.
Investments in child care and
- is by earriaring at least haif
Child care and after-school pro-
after-school programs would aiso
new federal tobacco tax revenues
grams are proven to cut crime by
save billions in crime and welfare
support child care and after-sche
getting kids off to the right start and
costs. and generate billions in tax
programs.
giving them the skills and moral
revenues when the kids grow up.
This would be one of the mc
values that will help them grow into
A leading economist estimates
powerful steps Congress has ev:
the good neighbors we all want them
that the cost cf failing to provide at
They are forced to leave their
taken against crune, and a treme:
to be For example:
least two years of quality child care
children in poor-quality baby-sitting
dous investment to help Ameri
Studies have shown that denying
to low-income children is approxi-
that actually damages child develop-
build a healthy and productive ge:
at-risk toddlers quality educational
mately $100,000 per child That's
ment, including their ability to ge:
eration for the 2751 centur
child care may multiply by up to five
hundreds of billions of tax dollars we
along with others and succeed is
decrease long-term government
times the risk that they will become
could save by supporting child
school and ultimately puts your
financial burdens like welfare a=
chronic law-breakers as adults. and
care!
family's safety at risk
crime costs, and start saving in=
by up to 10 times the risk they will be
No wonder more than 200 police
Here in Maine, thousands of
cent lives today
delinquent at age 15.
chiefs. sheriffs, prosecutors and
struggling families are on child care
FBI data tell us that violent juven-
crime vicens - through an organ:-
assistance waiting lists By denying
- Special to the Press Hera
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
JON H. WITHERSPOON
Publisher
A Media General Newspaper
CARL M. CROTHERS
Managing Eduor
416-420 North Marshall Street
JOHN D. GATES
Editorial Page Editor
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101
V.C. "PAT" TAYLOR III
FOUNDED APRIL 3, 1897
General Manager
PREVENTING CRIME
High, not electric, chair
W
inston-Salem Police Chief
goals for this year's legislative session.
George Sweat visited Raleigh
They advocate full funding of Hunt's
last Tuesday and earned a big
Smart Start program. It operates in 55
"attaboy" from advocates of juvenile
counties now. and Hunt's 1999 budget
crime-prevention programs. Sweat, in
includes an additional $57 million to
advocating expansion of existing state
expand to all 100 counties. The police
and local programs to give children a
chiefs note that nadonal studies have
good start in life. was nothing short of a
repeatedly shown better social and edu-
show stopper.
cational performance from teens who
"We have figured out something,"
participated in pre-schoo! programs.
Sweat told a press conference of police
The N.C. Child Fatality Task Force is
chiefs and child advocates. "We know
advocating 3 $3.2 million expansion of
where adult criminals come from. They
the Intensive Home Visiting Program.
are litrie children who have not been
which sends parenting coaches into the
nurtured. There are plenty of programs
homes of parents who are at-risk of
in place now for the adult criminal. but
raising delinquent children. The money
the best place to fight crime now is at
would be sufficient to help 1,500 fam-
the front end of the system. The best
ilies a year. Sweat said that in many
place to fight crime is not in the electric
homes children receive no love and no
chair. but in the high chair."
support. To leave children in those
Sweat said that programs such as
homes without trying to help parents do
Smart Start, Support our Students,
a better job is unacceptable. Unfortu-
Head Start and Great Beginnings "will
nately, Hunt proposed only an
do more to deal with crime in our state
$800,000 expansion.
than the number of police officers and
Finally. the chiefs advocate expan-
prison beds."
sion of Support Our Students and Com-
Sweat was one of nearly a dozen po-
munities In Schools, programs that
lice chiefs and sheriff's representatives
seek to provide youngsters with tutor-
who were in the capital to support
ing and recreation after school and on
"Fight Crime: Invest in Kids," a nation-
weekends. These programs steer
wide effort to improve educational, rec-
youngsters to positive activities and
reational and counseling programs for
help raise student achievement. Most
children. The organization is making a
juvenile crime occurs in the five hours
statewide effort to get law enforcement
right after school; these programs keep
behind the funding of these programs
teens out of trouble at those times.
in the fiscal 1999 budget.
Hunt did not propose any expansion of
The police officers and district attor-
S.O.S. but did ask for an extra $1 mil-
neys in the program will be lobbying
lion for the mostly community-funded
their local legislators. and Sweat vowed
Communities in Schools.
to work on the influential Forsyth dele-
Sweat and the other chiefs know. first
gation. Unfortunately, the message did
hand. that idle youngsters - those
not get to Gov. Jim Hunt before he
without academic success, loving par-
released his $42 million juvenile-justice
enting or aspirations - are the most
budget package Wednesday. The gover-
likely to be involved in crime. They
nor had little additional money for the
should be applauded for trying to direct
kind of prevention programs that the
the crime bartie 2way from the electric
chiefs advocate. They have three main
chair and back to the high chair.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871
MONDAY/MARCH 16, 1998
Ortega's Answer to Kid Crime: Alternative Activities
Ortega Contends
Youth Programs
Give Youths Something to Do
"We know crime is going to occur. But
our best potential for reducing it is in
Can Cut- Crime
After School, Police Boss Says
our kids. We need to give them structure
and positive activity after school.
"Right now, too many of them have
Continued From A-1
BY HOLLY MULLEN
only the malls and the streets."
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
And then, Ortega, who was sitting for a
You could call it the weekday "witch-
recent interview at a conference table in
powerful Democrats in Congress,
his spacious eighth-floor office at police
notably Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-
ing hour.' The clock strikes 3 p.m.
headquarters in downtown Salt Lake
Mass., who on March 2 introduced
Schools are just letting out, kids are on
City, said something many politically
a bill calling for $7.25 billion over
the streets and the crime rate suddenly
skyrockets.
conservative Utahns would rather not
five years for after-school, week-
Statistically, youths commit more
hear.
end and summer programs for
school-age children. Kennedy has
crime between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. than
AI Hartmann/The Salt Lake Tribune
The government needs to help. A lot.
suggested paying for the pro-
any other time of the day. It's true in
Salt Lake Police Chief Ruben Ortega
"We need funds," Ortega says. "We
grams through a tobacco tax or by
Utah and the rest of the nation. And, ac-
need the elected and appointed leader-
cutting corporate tax breaks.
cording to a 1995 study by the Utah Com-
mission to turn that trend around. Re-
ship to support after-school programs
The government would ear-
mission on Criminal and Juvenile Jus-
cently elected chairman of the Major Cit-
for children. These programs cost mon-
mark the money for youth pro-
tice, late afternoon is "crime time"
ies Chiefs, an organization of police
ey, but it's an investment that will pay
grams only, which is the piece of
almost equally in the urban and rural
off."
chiefs from the largest cities in the Unit-
the bill Republicans cannot agree
areas of the state.
ed States and Canada, Ortega has an
In this, Ortega has the support of some.
with, says Jeanne Lopatto, press
It's no surprise then that Salt Lake
agenda, and he isn't the least bit timid
secretary for the Senate Judiciary
City Police Chief Ruben Ortega is on a
about it.
See ORTEGA, Page A-7
Committee and a staff member of
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, who
chairs the panel.
("There is a clear difference in
It is this combination of early
methods of funding and adminis-
intervention and prevention that
tering these programs," Lopatto
is succeeding on the streets of
says. Hatch has introduced his
Boston, a city that Ortega and
own proposal, dubbed the Violent
many other law-enforcement
and Repeat Juvenile Offender Act
leaders cite for its groundbreak-
of 1997, which would give the
ing approach to fighting youth
states $2.5 billion over five years
crime.
to spend on anti-crime measures
Until the shooting death of a
largely as they see fit.
16-year-old boy on Dec. 11, 1997,
the city had gone for 29 months
Youth Crime Prevention: The
without a juvenile murder.
Hatch bill would earmark 60 per-
cent of the grants for youth crime
Network of Cooperation:
prevention, Lopatto says.
Boston's program relies on coop-
"The money would go to the
eration by police, courts and so-
states as opposed to the federal
cial agencies to target the most vi-
government telling them what to
olent and repeat youth criminals,
do and how to spend it. The states
says Jim Jordan, spokesman for
know best how to use the money."
Police Commissioner Paul Evans.
Already there are numerous af-
"With the help of some good in-
ter-school programs in place for
telligence, we're targeting which
children along the Wasatch Front.
youngster is most likely to get
Some of them, such as community
killed or to kill somebody," Jor-
centers, receive government aid.
dan says. Once the "regulars" are
Others, like the Boys and Girls
identified, police and probation
Clubs, YMCA and other nonpro-
officers ride herd on them.
fits, depend largely on private
In 25 percent of Boston's mur-
foundations and donations for
ders, the shooter was already on
support. Still others, like Kids To-
probation. And those suspects av-
gether, one after-school program
eraged nine criminal arraign-
offered in some Salt Lake City
ments - on cases ranging from
and Jordan school districts, oper-
petty property crimes to homi-
ate for profit.
cide, Jordan says.
The Salt Lake City police are
Once the repeat offenders were
making their own contribution.
taken out, a "startling revelation
Ortega says, but it still is not
occurred," Jordan says.
enough. The department sponsors
The number of violent crimes
three Boy Scout and three Girl
by youth began to collapse.
Scout troops in low-income neigh-
Four years ago, when President
borhoods. There is also a police
Clinton proposed the massive
Explorer post with 20 teen-age
crime bill, the cry went up against
girls and boys.
many of the programs geared to-
These early intervention pro-
ward youth.
grams go hand-in-hand with en-
"Midnight basketball" became
forcement, Ortega says.
the buzzwords for all that was sil-
"We'll never arrest ourselves
ly, frivolous and unnecessary.
out of the crime problem," Ortega
This time around, Ruben Orte-
says. "But we can decrease it by
ga is feeling more optimistic that
identifying the neediest kids early
Kennedy's bill will succeed, that
and working with them.
more of that elusive federal aid
"I can walk into any grade
will come this way.
school in town and the teachers
That's because Ortega sees af-
can tell me who is at risk to fail,"
ter-school care as a bipartisan is-
Ortega says. "They come to school
sue. He wants to believe that poli-
dirty and hungry. They are with-
ticians will rise above their petty
drawn. They are truant. We've
differences and invest in children.
got to get to these children and let
He shrugs his shoulders and
them know someone cares about
smiles.
what happens to them."
