They need someone to celebrate with them in victory and console them in defeat, and always, always to love them. Unfortunately, some children don't have access to anyone like that. The adults in their lives lie to them, abuse them and ignore them. That's why it's so important that all Arkansans help me keep a promise I've made on behalf of our state. This is not a promise government alone can keep.
Government can make laws and, in some cases, provide funding.
But government has no shoulder to cry on, no ears to listen and no hand to share a high-five. Kids don't want government programs and they don't care about government policy. They need one person, an adult like you or me, to make them believe their lives matter. Any one of the 10,000 churches in Arkansas and any one of the thousands of civic clubs, Scouting organizations and PTAs can make a difference in a child's life. It won't be that difficult, but it will require us to leave our comfort zones.