To the Editor:

Last spring, Maine’s 125th Legislature passed major cuts to programs designed to give children a healthy start and to promote healthy communities.

For example:

— Head Start was cut by $2 million. As a result, 200 children will be deprived of a program that helps prepare them to succeed in school.

— Home visiting was cut by $2.6 million, eliminating services for 750 families with new babies.

— All school health coordinators were eliminated, reducing the implementation of health policies and practices that support learning. Other parts of the statewide network of Healthy Maine Partnerships were cut by 15 percent.

These programs are not funded by taxpayer dollars. They are part of the Fund for a Healthy Maine, Maine’s portion of the Master Settlement from tobacco companies that is intended for prevention.

These cuts were short-sighted from an economic point of view, as prevention programs are known to save $7 for every $1 invested and will provide improved quality of life in the short-term for many of the people who need it the most.

Thanks to the following legislators in our area who voted against these cuts: Rep. Seth Berry, Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, Sen. Seth Goodall, Rep. Peter Kent, Rep. Michael Clark and Rep. Charles Priest.

As you select your state legislators, be sure to ask the candidates how they will vote on future legislation.

Will they vote to oppose further cuts in prevention and early childhood programs?

Will they vote to support restoration of some of the cuts?

Jaki Ellis
Jim Peavey
Access Health Community
Advisory Committee