"I gotta believe," he says, "that
this is one issue the Democrats
and Republicans can agree on."
New York, NY
WEEKLY
8,155,155
BETWEEN THE LINES
aged more easily for social change. Sure,
the logic that connects this massacre to a
larger social agenda is thin. But logic can
HARNESSING
be overrated. And so my irritation at me-
dia "lessons" subsides into a question.
Which is worse: to take a random tragedy
and make it a symbol that galvanizes the
THE HYSTERIA
country? Or to let the moment pass with-
out any effort to channel the fear and emo-
tion into something constructive? I'd ar-
gue that the latter is worse.
So let's see where we can take this.
As the shots in Jonesboro fade, let's channel
First, guns. The school massacre in Dun-
blane, Scotland, led to Great Britain's
our grief into the larger cause of helping kids
banning handguns altogether. That won't
happen here, though the passage of the
Brady bill shows gun control is less unre-
alistic than we often assume. A more
BY JONATHAN ALTER
fruitful approach may lie in emulating the
anti-tobacco lawsuits. If the owner of a
NE OF THE MOST SHOCKING
car is responsible when a family member
O
things about the Jonesboro
gets in an accident, why not the owner of
massacre is that it's still
a gun? If you need a key to get toilet pa-
shocking-that America's
per in many public restrooms, why not a
bottomless capacity for vio-
key for a gun? Last summer the White
lence has not fully numbed us yet. Kids
House persuaded some gun manufactur-
who kill is hardly a new story, but here
ers to make more weapons with safety
we are having a national debate about it.
locks, but the real way to bring change is
That's good. The question is how we will
to sue like hell after every incident. State
deploy our emotional firepower.
TIME
attorneys general. who spearheaded the
Throughout last week. the are of the
story was familiar enough. We heard all
PRIME
tobacco suits, are getting motivated, and
juries may be sympathetic. The argument
of the predictable follow-up angles about
Easy answers elude us, but images like those of
that the easy availability of guns has
life at the Westside Middle School the
Andrew Golden's learning how to shoot should
nothing to do with the death toll is now
day after. (The fire alarm is now discon-
force us to keep asking the hard questions
patently absurd. Anyone ever heard of a
nected. Very helpful.) Lawyers took to the
drive-by stabbing?
air to debate the proper punishment for prepubescent kids. A few
Police chiefs are all for gun control. but they also strongly
news organizations felt some pangs of context and mentioned a
support after-school programs. Fifty percent of all juvenile
new government report showing violence at American schools
crime is committed between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
has actually dropped significantly in recent years. But that was a
We have 5 million latchkey kids in this country who lack adult
mere quibble amid the grief.
supervision and supportive activities. A recent survey of 548
Beyond sympathy for the Jonesboro families and worry over
police chiefs conducted by Northeastern University showed
which of my own kids' classmates could go postal. my first reac-
that the chiefs chose "investment in programs to help children
tion to the media's latest dance macabre was irritation. Why must
by nearly 4-1 over "trying more juveniles as adults" or even
every event be turned into a morality play, with "lessons" to be
"hiring additional police officers" as the best way to fight
drawn? Stuff happens. Bad stuff. Every day. It's unlikely that any
juvenile crime.
law or program or curriculum could have prevented these mur-
Yet the juvenile-justice bill pending in the Senate is over-
ders. The strictest gun-control laws imaginable would still allow
whelmingly tilted toward more enforcement. By failing to ear-
for ownership by wildlife-management-area supervisors like An-
mark more for prevention we're "ignoring the most po
drew Golden's grandfather. whose rifles were used in the attack.
weapon in our anti-crime arsenal." says Sanford Newman. of a
And even the best parenting can yield horrific outcomes. Jeffrey
group called Fight Crime-Invest in Kids. And fighting crime is
Dahmer's father. who wrote a moving book. seems an especially
not the only way to make more funding for prevention a biparti-
decent sort.) The easy answers elude us, yet we search endlessly
san issue. Character education- a greater emphasis on explicitly
for them anyway. As nature abhors a vacuum, so media abhor
teaching right from wrong-is also prevention. Today's goal in
the unexplainable.
Washington and state capitols should be to make prevention as
We're often told nowadays that the news cycle is too short.
much of a mom-and-apple-pie issue as, say, hunting.
Technology allows everyone to report from the scene much faster
The problem of troubled youth is, as Colin Powell says. the
than in the past, and all of the analysts are already out in force by
biggest threat to the future of the United States. The amazing thing
dinner time on day one. But in another sense, the cycle of these
about the problem is that we actually know what the solution to it
tragic stories is much longer than it used to be. Before cable news
is. The solution, especially for the 15 million kids living in poverty,
and TV-magazine shows, a story about a massacre or serial killer
is a relationship with a caring adult: a teacher. mentor. coach. It
would get serious attention on the network evening news (as well
doesn't always work. It may not have worked in the cases of
as saturation coverage locally) but mostly disappear the next day.
Andrew Golden and Mitchell Johnson. who already came from a
Today it might live on for a week or more. kneaded into a hun-
supportive environment. And it sure isn't easy. But as the shots
dred media shapes.
fired in Jonesboro reverberate around the world. let's harness the
Because the tragic stories linger longer now, they can be lever-
hysteria to the larger work before us.
APRIL 6. 199S NEWSWEEK
27
The Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Wednesday, June 24, 1998
Funding kids' programs
makes cops' jobs easier
By L. Anne Newell
the root causes of crime," Smith
The Anzona Daily Star
said yesterday in a phone inter-
Arizona law-enforcement offi-
view. "A lot of incidences of
cials want politicians to make
crime result from family issues
their jobs easier - by funding
that affect a child at a young
programs intended to keep kids
age."
from turning to crime.
Bartlett said experience has
taught law-enforcement personnel
Tucson Police Chief Douglas
that once a child becomes in-
Smith joined officials from across
volved with crime, he or she has
the state at a Phoenix day-care
a tough time trying to get out.
center yesterday to kick off the
"These people see a kid on
Arizona committee of the nation-
their beat and they know they'll
al organization Fight Crime: In-
see them again in five years," he
vest in Kids.
said.
The group IS lobbying for
Pima County Attorney Barbara
more day-care, after-school and
LaWall, who supports the com-
early intervention programs, said
mittee but was unable to attend
John Bartlett, a spokesman for
yesterday's conference, said the
the national organization.
county has been active recently
Invest in Kids bases its prem-
through the Southern Arizona
ise on studies that show pro-
Crime Prevention Partnership.
grams targeting disadvantaged
That partnership, in conjunction
children early provide benefits
with the University of Arizona, in
such as better emotional and
February offered tuition waivers
cognitive development, improved
for all third-graders at C.E. Rose
learning abilities, reduced crimi-
Elementary School.
nal activity and greater employ-
It also sponsors many after-
ability as an adult.
school programs that keep kids
"Law enforcement has recog-
occupied during the hours juve-
nized for many years that the
niles most frequently commit
criminal justice system cannot fix
crimes, she said.
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
Copyright 1998, The Arizona Republic
198
Phoenix, Arizona
www.azcentral.com
Keep money from our kids, and pay the consequences
C
hildren are like pets in our
tactic.
tims."
national psyche. Fun to have
The call to better fund children's
Nationwide, Fight Crime: Invest
around at Christmas. A both-
services should not inspire a debate
in Kids has brought together more
er at dinner parties. And certainly
about the role of government. Why?
than 300 law enforcement officials
not worth the kind of investment we
Because taking care of kids' needs
and crime victims to carry the same
made in highways or military readi-
equates with protecting the public
message to Congress.
ness.
safety - a job most people see as
Created about two years ago and
The child welfare system is infa-
one of the most fundamental func-
funded through foundation grants,
mous for abandoning children to
tions of government.
the group compiled research to
abuse or shuffling them through fos-
Much delinquency and adult
show that parent training. home vis-
ter care. Schools nationwide are
criminal behavior has its roots in
its. good early childhood education
struggling to deal with crumbling
childhood. That link is brought
and other services can cut delin-
buildings and antiquated funding
home every time some slimy rapist
quency rates by 90 percent.
mechanisms. Good quality child
tells the judge about his childhood
Mentoring programs make kids
care is hard to find and impossible
of abuse. It reverberates in the low
less likely to use drugs. After-school
+
for many parents to afford.
literacy rates for prison inmates. It
programs reduce crime because half
Meanwhile, the harvest of kid
haunts the recurring cycle of domes-
of all violent juvenile offenses occur
crime overpowers the juvenile jus-
tic violence.
in after-school hours. A strong child
tice system.
Recognizing the link doesn't
welfare system is a crime-fighting
Kids get lots of lip service from
mean excusing adult criminals. It
tool because abused or neglected
politicians. But solutions with a
does mean we can make the world
children have a 59 percent higher
price tag are still met with wails
safer tomorrow by paying attention
about how "feel-good" children's
to kids today.
likelihood of being arrested as a ju-
venile.
programs amount to unseemly gov-
There's momentum building to do
Law enforcement officials em-
ernment involvement.
that. It got a boost this week when
braced the message because it rein-
That argument is a diversionary
21 top law enforcement officials in
forces their daily experience, says
Arizona went public with their com-
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids spokes-
mitment to a nationwide program
called Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
person John Bartlett. Cops know
Police chiefs, prosecutors and
which kids go bad. And they know
why.
sheriffs from all over Arizona want
Phoenix, AZ
Politicians know they can't dis-
the Legislature to spend more on
ARIZONA REPUBLIC
miss cops and prosecutors as easily
prevention.
No quantity of police officers or
as they do the bleeding-heart child
Phoenix
Mat Area
advocates who bleat the same mes-
prison cells can bring back a mur-
sage.
