Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio

OHIO POLICY

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio is a statewide bipartisan anti-crime group led by 200 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, other police leaders, and violence survivors. As leaders on the front-line in the battle against crime, our mission is to take a hard-nosed look at the research about what works to keep kids from becoming criminals. Research and experience show that certain targeted investments in programs that give kids a good start in life will prevent children from engaging in later crime and violence. These investments include quality early education and care, child abuse and neglect prevention, after-school programs, and programs that help troubled kids get back on track.

Fight Crime:Invest in Kids Ohio primarily works on federal legislation supporting crime-prevention investments in kids. Our policy goals for 2007 are:

Support statewide efforts calling for a full day of kindergarten, access to high quality pre-kindergarten, and behavioral health screening and treatment for all children birth to six.

Increase funding and quality standards for parent coaching programs through Healthy Start.

Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention-- Work towards enactment of legislation that educates parent on SBS.

Juvenile Justice-- Support Ohio's Juvenile Justice systems goal to prevent recidivism.

After School-- Support efforts to increase access and availability for quality after school programs.

For more information on our areas of focus, please visit our federal policy page.

In addition, Ohio has been active in the effort to expand the state's pre-kindergarten program to reach more children as a way of helping them to succeed in school and in life and, as a result, decrease chances they will become involved in crime.

If you would like further information or have any questions about Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio's policy priorities, please contact Cyndy Rees at crees@fightcrime.org.