Oregon Public Broadcasting

Democrats in Olympia are presiding over the dismantling of a social safety net they helped build.

Washington’s $9 billion deficit means cuts to healthcare for low-income workers, no cost of living raises for teachers and reduced assistance to people who are unable to work. But amid all the slashed spending, some programs are being saved.

One of them is called the Nurse-Family Partnership. Ryan Morden reports.

When you meet Jordan Malizio, you’d never suspect her life is anything but ordinary. She’s a student at South Sound High School in Lacey Washington, but Malizio is not like many of her peers.

Jordan Malizio, “I’m 18, had a baby when I was 17. Kind of a shocker. I am married, I got married last May. I’m a senior, hopefully I graduate this June. I hate school. I just got a new job and I’m getting ready to move out of my mom’s house because my family is pretty much crazy”

In all the chaos of her life, Jordan has found an island of stability in Gretchen Thaller, a registered nurse, who mentors teen moms on parenting. Thaller makes the rounds in her blue Honda visiting teen moms at home or in Jordan’s case: at school. 

Gretchen Thaller, “We focus a lot on prenatal health, infant health, infant safety. Mom’s heath even, after the baby is born. A lot on mom’s goals whether it be for education, employment, parenting. What ever it is that’s important to her.”

Jordan Malizio, “Well, I could ask her a question about breastfeeding or something and she’d be able to come with all this information and all these packets to read. I couldn’t ask my mom something.”

Gretchen Thaller: “So one of the things I was hoping we would do today was a teaching activity with her, but we’ll do it next time.”

Numerous studies show nurse visits like this one can save taxpayers money in the long run. Stephanie Lee is with the Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

Stephanie Lee, “Children whose mom’s were served by those nurses will be less likely to get involved in crime later on. They’re less likely to be abused by their parents. They’re actually more likely to get higher test schools and graduate high school. So all of those things have these sorts of dollars attached later on in life.”

All those stats have won strong support for the program from law enforcement. Thurston County Sheriff Dan Kimball is a believer.

Dan Kimball, “I remember working a child abuse homicide where a father killed his two month old sun. I’ve often thought, when this program got up and running, that this is the kind of program that would keep that kind of thing from happening.”

But even the most popular programs face turbulent times when Washington is closing a $9 billion budget gap. Money for Nurse-Family Partnerships comes from the state’s Council for Children and Families. It’s one of several hundred boards and commissions targeted for closure by Governor Chris Gregoire. 

Republican Gary Alexander is among those who thinks the nurse counseling is a good program, but says now is not the time to spend money on it.

Gary Alexander, “We understand that a number of those programs have a benefits out in the future. But the question is right now, we should be doing what government needs to be doing…protecting our most vulnerable populations. And basically, those new programs we tried to add or want to add: this is not the appropriate time.” 

The Nurse-Family Partnership isn’t being spared by budget cuts, but Democrats in the Washington legislature have found some money to keep it alive. Democratic representative Ruth Kagi says funding for this program does protect the most vulnerable.

Ruth Kagi: “We are dealing with the highest risk young mothers, who are the most in need of support.”

Down the road from Olympia, in Lacey, Jordan Malizio is glad teen moms like her, in the future, won’t be stranded at least for now.

Jordan Malizio, “Most girls don’t know anything. They don’t know how to feed a baby or burp a baby. But then you have the nurse-family partnership to teach you those things and teach you how to do those—It’s like having a mom.”

Though the legislature plans to maintain some funding for the Council for Children and Families, the fate of this program will remain uncertain until the Governor officially signs off on the budget.