Friday
D 477,992
dered loved one or undo the anguish
So mavbe lawmakers will be
of crime," said Maricopa County
Attorney Richard Romley. "Until
forced to start making payments on
+
JUN
26, 1998
LINDA VALDEZ
an old, old debt to our children.
we start supporting the front-end in-
Editorial Writer
vestments in programs for kids, our
Linda Valdez is an editorial writer at The
P1176
The Arizona Republic
fight against crime will always be
Arizona Republic. She can be reached at
too little 100 late for too many vic-
444-8474 or [email protected] via e-
ChildCare
CCAC
ActioNews
Child Care Action Campaign
January-February 1998
Volume 15 No. 1
Child Care and Public Safety
Investing in Kids Prevents Crime
Police Commissioner R. Gil
Kerlikowske at a press brief-
ing last year organized by
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
Kerlikowske is one of 20
police chiefs nationwide
who have joined prosecu-
tors, crime survivors and
experts on children's issues
in starting this new national
advocacy organization to
raise awareness about the
relationship between crime
and society's failure to pro-
vide adequately for children.
Police Chiefs: Child
Care Is #1 Crime
Prevention Strategy
"Child care and after-
YMCA of Greater New York
school programs are public
safety issues," says Sanford A.
Newman, President of Fight
Crime: Invest in Kids.
"Studies prove that quality
early childhood care and
after-school programs are
Dolores Schaefer
Five years after that meeting,
ate money to hire more
some of our most powerful
I can still hear the anguish
police and and build new jail
weapons against crime today
"My son is in second grade
in her voice.
cells while cutting expendi-
and tomorrow, because they
and can't read," a mother
Americans continue to
tures for programs that pre-
get kids off to the right start
complained at a school
rank crime and violence as
vent crime.
and teach them the values
board meeting I chaired sev-
top concerns in yearly Gallup
and skills they need to be-
eral years ago. "Every male in
polls. Juvenile crime, in par-
Fight Crime:
come good neighbors in-
my child's life dropped out
ticular, has skyrocketed: the
Invest in Kids
stead of criminals. There is
of school because he could-
FBI reports one out of five
But those who look be-
no government responsibility
n't read. They all learned to
individuals arrested for vio-
yond the horror stories and
more fundamental than pro-
read in jail. Do I tell my son
lent crimes is under 18. Be-
knee-jerk responses have
tecting public safety
The
he has to go to prison to
tween 1988 and 1992, juve-
another solution. "We'll win
government must do what it
learn to read?"
nile arrests for violent crimes
the war on crime when
takes to fill the gaps that par-
For this mother, crime
rose by 44 percent, com-
we're ready to invest our tax
ents, volunteers, schools and
and violence were not statis-
pared to 19 percent for
dollars in America's most
other providers can't."
tics. Her son, she knew,
adults. At election time, can-
vulnerable children, instead
In July 1996, Northeastern
would wind up a teenager
didates are quick to propose
of waiting until they become
University's Center for Crim-
behind bars unless someone
new get-tough measures, and
'America's Most Wanted'
inal Justice Policy Research
did something to prevent it.
legislators willingly appropri-
adults," said Buffalo (NY)
(Continued on page 4)
Investing in Kids Prevents Crime
(Continued from page 1)
conducted a national survey
of 780 police chiefs. Ninety-
two percent agreed that
"America could sharply
reduce crime if government
invested more in programs to
help children and youth get
a good start" by "fully fund-
ing Head Start for infants
and toddlers, preventing
child abuse, providing par-
enting training for high-risk
families, improving schools
and providing after school
programs and mentoring."
Nine out of ten also agreed
that "if America does not pay
for greater investments in
programs to help children
and youth now, we will all pay
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
far more later in crime, wel-
fare, and other costs."
When asked to rank the
showed that when at-risk
involved in crimes as adults.
abused or neglected, com-
long-term effectiveness of a
three- and four-year-olds
They are twice as likely as a
pared to one in five of the
number of possible crime
were randomly assigned to
demographically matched
control group. The program
fighting approaches, "in-
receive quality child care,
comparison group to have
had cut the rates of abuse
creasing investment in pro-
together with weekly home
been arrested more than
and neglect by 80%. Deny-
grams that help all children
visits providing coaching for
five times. With over three
ing these services quintu-
and youth get a good start"
parents, the risk that these
million children a year
pled the risk of abuse and
was picked as "most effec-
children would grow up to
falling victim to abuse or
neglect.
tive" nearly four times as
become chronic lawbreakers
neglect, preventing these
Similarly, Hawaii's state-
often as either "trying more
was cut by a startling 80
conditions is of paramount
wide Healthy Start program
juveniles as adults" or even
percent.
importance to community
screens new mothers at hos-
"hiring additional police
More Pride, Less Delin-
safety.
pitals to identify at-risk fami-
officers."
quency: Findings from the Ten-
The Rochester Medical
lies and gives them the op-
Year Follow-up Study of the
School Nurse Home Visita-
tion to enroll in a compre-
The Evidence Grows
Syracuse University Family
tion Program provided low-
hensive services program
This street-wise common
Development Research Program
income, first-time teen
that provides preventive
sense is supported by a sig-
(1988) showed that provid-
mothers and their babies
health care and home visits.
nificant body of research
ing quality early childhood
home visits by a specially
Two studies (1995, 1996)
conducted over the past
programs to families until
trained nurse during preg-
show that the program cut
decade that shows that
children reached age five
nancy and for two years after
abuse and neglect by 50-60
quality early childhood pro-
reduces the children's risk
the child's birth. Nurses pro-
percent.
grams, after-school pro-
of delinquency ten years
vided coaching for parents
grams, and early interven-
later by 90 percent.
Juvenile Crime
on child development, child-
tion programs for families at
The National Institute of
Plummets with After-
rearing skills and children's
risk are effective strategies
Justice's 1992 study, The Cycle
health needs, and they con-
School Programs
in preventing crime and sav-
of Violence, showed that chil-
nected new mothers with
The peak hours for vio-
ing taxpayers millions of
dren who have been abused
other community health and
lent juvenile crime are be-
dollars.
or neglected are 59% more
human service agencies. By
tween 3 and 8 p.m. After-
The High/Scope Foun-
likely to become involved in
the time the children turned
school hours are also the
dation's Perry Preschool Study
criminal activity as juveniles,
four, only one in 25 who re-
time when teens most often
Through Age 27 (1993)
and 27% more likely to be
ceived services had been
engage in sexual activity.
4
ChildCare ActioNews
January-February 1998
After-school programs have
high-risk high school years
school conduct and emo-
studied at age 15 in 1988,
a dramatic impact on juve-
as those in a control group.
tional adjustment than other
only 6% of program partici-
nile crime. For example, a
Denying kids these services
children. They also spent
pants had gotten in trouble
32-month study of an after-
quadrupled the likelihood
more time in academically
and were on probation. Pro-
school recreation program
that they would be convicted
enriching activities and less
bation services for these
in a public housing project
of a crime while in high
time watching television.
children totalled $186 per
in Canada in 1989 com-
school. Those who partici-
child, all for minor offenses.
Prevention Costs
pared juvenile arrests with
pated in the program were
Twenty-two percent of the
those in a similar housing
50 percent more likely to
Trivial Compared to
control group were on pro-
Intervention
project providing only mini-
graduate high school on
bation, all for serious of-
mal recreational services.
time and two-and-a-half
"Despite the mountain of
fenses such as robbery,
The number of juvenile
times more likely to attend
evidence that the first years
assault, and sexual abuse.
arrests declined by 75 per-
post-secondary schooling,
of life are critical to the
Probation work for these
cent in the project served by
according to an evaluative
development of the brain
children cost $1,935 per
the after-school program,
study conducted in 1995.
and of a child's attitudes,
child. The likelihood of
but increased by 67 percent
While after-school pro-
programs like Early Head
later imprisonment for this
in the tomparison project.
grams have an immediate
Start for infants and the in-
group was great, at a cost of
Teenagers in Philadelphia
impact on juvenile crime,
home parenting coaching
$30,080 a year.
who were randomly assigned
their benefits are far-reach-
that we know can head off
In a forthcoming article in
to a high school Quantum
ing. A University of Wiscon-
abuse and neglect are so
the Journal of Quantitative
Opportunities Program of
sin study of 64 after-school
underfunded that they can
Criminology, Mark A. Cohen,
counseling, academic and
programs supported by the
reach only a tiny fraction of
Associate Professor of Man-
life skills support, communi-
Cooperative Extension Serv-
the infants who need them,"
agement at Vanderbilt Uni-
ty service and financial in-
ice found that children at-
said George Sweat, Chief of
versity, calculated that pre-
centives, were less than one-
tending these programs got
Police in Winston-Salem,
venting one at-risk youth
quarter as likely to be con-
along better with their peers
NC, in a press statement last
from becoming a typical
victed of a crime during the
and had better grades,
September. Former U.S.
career criminal resulted in
Attorney General Elliot L.
savings of $1.3-1.5 million.
Richardson added "Today's
The savings could easily pay
inadequate investments in
for a quality after-school pro-
the early childhood develop-
gram for 125 children during
ment and after-school pro-
four years of high school!
grams leave us stuck on a
"What the headlines
treadmill, running faster
[about juvenile crime] do
and faster to put people in
not tell us is that these prob-
jail while kids are turned
lems did not just suddenly
into criminals faster than we
happen. Violence and crimi-
can lock them up."
nal behavior represent the
Prevention costs are trivial
cumulative toll taken on
compared to the potential
children growing up in pro-
savings from preventing
foundly hostile and uncar-
child abuse and neglect,
ing surroundings," warns
births to teenage mothers,
Irving B. Harris, a Chicago
developmental and social
businessman and founder of
problems resulting from
the Ounce of Prevention
inadequate early care,
Fund, a public-private part-
school dropouts, and juve-
nership that works with ado-
nile crime. The Perry Pre-
lescent mothers in Illinois.
chool Study showed that
An extensive study by
$150,000 was saved per par-
Northwestern University of
ticipant in criminal justice
the cost of teen pregnancies
savings alone; for every dol-
in Illinois showed that in
lar invested in quality pre-
1983 that state spent $853
YMCA of Greater New York
school, society saved $7.16
million for costs associated
overall.
with teenage pregancies.
