Next, we need to mobilize our communities. Our presenters today have given us specific and troubling data on the relationship of poverty and performance. I'm convinced that a child who is unhealthy is going to have a real struggle succeeding in school, especially in those early years. Whether we're talking about the ARKids First initiative or childhood immunizations, let us not for one moment think we can separate a child's health from that child's educational potential. We must take a comprehensive approach.
Prenatal care is an important part of helping prepare that child for the world.
There will be those who criticize me and say that is too much of an expansion. But, my friends, let us never forget something. We're going to pay for the results of poor health in children one way or another. I would rather pay on the front end so we can have a healthy child who can think, can concentrate and doesn't have to miss every third day of school because he or she is chronically ill. I had rather the parents not have to miss work to stay home and take care of them.