Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, workers and parents. The future starts with their healthy development and growth. Helping communities and families create healthy, nurturing environments for children is one of the best investments Maine can make.

Research has proven that providing all children — from infants to adolescents — with nurturing relationships in safe, stable environments builds healthy brain architecture, laying a solid foundation for future success. Just like when building a house, getting things right the first time is easier than trying to fix it later.

Too many Maine children live in environments that undermine healthy development. Children living with chronic stress — poverty, abuse and family violence — experience toxic levels of stress that impairs their growth. These children have increased likelihoods of lifelong difficulties in learning and behavior, as well as physical and mental health.

Maine’s future prosperity depends on the success of today’s children. Protective factors, when present, such as nurturing and attachment, social connections and concrete supports for parents, increase the health and well-being of children and families. Programs and policies that promote protective factors need the support of the public. That will help ensure that children have the foundation they need to become contributing members of the community.

Betsy Norcross Plourde, LMSW, Lewiston

Executive director, Advocates for Children