Similarly, when partici-
The figure represented close
pants in the Syracuse Family
to half the annual budget of
Development Program were
(Continued on page 7)
January-February 1998
ChildCare ActioNews
5
Investing
Chairman's
in Kids
Corner
CCAC
(Continued from page 2)
Richard B. Stolley, Chairman
(Continued from page 5)
Chicago. If spent on jobs, it could
S
ey Chassler understood money-
Faith Wohl, President
well, maybe not money with that
Ellen Lubell, Communications Director
have provided 70,000 people with
many zeroes-but he was not afraid to
Dolores Schaefer, Editor
decently-paid work. The figure in-
spend his own and his magazine's to
ChildCare ActioNews is circulated on a
cluded children only up to age five, so
promote causes that meant so much to
bi-monthly basis to the membership of the
the real costs of teenage births were in
Child Care Action Campaign. To become a
him and to his country. Child care
fact much greater. Yet even today,
member, fill in and mail the coupon below.
needs that kind of tough-minded gen-
Child Care Action Campaign (CCAC) is a
Harris points out, Illinois only spends
erosity-in this case, it needs politi-
national nonprofit organization dedicated to
$1 on prevention services for every
strengthening families, improving education
$1,000 it spends on intervention after
cians, especially at the top, who are
and advancing the well being of children.
problems occur.
willing to spend political capital to
CCAC builds partnerships among communi-
ties, schools and business leaders to improve
bring quality early care to every
child care and early education, and to make it
Child Care as a Public
American child.
affordable to all working families; stimulates
Safety Issue
Last fall, Sey knew he was sick, dan-
investment in child care by employers, state
and local governments, schools. and commu-
The research and analysis provided
gerously so, but still he was fretting
nity organizations; communicates innovative
by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids adds a
with me about how to talk celebrities
ideas for improving child care to inspire par-
ents, community leaders and the public to
powerful and compelling voice to the
into getting more involved in our mis-
take action, and advocates public policies that
call for immediate and increased
sion. This was a wonderful man who
support families. Child Care Action Campaign
investment in child care. Child care
wore his causes on his sleeve. They
has led national thinking in defining child care
as an issue of concern for all Americans.
has long been viewed as a basic need
matched the plaid perfectly. It's a fash-
of working families and vital to busi-
ion statement that I earnestly
ness' bottom line. In recent years,
recommend to 1600 Pennsylvania
child care's relationship to education
Avenue.
reform and the development of a
highly skilled and competitive work-
YES! I want to become a member of the
Child Care Action Campaign! My mem-
force has received great attention.
bership will support CCAC's efforts to advo-
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is demon-
Washington
cate for quality, affordable child care for
strating why child care should also be
America's children and families.
seen as a public safety issue.
Watch
$25 Individual Member
-
- $50 Contributing Member
"This is a national problem,"
(Continued from page 3)
$100 Business Friend
-
George Sweat said. "There are no bar-
ate income families unless the credits
- $250 Business Champion
riers to prevent an abused child from
are refundable. Direct subsidies
CCAC members receive CCAC's bi-monthly
my state from growing up to commit
newsletter, ChildCare ActioNews, dis-
through the Child Care and Develop-
crimes in any of your states, or to keep
counts on publications and, upon request,
ment Block Grant are the most effective
copies of CCAC Information Guides.
a neglected child from your state
way to ensure funds help families in
from hurting people in mine. If we're
need pay for child care, improve the
ready to guarantee free room and
quality, and create new options for
Name (please print)
board in a prison cell to a criminal,
school-age children.
shouldn't we be just as ready to guar-
The Children's Defense Fund has set
Street Address
antee a slot in a Head Start program
up a Child Care Advocacy E-mail
to an innocent, developing toddler?
Network in order to keep advocates
City
State
Shouldn't we be as ready to guarantee
informed about federal, state and other
Early Head Start to infants as we are
Zip
key child care developments. To sub-
to guarantee a long stay in prison to a
scribe, send an E-mail message to
Please make checks payable to Child Care
chronic violent offender?"
Action Campaign and mail to: 330 Seventh
[email protected].
Avenue, New York, NY 10001 (212-239-0138).
This is an exciting year both in
Our e-mail address is:hn 5746 @ handsnet.org.
For more information, contact:
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent
Washington and in state capitals and it
allowed by law.
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
is our task to ensure that all of the dis-
1334 G Street, NW, Suite B
1998 Child Care Action Campaign
cussions result in real change for chil-
For permission to reprint, please call Dolores
Washington, DC 20005-3107
dren and families.
Schaefer or Ellen Lubell at 212-239-0138.
202-638-0690
Helen Blank is Director of Child Care and
Address Changes: Please include mailing panel
www.fightcrime.org.
on page 8 when requesting address changes.
Development at the Children's Defense Fund.
January-February 1
ChildCare ActioNews 7
MARCH 1998
CATALYST
Child Care Means Crime Prevention
F
ight Crime: Invest in Kids,
extend their reach to more families
we're going to arrest [in the
a nonprofit organization
in need.
future]."
founded in 1996, is spear-
heading a major effort to
Fight Crime argues that if at-risk
help people understand that
families have access to such ser-
affordable and accessible child
vices as child care, counseling,
care reduces crime. It has called
education, and recreation
on the nation's leaders to invest in
programs, criminal behavior can
children as a means of crime pre-
be prevented. The Quality Child
vention.
Care and After-School Programs
study reported on a public hous-
Fight Crime gathered the sup-
ing project where juvenile arrests
port of more than 180 police
dropped 75 percent after an after-
chiefs, sheriffs, other law enforce-
school skills development pro-
ment officers, prosecutors, crime
gram opened.
survivors, criminologists, child
Attorney Sanford A. Newman,
and youth development experts
president of Fight Crime Invest III Kids
Ellen Halbert, a survivor of a vio-
who signed a statement titled, A
lent crime who served as the first
"We can dramatically reduce
Call for Action From America's Front
crime victim on the Texas Board of
crime by investing in child care
Line Against Crime.
and after-school care," said
Criminal Justice (from 1993 to
Sanford Newman, president of
1997), visited prisons and had
It issued a report, Quality Child
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. "It's
access to prisoners' records that
detailed events in their lives. She
Care and After-School Programs:
proven to help kids develop the
Powerful Weapons Against Crime,
skills they need to be good neigh-
noted repeated traits among many
citing numerous programs that
bors and responsible adults."
inmates - including poverty, low
effected a decline in crime, arrests,
levels of education, single-parent
drug use, violence, and truancy
The law enforcement community
homes, and exposure to drugs at
and saved millions of tax dollars.
sees early warning signs that often
an early age - and realized,
lead to criminal behavior. When
"These were kids who were vic-
It sent a letter to members of
they see poor housing conditions
tims of their birth who grew up to
bundled with other socioeconomic
victimize us." She said the nation
Congress urging significant
problems, they see the children at-
must do more to value children
increases in manda-
tory spending for
risk and know they'll probably see
and invest in them. As a preven-
Head Start, Early
them pulled into the criminal jus-
tion advocate involved with Fight
Start, and the Child
tice system. Ed Flynn, Chief of
Crime she says crime survivors
Care and
Police, Arlington, VA, said,
bring a unique perspective. "We
A
BITE
OF
Development Block
"Through experience, we see the
don't want what happened to us
TAKE
OUT
Grant to improve
pathology of families in
to happen to anybody else. And
these programs and
trouble," and "we know who
that's crime prevention."
Continued on Page 2
Fight Crime from Page 1
Fight Crime's call to action states,
tify [prevention's] success."
street corners or getting into trou-
"the most important weapons
ble," said Robert Weinhold,
against crime are the invest
Chief Flynn emphasized, "It
Baltimore Police Department,
that keep kids from becoming
makes sense to provide kids with
Director of Public Affairs.
criminals - investments that
positive peer pressure, role mod-
enable all children to get the right
els, and educational experiences."
Baltimore Police Commissioner
start they need to become con-
Communities need programs to
Thomas Frazier got the police
tributing citizens." The group
keep young people and children
department involved in after-
advocates partnerships among
from being victims or committing
school programs through the
government parents, charities,
a crime. "Too many kids are left
Police Athletic League (PAL) as
volunteers, and the private sector
on the wayside with negative peer
part of a crime prevention effort
to support quality child care and
pressure, drug dealing, and vio-
throughout the city. The first cen-
early childhood programs; a vari-
lence." Prevention programs "can
ter opened in 1995; today there are
ety of after-school, summer, and
save thousands of lives and bil-
27. The goal is to have 29 centers,
weekend programs; and parenting
lions of tax dollars."
one in each police sector.
classes that help to prevent child
abuse and neglect.
For more information on Fight
"This has been an absolutely
Crime: Invest in Kids call 202-638-
tremendous program," Weinhold
Fight Crime makes a strong
0690. To read the full report of
boasted. "It's turning kids' lives
appeal to public officials, asserting
Quality Child Care and After-School
around."
government's responsibility to
Programs: Powerful Weapons
PAL centers open every weekday
"provide the policies and the
Against Crime on the Internet go to
at 2:00 p.m. and close at 10:00 p.m.
funding necessary to create and
www.fightcrime.org. Printed
and offer a range of activities in
sustain the necessary
copies of the 52-page full report
four areas of concentration: acade-
partnerships."
can be obtained for $12 from Fight
mics, arts and culture, character
Crime: Invest in Kids. A 12-page
development, and athletics.
With child care on the national
executive summary also is avail-
Currently, 7,000 Baltimore youth,
agenda, Fight Crime took its mes-
able for $4.
ages seven to 17 go to the centers,
sage to Congress, asking them to
"a safe haven free of crime and
eliminate the "crime prevention
Baltimore Police Halt After-
other negative influences,"
deficit" by adding at least $10
School Crime
Weinhold said. "As a result we
billion for Head Start, $5 billion
have seen crime around the PAL
for Early Start, and $20 billion for
In a high-crime Baltimore neigh-
centers drop."
the Child Care and Development
borhood, the police stepped in
Block Grant over the next five
and opened an after-school center
In addition to providing construc-
years.
for area children. After the first
tive activities for youth, PAL cen-
year of operation,
ters foster positive relationships
"Congress needs courage [to sup-
crime in that neigh-
with police. Each PAL center has
port prevention programs],"
borhood had
at least one full-
Halbert said. "They expect people
dropped 42
to think they're tough on crime
percent, accord-
RKS
time police officer
assigned to it.
and don't think prevention is
ing to the Quality
Some centers
tough."
