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“Society reaps what it sows in nurturing its children. Whether abuse of a child is physical, psychological, or sexual it sets off a ripple of hormonal changes that wire the child’s brain to cope with the malevolent world. It predisposes the child to have a biological basis for fear. Early abuse molds the brain to be more irritable and impulsive, hyper-vigilant, suspicious, paranoid, and prone to be swamped by fight or flight reactions that the rational mind may be unable to control. It may require enormous personal growth and transformation to build secure social relationships later in life. Early childhood abuse sets off hormonal changes that lead individuals into social isolation, hostility, depression, addiction, and heightened risk for obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Efforts to reduce exposure to severe early stress in life may have far reaching impact on medical and psychiatric health. Our brains are sculpted by our early experiences, maltreatment is a chisel that shapes the brain to contend with anticipated strife, but at the cost of deep, enduring wounds.” Dr. Martin Teicher; 2005; Keynote Address; Family Policy Council Partners’ Summit |
PURPOSE (RCW 70.190)
Empowering communities to support and respond to the needs of individual families and children;
Improving responsiveness of services for children and families.
COMMUNITY CAPACITY
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HOW IT WORKS
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STUNNING SUCCESS FROM A SMALL INVESTMENT
The Family Policy Council stands clearly on the leading edge of effective practice, cost reduction, and policy for improving mental, emotional, behavioral and physical disorders among the most vulnerable people. The Institute of Medicine and National Research Council urge formation of Family Policy Council infrastructure in all states in their 2009 report about preventing mental, emotional and behavioral (MEB) disorders in youth.
"State and communities should develop networked systems to apply resources to the promotion of mental health and prevention of MEB disorders among their young people. These systems should involve individuals, families, schools, justice systems, health care systems, and relevant community-based programs. Such approaches should build on available evidence-based programs and involve local evaluators to assess the implementation process of individual programs or policies and to measure community-wide outcomes." (Preventing Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People - Progress and Possibilities; Sept. 2009)
In 1989, Governor Gardner formed a cabinet-level Council to improve family policy and reform the way state officials and local residents work together to reduce youth violence, drug use, and the difficult family and community conditions that contribute to these problems. After developing the Family Policy Principles through direct citizen input from 50 focus groups, Legislators courageously stayed the course even during tough economic times. In 1992, statutory authorization established the cross agency Family Policy Council. In 1994, along with the passage of the Youth Violence Reduction Act, funding began to reach local affiliates of the Family Policy Council, Community Public Health and Safety Networks, to address: child abuse and neglect, youth substance abuse, youth violence, domestic violence, youth suicide, teen pregnancy and male parentage, dropping out of school and child out of home placements.
Legislators have built an effective infrastructure for making lasting improvements in child and family life. That infrastructure is now fully mature - it delivers the results that Legislative leaders envisioned, and generates new knowledge through outcome data collection and analysis that illuminates a clear pathway to even more stunning success in the future.
Today more than 47,000 volunteers partner with Community Network initiatives to build community capacity, leverage diversified resources and significantly reduce interrelated social problems.
Annual taxpayer savings of $28 million in 2010 is estimated through direct Community Network prevention of out-of-home placements of children, birth to teen mothers 10 - 17 years of age, school drop outs, and serious juvenile crimes.
Link to the Family Policy Council - Community Network partnership explained.
Link to laws applicable to the Family Policy Council and Community Networks.