Precious: A Response

The following entry is composed by Projects Manager Michelle Gross, of Prevent Child Abuse New York:

Being a lobbyist for child abuse prevention, it was pretty much a given that I’d go see the movie, Precious. And pretty much a given that I’d shed tears throughout the film.

But what wasn’t a given were the numerous moments throughout the film that I wanted to press pause, stand up, and announce the audience that, “If home visiting services were available to precious during her first pregnancy, this wouldn’t have happened,” or, “If her teacher, social worker, or neighbor had reported the abuse occurring in the household, this wouldn’t have continued,” or, “If the New York State government would invest in prevention programs, these stories would cease to exist.”

Yet, I feel my cries would fall on ears all-too-familiar with the story of child abuse.

What I left the movie wondering was, “Here we are. It’s nearly 2010 and our Governor has proposed to gut every single program that would’ve helped this young girl. Haven’t we learned anything in the last two decades?”

Some of us have. We’ve designed prenatal and infancy home visiting programs that are proven to reduce child abuse and neglect. We’ve built Family Resource Centers and ensured access to quality child-care for teen parents. We’ve developed parenting skills training, and supports for parents of disabled children. We’ve worked hard to increase access to education for teen parents, and to develop communities that care.

But all of that teeters in the balance, dependant on five men in a room’s faith and support for our State’s children.

That’s why today you’ll find me, a child abuse prevention lobbyist, grateful for the New York State Senate and their stand against allowing more children to be sexually, physically, or emotionally abused. They’ve taken a stand to insure our eligibility for millions upon millions in Federal dollars for child abuse prevention.

So, while we criticize our Legislature for its inaction, and worry about the consequences of not making mid-year budget cuts, let’s remember the consequences of making them – and the image of Precious, tumbling down the stairs with her new baby – alone, broken, and bleeding.

And then let’s remember how the picture might have looked, had precious had a home visitor, access to a teenage mother’s shelter, and quality child care while she attended school.

That’s the image that I, as a child abuse prevention lobbyist, fight so hard to create for New York’s children and families. That’s a precious image that we, as New Yorkers, cannot allow to disappear.