Child Care and After-School
have two officers. City youth
Sergeant Marty Pfeifer, represent-
Programs: Powerful Weapons
can interact daily with these
ing the Fraternal Order of Police,
Against Crime report issued
officers, who organize after-
added his thoughts on the difficul-
by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
school activities and oversee
operations.
ties in generating monetary sup-
"The center allows a constructive
port for prevention. "It's much
outlet for kids that they otherwise
A community service officer in
easier to quantify arrests and
may not have. Otherwise, chances
each center serves as a support
charges. It's much harder to quan-
are they'd be hanging out on
person, but centers rely heavily on
Continued on Page 3
2
From the Desk of Sandy Newman
One of the key reasons we've been able to accomplish so
much in so little time is the wonderful welcome we've received
from other groups in the child advocacy field like the Children's
Defense Fund, the Child Welfare League of America, the
YMCA, the Child Care Action Campaign, the National Crime
Prevention Council, and the National Center for Juvenile Justice,
to name a few.
We have been equally fortunate at the state level, where we
have received extraordinary help from such organizations as our
partner in Illinois, the Illinois Council for the Prevention of
Violence, Voices for Illinois Children, the Illinois Day Care
Action Council, North Carolina's Child Advocacy Institute,
Covenant for North Carolina's Children, Arizona's Children's
Action Alliance, and Maine's Children Center.
Not only have we leaned heavily on these groups for their
expertise, but many have also worked to put the resources we
provide into the hands of their own networks through articles like
those attached.
We think the welcome they've given us as newcomers
epitomizes the way allies should work together towards a
common objective, and we wanted to be sure you knew what an
important role they have played
Sincerely
Saly Sanford A Newman
P.S. You can now go to our web page (www.fightcrime.org)
for access to our reports, press releases, fact sheets, and other
information. If you have a web page and think that this
information would be helpful to people accessing it, we would be
grateful if you would make a link from your web page to ours.
Please let us know if you would like us to do the same by faxing
us your web address at (202) 638-0673 or e-mailing it to
[email protected].
NATIONAL ADVISORY
President
COMMITTEE
FIGHT
INVEST
Sanford A. Newman
POLICE
Associate Directors
Philip Arreola
Chief. Tacoma, WA
CRIME
IN KIDS
Amy R. Dawson
Sherman Block
Brendan J. Fitzsimons
Sheriff, LA County, CA
Communications Director
William Bratton
John W. Bartlett
Fmr. Commiss'r. NYC
Sam A. Cabral
President, Int'l Union of
Police Ass'ns, AFL-CIO
Dean M. Esserman
Chief, Metro North, NY
NATIONAL CRIME AND
Thomas C. Frazier
VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Police Commissioner.
RESOURCE COUNCIL
Baltimore. MD
Gilbert G. Gallegos
President, Fraternal
Memorandum
J. Lawrence Aber, Ph.D.
Order of Police
Director, National Center for
E. Douglas Hamilton
Children in Poverty
Chief. Louisville. KY
Barbara T. Bowman, M.A.
Phil E. Keith
To:
Chief. Knoxville, TN
Friends and Supporters of
President, Erickson Institute of
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS
Advanced Study in Child
R. Gil Kerlikowske
Development
Commissioner. Buffalo, NY
From:
Sandy Newman
John A. Calhoun, M.P.A.
Charles A. Moose
Chief, Portland, OR
Date:
July 28, 1998
Executive Director, National
Crime Prevention Council
Patrick V. Murphy
Former Commiss'r. NYC,
Re:
Update
Donald J. Cohen, M.D.
DC, Detroit. Syracuse
Director, Yale Child Study Ctr.
Dennis E. Nowicki
Sanford Dornbusch, Ph.D.
Chief, Charlotte, NC
Thanks to the tremendous support we've received from so
Professor Emeritus, Stanford;
Reuban B. Ortega
many terrific partners, we've made extraordinary progress over
Advisory Board Chair, Stanford
Chief, Salt Lake City, UT
Center on Adolescence
Matt L. Rodriguez
the last four months.
Craig W. Floyd
Fmr. Police Sup't. Chicago, IL
Chair, National Law Enforce-
Joseph Samuels
ment Officers Memorial Fund
Chief, Oakland. CA
Here's a recap of developments at FIGHT CRIME since we
James A. Fox, Ph.D.
Darrell Sanders
Chief, Frankfort. IL
last updated you in March:
Dean, College of Criminal
Justice. Northeastern University
Darrel W. Stephens
John W. Gardner, Ph.D.
Fmr. Chief, St. Petersburg. FL
Patrick J. Sullivan, Jr.
Impact of our After-School Report
Former US Secretary of Health,
Sheriff, Arapahoe Co., CO
Continues to Snowball
Education, and Welfare:
Donald H. Warshaw
Consulting Professor, Stanford
Chief, Miami, FL
Richard Gerber, M.D.
Robert S. Warshaw
Last September we released our report, After-School
Associate Clinical Professor of
Chief, Rochester, NY
Psychiatry. GWU Med. School
Elizabeth M. Watson
Programs or After-School Crime, at a press conference with
Alice S. Honig, Ph.D.
Former Chief, Austin, TX
Attorney General Janet Reno. Based on data compiled by the
Professor Emerita. Child
PROSECUTORS
National Center for Juvenile Justice and the Office of Juvenile
Development. Syracuse Univ.
Thomas C. Joe, M.A.
Ronald Earle
Justice & Delinquency Prevention, this report showed that over
Director, Center for the
District Atty., Travis Co., TX
half of all juvenile crime occurs between the hours of 2 p.m. and
Study of Social Policy
Norman S. Early, Jr.
J. Ronald Lally, Ed.D.
Former D.A., Denver, CO
8 p.m., and that juvenile crime could be cut sharply if we
Dir., Ctr. for Child and Family
Ralph C. Martin, II
invested in the quality educational and recreational after-school
Studies, Far West Laboratory
District Atty., Suffolk Co., MA
Steven Marans, Ph.D.
Jack O'Malley
programs that help steer kids away from delinquent activity.
Director, Program on Child
Fmr. State's Atty Cook Co., IL
Development-Community
Elliot L. Richardson
Policing. Yale Child Study Ctr.
Former Attorney General
The report has generated extraordinary press coverage, and
Ray Marshall, Ph.D.
and Secretary of HEW, of
Defense and of Commerce
is, we believe, playing a significant role in creating interest
Former US Secretary of Labor;
Jim Ryan
among national and state policy-makers for increasing public
Chair in Economics and Public
Attorney General, IL
Affairs, Univ. of Texas Austin
Grant Woods
investment in after-school programs. Its data and analysis, for
Jack McDevitt, Ph.D.
Attorney General, AZ
example, are frequently cited by the President, the First Lady, the
Professor, College of Criminal
Justice, Northeastern Univ.:
CRIME SURVIVORS
Vice President, and the Attorney General, and legislators at the
Co-Director, Center for Criminal
federal and state levels.
Justice Policy Research
Frances Davis
Lisbeth B. Schorr
Fdr., Mothers of All Children
Ellen Halbert
Lecturer in Social Medicine,
And as we and our terrific allies continue to work with
Harvard University
Editor, National Crime
Victims Report
David P. Welkart, Ph.D.
Carole Grant Hall
reporters, the coverage continues to grow over six months later,
President, High/Scope
Director, Ginger Ridge
including, for example, a recent front page feature story in the
Educational Research Fdn.
Residents' Initiative
Bernice Weissbourd
Marc Klaas
Los Angeles Times and a 6-page feature story in Newsweek
Pres., Family Resource Council
Fdr., Klaas Fdn. for Children
entitled "It's 4 p.m.: Do You Know Where Your Children Are?".
Richard Weissbourd, Ph.D.
Dennis Lees, Ph.D.
Professor, Kennedy School of
Mgr., Mental Health Clinic
Government, Harvard
Jean Lewis
Chuck Wexler, Ph.D.
President, Parents of
Executive Director, Police
Murdered Children
Executive Research Forum
Gordon Rondeau &
Edward Zigler, Ph.D.
Elaine Rondeau
Director, Bush Center in Child
Founders, Action America:
Development and Social Policy,
Murder Must End Now
Yale University
1334 G Street, NW
Suite B
Washington, DC 20005-3107
(202) 638-0690
Fax (202) 638-0673
www.fightcrime.org
A project of the Action Against Crime and Violence Education Fund
A Three-Fold Increase in Police,
Prosecutor and Crime Survivor Advocacy
for the FIGHT CRIME Agenda
Over 350 of the nation's most respected police chiefs, prosecutors, and crime survivors have
signed our Call for Action and are now involved, as members of our national or state advisory
committees, in our efforts to educate the public and policy-makers about the crime prevention
impact of investments in kids. This growth is due in large part to the progress we've made in our
target states. For example:
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS NORTH CAROLINA held its kick-off press
conference May 19th, releasing a report on the crime prevention impact of early
childhood and youth development programs, and issuing a Call to Action signed
by 20 law enforcement leaders, including police chiefs and prosecutors from
every major city in the state, urging support for expanding state investment in
such programs. The kick-off led to stories in all of the state's major newspapers,
and coverage on NBC, ABC, and Fox television affiliates across the state. We
are told it has also had a significant impact on policy-maker discourse and
legislative support for the Smart Start program.
On June 8th, our kick-off of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS MAINE, at which
our Maine Advisory Committee called on Congress to increase public investments
in child care and after-school programs, garnered extensive television coverage
from affiliates across the state Two weeks earlier presentations by FIGHT
CRIME Associate Director Amy Dawson led to the adoption of resolutions by both
the Maine Chiefs and the Maine. Sheriffs Associations calling on all elected
officials to increase public safety by investing in child and youth development
programs. I wish you could have listened in to the meeting members of our
Maine Advisory Committee had this week with Senator Collins (R-ME). Senator
Collins said twice that their advocacy weighed heavily in her reluctant decision to
vote for an amendment to the tobacco bill (see below) which would have
earmarked $1.5 billion a year for child care- and she clearly left the meeting
knowing that her state's law enforcement leaders believe passionately that child
care and after-school programs should be top priority.
