Federal parent support program set to expire; Nebraska woman urging lawmakers to renew it

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – It’s a program that modifications the lives of Nebraska households annually, but it surely might finish in a matter of months.

This system modified the lifetime of Mackenzie Schreiber.

Simply two years in the past, Schreiber’s life seemed a lot totally different than it does right now. She was homeless and hooked on medicine.

“I used to be in a extremely darkish place,” Schreiber stated. “I used to be combating dependancy and I used to be seven months pregnant on the time.”

Schreiber was arrested and misplaced custody of her firstborn.

“I used to be going to do no matter I needed to do to get my son again. So, all the things they threw at me that they needed me to do, I did. They didn’t should ask me twice,” stated Schreiber.

Quick ahead to right now, the Scottsbluff mother has full custody of her 2-year-old son Jackson. She additionally has 4-month-old Sean Jr.

She graduates from faculty subsequent month and plans to change into a drug and alcohol counselor. Her transformation is because of a number of state applications that helped her to beat her dependancy, in addition to one federally funded program.

She benefitted from the maternal toddler early childhood house visiting program. She says it’s given her numerous instruments to succeed as a mother.

“We do enjoyable actions and I be taught various things, how you can take care of him correctly. Various things like which have simply been very impactful.”

This system, also referred to as MIECHV, helps mother and father who wrestle with issues like poverty and substance abuse, from the time they get pregnant till their youngsters flip six.

It’s set to run out in September until Congress votes to reauthorize it. Social staff say MIECH-V, is essential for the well-being of kids within the state.

“I view this program as a prevention piece for youngster abuse and neglect,” house customer Jennifer Buxbaum stated. “I really feel that if this have been to run out and me and my fellow coworkers aren’t in a position to be within the house there is likely to be a rise of at the very least neglect, not essentially abuse as a result of folks don’t know the place to show.”

Maternal toddler early childhood house visiting is a free, voluntary program in all 50 states.

“Being a father or mother doesn’t include an instruction handbook. I really feel like there are such a lot of new mother and father on the market or possibly mother and father who aren’t new however they only actually turning a nook of their lives and so they want that help,” stated Dez Brandt with Wholesome Households Nebraska.

Schrieber says she’s dwelling proof MIECH-V works. She is now urging lawmakers to reauthorize this system that helped her flip round her life.

“I by no means would have thought I might have achieved that and it’s due to the help that I received by means of wholesome households and thru these applications.”

This system additionally helps navy households with at the very least one father or mother serving.

Wholesome Households America leaders say they not solely need Congress to resume this system, however they’d additionally wish to see a rise in funding to raised assist households.

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