Ragan Report

Helping Iowa kids become successful adults
 
     Promoting the long-term health and well-being of Iowa’s children is essential to our state’s future. Kids lead more productive, happy lives if they receive mental health and developmental services. When kids experience trauma, that stress disrupts the developing brain, producing negative lifelong consequences for learning, behavior, and health.
     Legislators heard this week about the problem of “Adverse Childhood Experiences” and progress over the last year to expand early childhood wellness initiatives to more counties in Iowa. The state is now collecting data on Adverse Childhood Experiences, including child abuse, neglect and household dysfunction.
     No kid should have to grow up with those kinds of odds working against them. Building resilience is the key to moderating extreme stress and promoting lifelong health. Early detection and prevention are of the utmost importance, as well as family-focused approaches to supporting children and their parents. 
     Effective evidence-based prevention and treatment programs include Iowa’s 1st Five Healthy Mental Development Initiative, which brings together physicians and social service providers to promote healthy mental development among young kids. If a child is at risk, appropriate referrals can be made to help the family in optimizing the child’s mental development.
     With continued support of the 1st Five Initiative, we can ensure that Iowa’s children begin life with the greatest opportunity to achieve school readiness, academic success and overall wellbeing throughout life.
• What do our local schools need?
     Iowa’s future depends on high-quality schools. That’s why I’m working hard to ensure Iowa children get the best education possible and they are prepared to compete for the jobs of the future. The Iowa House passed a bill this week that would provide a 1.25 percent increase in state funding for our schools.
     A 1.25 percent increase in education funding is not enough to keep up with the costs of providing a high-quality experience in our local classrooms. School superintendents across the state say their schools are facing larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, out dated materials and staff layoffs.
     Although Iowa schools continue to improve student achievement, we are in danger of being passed by other states if we don’t provide the resources students need to prepare for the 21st Century workforce. Iowa currently ranks 35th in the nation in student investment. On average, we invest $1,612 less per student than the national average. I want to do better for Iowa’s students.
     What does your school need to be successful? I have visited local schools and listened to students, teachers and parents. If you would like me to visit your school, please call or email me. I invite all constituents to share their thoughts on school funding.
• Additional information
     This is a legislative column by Sen. Amanda Ragan, representing Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties. For newsletters, photos and further information, go to www.senate.iowa.gov/senator/ragan.
     To contact Sen. Ragan during the week, call the Senate Switchboard at 515-281-3371. Otherwise she can be reached at home at 641-424-0874. Email her at amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.
     Sen. Ragan is an Assistant Senate Majority Leader, chair of the Health & Human Services Budget Subcommittee, vice-chair of the Agriculture Committee and vice-chair of the Human Resources Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations, Natural Resources & Environment, Rules & Administration and Veterans Affairs committees.