In Utah our Advisory Committee now includes eighteen of the state's most
respected law enforcement leaders. A recent op-ed by Salt Lake City Police Chief
and FIGHT CRIME Advisory Committee member Ruben Ortega entitled "Best
Crime Prevention is to Invest in Kids" ran in both of the state's major
newspapers. This op-ed followed on the heels of a front page article in the state's
biggest newspaper, The Salt Lake City Tribune about Ortega's view that
boosting funding for quality after-school programs would cut youth crime and
victimization, and was followed by published letter to the editor from other Utah
law enforcement leaders making the same point.
Our Arizona Advisory Committee now includes most of the major law
enforcement leaders in the state. Just last week, the Arizona Sheriffs and
Prosecutors Association adopted a resolution similar to those passed in Maine and
Utah. On June 23, Arizona law enforcement leaders came to Phoenix from
around the state to hold a press conference kicking off FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN
KIDS ARIZONA. The kick-off drew extensive television coverage and radio
coverage on NPR affiliates across the state, as well as stories in the all of the
state's major newspapers.
2
Key Law Enforcement Organizations
Enter the Battle for Child Care
In our last update we told you how a presentation to the Major Cities Chiefs organization,
made up of chiefs from 52 of the largest cities in North America, had been followed by their
passage of a resolution calling on all elected officials to increase public safety by investing in the
child care and after-school programs that have been proven to reduce crime and violence. Well this
was just the tip of the iceberg!
In the last three months, similar presentations by FIGHT CRIME Associate Director Amy
Dawson, together with the leadership of our Advisory Committee members, have led to the
National District Attorneys Association (representing the chief prosecutors from nearly every
jurisdiction in the country), the Police Executive Research Forum (one of the nations leading police
chiefs organizations), and the National Sheriffs Association (the largest sheriffs organization in the
country) adopting resolutions similar to the one passed by Major Cities Chiefs.
These resolutions and those in target states are important because they authorize these
organizations to advocate on these issues and because they attract the attention of the press and
policy-makers. Moreover, the discussion that precedes their adoption, and the reports to the
organization's membership which follow, are educating thousands of law enforcement leaders
about the crime prevention impact of investments in kids. These chiefs, sheriffs, and prosecutors
-including many who we haven't asked to be formally involved in FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN
KIDS-bring back to their communities and incorporate into their work and their many talks to
civic groups and community leaders our message and its implications. And when we do begin to
organize in their states, we find law enforcement leaders already familiar with our message and
eager to become involved.
FIGHT CRIME Congressional Briefing
Draws Strong Bi-Partisan Support
In May, FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS held a Congressional briefing at which Advisory
Committee members and I presented research findings regarding the crime prevention impact of
investments in kids. We were thrilled that the unique ability of our spokespeople to transcend
party affiliations was reflected in the bi-partisan sponsorship of the briefing. Sponsors included
policy-makers ranging from Republican Senators Alphonse D'Amato, Jim Jeffords, and Slade
Gorton to Democratic Senators Ted Kennedy, Patrick Leahy, and Chris Dodd as well as four
Republican and two Democratic representatives from the house.
Federal Legislation
The last weeks have felt like a roller coaster ride in our fight for child care and after-school
programs. On Thursday, June 11th, thanks to the leadership of the Children's Defense Fund and
the hard work of our Advisory Committee members and so many of our allies, we won an
overwhelming 66-33 Senate vote to earmark $1.5 billion a year in tobacco revenues for child care
and after-school programs. Nearly every one of the "swing" Senators who received special
attention from our National and State Committee members voted for the amendment.
Four days later, a 42-Senator minority used Senate procedures to kill the entire tobacco bill,
thwarting the 57 Senators who supported anti-smoking legislation. But our fight to win substantial
new funding for child care and after-school programs will continue.
As you know, recent Congressional Budget Office figures suggest that federal budget
surpluses over the next ten years will average $150 billion a year for a total of $1.5 trillion over ten
3
years, a trillion more than it had been forecast at the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, most states
are also experiencing major surpluses. Over the next months, and again next yeart, we are likely to
see major battles at both the federal and state level over whether to spend these surpluses on tax
cuts or on programs for low-income children and families.
When Congress decided that we couldn't keep running big budget deficits, it laid out a five
year plan to get to a balanced budget. The way FIGHT CRIME's police chiefs, prosecutors, and
crime survivors serving on our Advisory Committees see it, the biggest threat to Americans now is
our crime prevention deficit - the huge gap between our current level of investment in our
children and youth and the investments that we should be making. It's our goal to create an
irresistible public demand for the investments in kids that have been proven to reduce crime and
violence and save taxpayers billions of dollars in saved criminal justice and welfare costs.
Over the next several months, we'll be working hard to make sure the public understands that
investments in educational child care and after-school programs are two of our most powerful
weapons against crime - and that a failure by Congress to help struggling families access child
care and after-school programs is a slap in the face to the law enforcement community and to all
Americans.
And we'll be working to help voters learn to ask candidates this fall to explain how they'll
close our crime prevention deficit.
In the coming months, we'll lay the groundwork with legislative leaders of both parties at the
federal and state levels so that the start of new legislative sessions in January is marked by strong
bipartisan support for child care, after-school programs and other investments that help children
and youth get the right start.
As we look back at the way our strategy has been picking up momentum, and as we look
ahead, we can't help but be filled with a tremendous sense of optimism and excitment.
Enclosures
FIGHT CRIME Boxscore
Ally Newsletter Clips
Selected Press Clips
P.S. In addition to a few of the news clips our work has generated since we last wrote you in
March, I have attached a FIGHT CRIME "Box Score" which quantifies at a glance our progress in
key areas over the last year.
4
A Year of Extraordinary Progress
Measuring FIGHT CRIME INVEST IN KIDS by the Numbers
June 1997
June 1998
Police, prosecutors and crime
survivors who have signed
our Call to Action and our
50
352
serving on state and national
FIGHT CRIME committees
Major Cities Police Chiefs'
National District Attorneys'
Endorsement of law
Association
enforcement organizations for
Police Executive Research
child care, family support and
0
Forum
after-school programs
National Sheriffs' Association
Maine Chiefs' Association
Maine Sheriffs' Association
Arizona Sheriffs' and
Prosecutors' Association
State committees launched
1
4
Verified media circulation
broadcast or print coverage
18,585,005
78,945,012
generated primarily by our
work and on FIGHT CRIME:
INVEST IN KIDS message
Estimated additional broadcast
-
20,000,000
coverage*
Total Readers/Viewers
-
98,945,000
Reached
*This includes, for instance, coverage of our FIGHT CRIME kick-off press conference carried
on over 3,500 CBS and ABC radio affiliates nationwide as well as coverage on scores of
television stations we've been unable to monitor precisely.
WIDE
President
MT
25
Children's Deferme Fund
Years
LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND.
D
March 1998
Volume 19. Number 3
Police officials urge child care investments
c
iting the connection between
"That shortfall is part of a gaping crime
One police chief advocating strongly
quality child care and crime pre-
prevention deficit that jeopardizes the
for greater investments in child care is
vention. a group of more than
safety of every American."
Melvin Wearing, chief of police for
170 law enforcement officials is urging
With Congress poised to consider a
New Haven. Conn. At an early February
lawmakers to make greater investments
child care initiative in 1998. police
news conference. Wearing
in children's healthy development.
officials are urging lawmakers
told lawmakers that in-
"Quality educational child care for
to put additional re-
vesting in children
preschool children and after-school
sources into the Child
activities for school-age youngsters are
Care and Development
POLICE
may be expensive.
but that not invest-
among the most powerful weapons in
Block Grant (CCDBG).
ing is more expensive
Head Start. and Early
"When [a] child
Head Start. The
has received the
officials also believe
services he or she
Congress should in-
needs. there may be a store that
crease funding for the
isn't robbed. an elderly woman
Dependent Care Tax
who isn't held up at gunpoint. or
Credit. which helps families
a police officer who doesn't lose
with their child care expenses.
his life enforcing the law."
and the 21st Century Community
He joined child advocates and a bi-
Learning Centers program for school-
partisan group of lawmakers in urging
age children (see box. page -).
passage of the Healthy and Smoke-Free
The report. Quality Child Care and
Children Act. S.1492. a bill sponsored
Photo © Rick Reinhard
After-School Programs: Key Weapons
by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and
Against Crime. points to strong evidence
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn ). The bill
of the impact good quality child care
would increase the tobacco tax by
can have on a child's development.
$1.50 over three years to provide rev-
Studies in Michigan and New York. for
enue for child care programs while
Melvin Wearing, chief of police in
example. reported that programs for
curbing teen smoking.
New Haven. Conn.. urges lawmakers
to invest in child care at a Capitol
at-risk children under age 5 cut their
"For years. tobacco companies have
Hill news conference.
risk of later delinquency and chronic
targeted children and teenagers to make
lawbreaking by 80 percent to 90 percent.
them life-long tobacco addicts." he
America's anti-crime arsenal." the
In Baltimore. an analysis of an after-
said. "I fully support legislation to deter
group said in a new report from Fight
school program reported that it reduced
smoking. increase the tobacco tax. and
Crime: Invest in Kids. a Washington.
neighborhood crime by 42 percent.
use the revenue for early childhood
D.C.-based organization.
According to the report. 92 percent
education and after-school programs.
"Our federal and state governments
of police chiefs nationwide agree that
Copies of the report. Quality Child
are falling far short of the investment in
America could sharply reduce crime if
Care and After-School Programs: Key
child care and after-school programs
government invested more in programs
Weapons Against Crime. are available
needed to meet their responsibility to
to help children and youth get a "good
from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
protect the public safety." they said.
start" in life.
202-638-0690: www.fighterime.org
7/13/98
This article is one of the more recent
outgrowths of our After-Schocl Programs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
or After-School Crime report.
The most dangerous
time of day for kids isn't
late at night. It's from
p.T.
2 p.m. to 8 p.m., when
children are out of
school and their parents
are still working. This
can be crime time, and
Do You Know Where Your
Children Are?
prime time to get them
on the right path.
