An investment in kids is an investment in public safety

In 2015, I remember this headline: “Whatcom County seeks to build new jail — $100 million.” We were told the jail was full and we needed a bigger one. We started asking questions: “Who is in there?” and “How did they get there?” I became driven to find answers. I’d guess that what I’ve since learned would astound you. There are definitely some people who do terrible things with no regard for humanity, who should be kept away from regular society. And there are plenty of people who make serious mistakes like driving drunk, who need a wake-up call and a dose of accountability.

But it might surprise you to also know that for many, asking the question of how someone ended up in our jail leads to their earliest years of childhood. When a child receives safe and loving care before the age of 5, they are far more likely to be successful by almost any measure in life, and much less likely to end up using government social welfare programs or ending up incarcerated or homeless. There is even a significant connection between third-grade reading levels, literacy and those who end up incarcerated.

It is clear that when children get the best start possible in their earliest years of life, our entire community benefits.

I didn’t expect that my advocacy for criminal justice reform would lead me to early childhood and preschool — but after all of my asking WHY, I believe that at a local level, we have to say yes to strong support for our youngest children if we ever want to see a change in our jail being full and our growing homeless population.

That’s why I’ll be voting YES on Proposition 5: the Healthy Children’s Fund on my ballot this November. 

Heather Flaherty