Respectful of Otters — which is a great blog name — has some thoughts up on this innovative program in New York State. Basically, familes deemed at-risk are eligable for home nursing visits to help parents get on the right track; the visits begin before birth and continue until the child is two. The results (studied over 13 years) have been staggering. The big number is this: over the course of the program, researchers found it reduced child abuse and neglect by 79 percent.

Predictably, it’s woefully underfunded. However, it’s serving as a model for programs in 22 states, so there’s also that.