BY JONATHAN ALTER
T'S 4 P.M., AND SGT. MIKE GWYNES
of the Jacksonville, Fla., police de-
partment is maneuvering his squad
car past Jack Horner and Goldilocks
toward Cinderella Street, where
some teens are hanging out at a bus
stop. Down in the Sweetwater sec-
tion of town, the streets have fairy-tale
names, but it's the kids who risk turning
into pumpkins. And not at midnight. "The
problem's 3 p.m. till about 8 p.m., when
they go home unsupervised and get in with
the wrong crowd." Gwynes says, making a
sharp left. Over on Bo Peep, a few teen-
Jacob Inlong
agers are playing some rough basketball in
CALIFORNIA
a driveway; on Tinkerbell. the activity
looks a bit more suspicious. Drugs are a big
SEVEN-YEAR ACOB
problem here.
was worried about the rain.
Up on Wilson Boulevard sits a big solu-
Forthe first half of the school
tion. An old National Guard armory re-
year. the second grader had to
stored by the Jacksonville Children's Com-
hangaround the ayground of
mission now serves as an innovative
his school for two hours every
charter school, a police substation and a
afternoon until his folks could
Boys & Girls Club all rolled into one. At 4
pick himup. His king par-
p.m. the 5- to 9-year-olds are playing kick-
ents hated leaving him without
ball, the 10- to 12-year-olds are playing
activities, but had tospend
board games or finishing up "Power Hour"
their child care resources on
homework help and the older kids are in
Jacob's -year old brother. Af-
the teen center, playing pool and flirting.
ter months ona waiting list,
under adult supervision. Cursing risks a
Jacob was admitted toone of
fine (25 cents) and boomboxes aren't al-
his city' best after-school pro-
lowed. which means some kids won't show
grams one inside the school.
up. But plenty of others do, including some
yards from his playground.
just out of juvenile detention. Youth crime
in the area has plummeted.
For a snapshot of life in
It doesn't take a Ph.D. to figure out that
the after-school hours,
young people need some place positive to
NEWSWEEK canvassed the
go after school to stay off the streets and out
country. The pictures and
of their empty homes. If they end up in jail.
captions in this package
in drug treatment or pregnant, we all pay.
illustrate the tensions working
And even if they're good kids from good
parents face-and some of the
neighborhoods, we're anxious. A NEWS-
solutions they' found. Each
WEEK Poll shows that the number of Amer-
child pictured was interviewed
icans who worry "a lot" that their kids will
and photographed with a par-
get involved with troublemakers or use
ent or guardian knowledge.
APRIL 27. 1998 NEWSWEEK
29
Jeremy Reese
NATIONALAFFAIRS
ALABAMA
drugs or alcohol was up by a full one third
TEREMY (PEEWEE) REESE
Jonesboro massacre in their neighborhood,
since 1990. With 17 million American par-
hasa wide choice of after-
everyday teen problems of all kinds get
ents scrambling to find care for their
school programs inand
worse when the last school bell rings.
school-age children during work hours, the
around the Metropolitan
The research confirms common sense.
problem keeps growing.
Gardens housing project-
According to one University of Southern
More than a decade after the media dis-
he just doesn't always feel
California study, eighth graders looking af-
covered "latchkey kids," the answers are
like joining in. The sixth
ter themselves were more likely to smoke,
still elusive. When budgets get tight, after-
grader sometimes drops by
drink and use marijuana than those who
school programs-wrongly dismissed as
inner city athletic club fora
have some supervision after school. Anoth-
"frills" are often cut first. When talk turns
littlebask etball or pool. but
er study of sixth graders showed those in
to society's worst problems, it's easy to
the volunteers won't hesitate
"self care" were more likely to get poor
shrug off concerns about kids home alone
to kick him out ifhe of
grades or behave badly.
watching afternoon television or hanging
line. hen that happens, he
Good youth-development programs not
with friends. After all, many of their par-
heads over to Marconi Park,
only keep kids safe, they often change their
ents did the same, and turned out just fine.
even though he says two
lives. Finally, social policymakers are get-
Disciples gangmembers
ting the message. Last week Vice President
UT TIMES HAVE CHANGED,
approached him there last
Al Gore stumped for the administration's af-
and not just because "Jerry
summer. told them don't
ter-school initiative and foundations funded
:
Springer" has replaced Jerry
want to"," says Peewee, who
by Charles Stewart Mott and George Soros
Mathers (the star of "Leave It
lives withhis grandmother.
planted some seed money. Organizations
to Beaver") as the TV baby-
They 'llget you in trouble.'
like Save the Children (which until recently
sitter. Among cops, social-
He doesn't want tobe ina
concentrated its efforts overseas) are also
service types and policymak-
gang. but he says he's not
turning to this issue. So is Colin Powell's
ers, there's a new awareness that
interested in the homework
America's Promise, an umbrella group for
structured activity during out-of-school
teachers assign him for the
hundreds of nonprofits and corporations
hours is absolutely critical to confronting
afternoons and he doesn't
that's working to secure millions more "safe
many of the country's most vexing social
often feel like following the
places" for kids (sidebar).
problems. For years, local TV-station pub-
rules. What does he want?"IfI
The struggle starts in the schools, which
lic-service announcements sternly intoned:
can' be aballplay want to
in many places still close in midafternoon.
"It's 10 p.m. Do you know where your chil-
ben judge. want to be theone
Even wealthy communities are beginning
dren are?" It was the wrong question. The
that makes the decisions.'
to recognize the folly of locking buildings
answer was usually yes; relatively few kids
for large chunks of the day when they
are allowed to roam freely at that hour.
needed for recreation, tutoring and arts.
Only one seventh of all juvenile crime is
Some districts embrace change: for years,
committed in the late night and early morn-
Anthony Scimeca
Benny Morales
Murfreesboro, Tenn., has kept schools
ing. But substitute "4 p.m." and millions of
Kelsey Kordas
OREGON
open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Others are actu-
parents would have to answer no.
ILLINOIS
ally moving in the wrong direction. Recent-
If idle hands are the Devil's workshop,
WHEN -YEAR-OLD
ly, Atlanta horrified child-development ex-
the hellish consequences are being felt in the
"No HUGGING!" SHOUTS ONE
Benny gets home from school,
perts by canceling recess on the theory that
American heartland Crime is down in met-
of dozen teenagers at Vanes-
it' snot mom but his brother
there wasn't "enough time" for a break be-
ropolitan areas, but up in hundreds of small
sa Swanson's suburban
Cesar ho is waiting the
tween classes. But the school day extends
communities, especially among kids. Drug
house, and every one laughs.
door to their mobile home. Ce-
only until 2:30 p.m. Why? The current
use in surburban middle schools is surging.
guess it's reasonable that
sar, 16. does) his best tokeep
school schedule hours a day, nine
Many rural counties now report teen-preg-
we can hugat school," says
both Benny and Eloy. 13. occu-
months a year-was invented when the
nancy rates equal to those in big cities. Sixty
Anthony, 12-but here there
pied until their mother comes
United States was an agrarian nation and
percent of the cases of sexually transmitted
are fewer rules for him and his
home from her waitressingj
children were needed in the fields.
diseases are contracted by teens. The ab-
buddy (not girlfriend, they in-
around p.m. "I feel safe with
Today, three out of four mothers of
sence of parents from the home in the after-
sist) Kelsey, 13, to follow. The
my brothers." says Benny. "All
school-age children work outside the home.
noon has made it much more convenient to
kids know to call and tell
you doat day care play Legos,
So it's not so surprising that by the time
get into trouble. More than three quarters of
their folks here they are and
and don't like Legos. Twicea
they are 12 years old, nearly 35 percent of
first-time sexual encounters occur at some-
what they are doing. This usu-
week, Eloy walks the second
American children are regularly left on
one's house (usually the boy's). "We had to
ally amounts to playing Nin-
grader to T-Ball practice, but
their own. For the rest-the lucky ones-
use Chevys," says criminologist James Alan
tendo 64. jumping on the
most afternoons in thiscco-
parents work by remote control to pull to-
Fox of Northeastern University. "Now kids
trampolineand blasting dance
nomically depressed rural
gether a patchwork of supervised activities:
don't need cars. When the cat's away, the
music. "IfI didn't come here.
town are extremely quiet.
soccer on Tuesdays, Scouts on Wednesday.
mice will have sex."
I'd probably be at themall,
Whenit starts dark, the
Some child-care programs provide terrific
And commit crimes, both petty and seri-
says another year "But
boys sit down in the kitchento
enrichment; others amount to little more
ous. Juvenile crime triples starting at 3 p.m.
it cool place to hangout."
do homework and help Benny
than warehousing. TV and videogames
In fact, the 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. period
Vanessa's working mom,
with his school projects, dish-
usually fill the gap. The average American
Time" now accounts for more than 50 per-
Victoria, thinks it's worth
dinner froma pot their
child spends 900 hours a year in school-
cent of all youth offenses. Not your kid, you
investing in case of sodaa
mother Edith Sanchez has left
and 1,500 hours a year watching television.
say? Well. he or she might be a victim; they
day to give the groupa place to
bubbling the stove whenev-
For the working poor, having their kids
outnumber perpetrators of crime by 10 to 1.
go. first had con-
er they get hungry Cesar says
watch TV at home is often the best option-
Juvenile homicide, which has doubled in a
cems, shesays. "But at least
he doesn' mind the way things
far better than the streets. But the child-care
decade, is usually connected to after-school
know my kids are.
are. How long will he bethe
arrangements can be alarming. According to
fights, not late-night crime. But even for
caretaker? takes."
a study sponsored by Wellesley College,
those who don't worry about a potential
more than 15 percent of low-income parents
30
NEWSWEEK APRIL 27, 1998
FROM TOP. LEFT TO
27. 1998 NEWSWEEK 31
KENTN
NATIONALAFFAIRS
reported that their 4- to 7-year-old children
hours supervision, and the vast majority of
"We've come to the realization
police, at first dubious, are now
ward: "If parents are well off, they pur-
regularly spent time all by themselves, or in
them charge fees. The average cost to par-
chase after-school care. If they're poor, [the
Stephen Ruggs
pleased with the decline in gang-
that we're not going to arrest
related violence.
the care of a sibling under the age of 12.
ents is $45 a week per child, or more than
kids] often get nothing," says Indianapolis
our way out of this problem,"
MASSACHUSETTS
Neighbors-who for generations helped out
But programs to reach out
$2,000 a year, which is too much for many
Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, one of many
says Salt Lake City Police Chief
to the estimated 650,000 gang
absent parents by shushing the kids-are no
who need it most. The YMCA, the largest
mayors now trying to find new solutions.
