April is a month focused on putting a stop to child abuse and neglect. Governors all across our nation are declaring this “Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month,” and we are working to draw heightened public understanding of the tragic affects abuse and neglect have on our most vulnerable citizens.

Thousands of Maine children are abused or neglected each year, and hundreds are removed from their homes as a result. According to the Maine Children’s Alliance recently released “Kids Count” annual report, in 2010 3,377 Maine children were substantiated victims of abuse and neglect. Many of us close to this field also know that there are thousands of other incidents of maltreatment that go unreported and undocumented each year. Many incidents result in serious injury to the child. Some of these injuries, like head trauma caused by shaking a baby, leave lifelong impairments and huge health care costs. In a few of the most severe cases, an innocent child dies.

While these facts alone make the case for prevention, child endangerment doesn’t just affect the children who are abused or neglected. The best available research indicates that we can expect 135 of Maine’s abused or neglect children from 2010 to grow into violent offenders — children who otherwise would have avoided such crimes if not for the abuse and neglect they endured. Year after year, abuse and neglect creates more crime in Maine and adds to future budget woes for our judicial and corrections systems, not to mention the human toll taken on victims and their families.

Although most victimized children will not grow into violent criminals, they are more likely to have major hurdles in their lives. As adults they are more likely to be unemployed, have martial problems, and are twice as likely to attempt suicide. These challenges present costs all across our society as well.

Research shows that much abuse and neglect can now be prevented. Doing so will spare thousands of children in Maine from pain, agony and despair, and save lives.

Maine Families Home Visiting Program works in partnership with new parents to ensure safe home environments, promote healthy growth and development for babies and young children, and provide parents with the support and community connections they may need.

Being a parent is a tough job. It’s loaded with stress, doubt and lots of questions. Often young parents need someone to turn to with questions and for advice, Home visiting programs work with individual families to help provide voluntary guidance and support for new parents. Trained professionals help at-risk parents learn about the health and developmental needs of young children and ways to manage stress without resorting to abusive behavior.

Studies of one evidence-based home visiting program, like Maine Families, showed it can cut child abuse and neglect nearly in half and has other great outcomes for children and families.

Our Maine Families Home Visiting Program served more than 3,000 first-time and adolescent families in 2010, helping parents reduce preventive illness and injuries, thus reducing health care treatment costs and improving lives. Ninety-four percent of the program’s expectant mothers received adequate prenatal care; 93 percent of the children had up-to-date immunizations; 98 percent were up-to-date on well-child check-ups, 99.5 percent had a primary care provider and 95 percent had health insurance. The program also reduced babies’ exposure to secondhand smoke and improved home safety across all measures. Only one percent of children in the program were substantiated victims of child abuse or neglect.

Maine Families Home Visiting Program also has great outcomes from parents. For those parents who entered the programs without completing high school diploma, 94 percent subsequently earned either a high school or General Educational Development diploma. Of the enrolled parents seeking a job, 91 percent achieved employment.

Prevention programs work and save a wide spectrum of future costs. That’s why we urge Gov. Paul LePage and state legislators to continue supporting home visiting programs and reject the proposed budget cuts to this vital area. It is critical for preventing child abuse and neglect and ensuring public safety.

Robert Gregoire is Augusta chief of police, and Charlie Soltan is an attorney and chairman of the Maine Children’s Trust.