Ruben Ortega, who heads an
STEPHEN
members across the country are
longer around much, either.
provider of after-school activities, serves
Among the biggest backers of after-
association of big-city police
he would be without the Rev
still scarce. The key: when pro-
The schools that poor children attend are
half a million kids a day from all back-
school programs are the nation's police
chiefs. "If we don't change our
Eugene Rivers' safter
unlikely to have after-care. Currently only
grounds. But even Y's cost an average of
grams are established, they must
chiefs, who argue that recent reductions in
strategy, we'll be complaining
program, and he doesn' hesi-
be well run-or risk driving
30 percent of American schools offer after-
$36 a week. The equation is straightfor-
crime, while gratifying, are temporary.
in five or 10 years about how
at the park some-
gang members away for good.
bad crime has gotten again."
where, where people beat
"We need to make sure positive
Los Angeles is a good object
onother people for looking
things will happen for the kids
ing to be easy marks for drug
lesson. Until Proposition 13
at them.' Or worse-the 14-
'I Wasn't Left to Myself'
who are there, or they'll leave,"
dealers, gang recruiters and
in 1978, all L.A. schools offered
year -old had friend who he
says Sanford Newman of a
other predators.
after-school enrichment pro-
says killed over $2
Washington, D.C., group called
A safe place can be a YMCA,
grams. By 1992, when riots
I.O. Instead, Stephen bent
Fight Crime/Invest in Kids.
a Boys & Girls Club, arec
broke out in the wake of the
over tableat the Ella]. Baker
When I was a kid, the safety net protected me. Here's
The stakes couldn't be high-
room at a house of faith, a play-
Rodney King verdict, not one
House, renovated Victorian
er, and not just for the kids
how to put it back in place. BY GEN. COLIN POWELL
ground or a school. Ronald
public high school had anything
building in the rough Boston
themselves. The larger society
McDonald House Charities
after school except interscholastic
neighborhood of Dorchester.
has a huge financial interest in
has donated $4 million to keep
sports. The riots erupted in mid-
working! hard at ananti-
confronting this problem. Juve-
a hundred Chicago
afternoon. Would as many kids
smoking campaign he and his
nile crime surges at 14 and
HEN WAS
schools open after
have been on the streets to join
friends in the program will be
W
growing up in
drops off at 18. Experts agree
The Troubled Hours
hours so that children
in if they had had somewhere else
presenting to younger chil-
that if kids can get through this
the South
PERCENTAGE OF VIOLENT
can have a safe place
to go? Would the city's gang prob-
dren. Stephen's grandparents.
Bronx, I was
four-year period, the chances
JUVENILE CRIME OCCURRING BY
until their parents pick
lem have gotten so out of hand? A
bothof whom work for the
as liable to be led astray
are good they will stay out of se-
HOUR ON SCHOOL DAYS
them up. Not long ago
program called LA's Best is now
city transit authority and have
by the temptations of
rious trouble. If they don't, the
12%
visited St. Elizabeth's
trying to bring back after-school
raised him since he wasa
the street as any other
aggregate fiscal consequences
AI
juveniles
Hospital in Beaumont,
programs in a few schools. The
baby, see Baker Houseas "a
are astronomical. Combining
inner-city youth, then
Texas. St. Elizabeth's
waiting lists are long.
haven," 'and the boy agrees.
or now. Left to myself, I
10
jail costs and lost taxes, career
is part of program
This is not touchy-feely do-
The the lucky
criminals cost taxpayers an esti-
could have ended up on
Gangs
called Health Adven-
gooder territory. A survey of
ones,' he says.
mated $1 million each during
Rikers Island rather
8
tures, in which hospital
548 police chiefs showed them
their lives. The United States
than chairman of the
staff members mentor
favoring prevention programs
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
6
needy youngsters.
by an astonishing four-to-one margin over
together to serve an additional 500,000 kids
now has 15 million at-risk children, several
But I wasn't left to
While I was there, one
tougher sentencing and more cops on the
a year on school grounds. At best, however,
million of whom are in danger of going off
myself. The tough
even with matching contributions from
track in the next 10 years. According to Ray
young man proudly
street. But their lobbying often falls short in
neighborhood of Ba-
4
told me about the med-
Washington and state capitals. When it
nonprofits. that's only one tenth of the
Chambers, a financier and chair of Ameri-
nana Kelly where I
ical skills he had ac-
comes to crime, "politicians believe in the
5 million "latchkey" kids.
ca's Promise (which grew out of last year's
Presidents' Summit in Philadelphia), that
grew up had a heart:
2
quired by learning to
three R's: Retribution, Revenge and Retali-
people cared about
suture an orange. He
ation, which they think takes them to the
HE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP in
sends the stakes in this crisis into the hun-
kids. I was surrounded
might just grow up to
Congress opposes the Clinton
dreds of billions of dollars.
fourth -Re-Election," says Fox.
by family, church and a
A call forafter-
12 p.m. p.m.
be a brain surgeon.
There are signs that the politics of pre-
plan, but doesn't want to go into
Back at the converted armory in Jack-
wonderful public-
school safe places'
Safe places do not
vention might be changing. Gore, for exam-
the November midterm elec-
sonville, it's nearly 5 p.m. Some cops are
TIME OF DAY
school system. And
tions with no after-school pro-
talking about taking a few kids to a Go Kart
sounces FOI. NAIL CENTER FOR JUVENTLE
have to cost a lot of
ple. has seen how the after-school issue res-
when I set off to school
JUSTICE, TIGHT CRIME INVEST IN KIDS
money. In many in-
onates, and he's grabbing it. After a town
gram in hand. As a result, Con-
track, or maybe to play some pinball. Navy
each morning, I had an
stances, the building
meeting in New Orleans last week, he held
gress is giving $20 million a
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Sanders, who helped start
aunt in every other house, sta-
after school. Or the folks at the
kept our kids secure have bro-
or location already exists; all
a teleconference with local officials from
year directly to the Boys & Girls Clubs of
the youth center, is reflecting back on his
tioned at the window with
Young Men's Hebrew Associ-
ken down, we have today's
you need are volunteers to
America. That's better than nothing, but the
own life. "I think back to the kids I grew up
Atlanta to Anchorage, Alaska, who are
appalling data on juvenile
donate their time. A few dol-
working on answers. One common worry:
money will build only a few new clubs a
with who are not dead or in jail. What did
eyes peeled, ready to spot the
ation who provided me with a
slightest misbehavior on my
place where I could spend
crime, gangs, drug abuse,
lars contributed to a local
the organizational headaches involved in
address one hundredth of the af-
we have in common? Those who succeeded
part and report it back to my
time in a secure environment.
ter-school problem. Unlike many social
had some kind of structure that let us go to
pregnancy and dropouts. We
youth service organization-
bringing schools, churches, parents, non-
parents. The instant commu-
know juvenile crime and oth-
challenges, this one is not hugely expen-
the next level. A few years ago, the big thing
Given a safety net with a mesh
or a few hours invested in be-
profits, corporations and different levels of
nication of today's Internet
that fine, it took work for even
ing a mentor-can make a
sive; $2 billion or $3 billion a year would go
was to say that kids had to have food in their
er pathologies are at their
government together. That takes a new
pales in comparison to the
the most rambunctious kid to
worst in the hours immediate-
safer world for kids today
breed of leader at the local level.
a long way toward solving it.
stomachs to think. But that's not enough. We
"Aunt-Net" remember from
into real trouble.
ly after school lets out. It is
and a better world for all of
Skeptics say that even the best programs
have 8-year-olds raising 3-year-olds and
In Washington, Republican attacks on
my childhood.
Fast-forward several dec-
just common sense that if we
us tomorrow.
"midnight basketball" as liberal waste
can't attract tougher kids who prefer life
they supposed to grow up to compete in
My relations weren't the
ades. Today our society is ma-
don't provide young people
helped sink prevention programs in 1994.
on the streets. Maybe so. Gang members
the world economy? Our whole future, our
very rarely quit their gangs. But predators
national security, depends on what kids can
only caring adults who tookan
terially richer, but it is easier
with some kind of sanctu-
POWELL is chairman of
But the stigma is wearing off. As part of its
interest in my welfare. I think
than ever for kids to go
ary- call them "safe
America's Promise-
child-care plan, the Clinton administration
can be made less dangerous. In Ft. Worth,
do tomorrow." And that depends on what
of Jay Sickser, the kindly mer-
wrong- in the suburbs as in
places" give kids some-
Alliance for Youth. Those
wants to spend $200 million a year for af-
Texas, 1,000 gang members go to "Coming
they do this afternoon.
chant who gave me my first
the cities. Because many of
thing constructive to do once
interested in volunteering
ter-school programs. The idea is to get
Up" programs at eight Boys & Girls Clubs
With T TRENT GEGAX. CLAUDIA KALB.
helping out at his store
the social structures that once
should call 888-55-YOUTH.
for late-night recreation and counseling. The
DEBRA GWARTNEY and ADRIAN MAHER
the last bell rings, they are go-
schools and community nonprofits working
In the NEWSWEEK Poll,
of parents worry at least a little about their
of parents say it is very important that schools stay open all day;
think
children's getting hurt or into trouble if a parent can't be with them after school
after-school activities should be a high priority despite limited education budgets
FOR THIS NEWSWEEK POLL PRINCETON RESEARCH ASSOCIAT INTERVIEWED 500
1998 NEWSWEEK
33
PARENTS OF AGE 6-17 JAN. 16-26. THE MARCIN OF ERROR IS PERCENTAGE POINTS.
THE NEWSWEEK POLL 1998 BY NEWSWEEK INC.