10 HUMAN SERVICES
2030 Vision Statement
Newport News is a City committed to improving its human condition as well as its physical environment. The City is a culturally rich, healthy, caring, public-spirited community whose residents are physically and emotionally healthy and who provide support for the welfare of every citizen. The City's commitment to wellness has resulted in lowering health risks for its citizens and elevating the quality of health care. Competent medical care and human support services are readily available to persons in need without regard to their economic status. As a result of the increased availability of prenatal care, the infant mortality rate has decreased to below the National average.
All children in the City have access to high-quality early childhood care and education programs that promote the full potential of early learning, provide for their safety and well-being, and nurture their development during the early critical years. Such access to high-quality early child care and education has resulted in improved school achievement, higher graduation rates, fewer behavioral problems at school, lower rates of crime and delinquency among adolescents, and higher employment rates when children become adults.
Risk factors in the home, schools and neighborhood that lead to a variety of negative youth risk behaviors have been reduced. Protective factors that strengthen and support healthy growth and development have been increased. Both youth and adults are actively engaged in creating a positive culture of non-violence where all children and youth are safe and secure.
Substance abuse has been significantly reduced as a result of comprehensive educational and treatment programs. Smoking in public places is no longer acceptable.
The focus has shifted from problem assistance and maintenance to the development of each citizen's full potential. Citizens are well informed of the availability and variety of human support services. These human support programs enable all citizens to reach a level of self-sufficiency. The City of Newport News in partnership with the Federal and State governments and the faith community has increased its resources to address the needs of its citizens. The interpersonal relationships among all races have dramatically improved due to regular meetings where real problems are discussed and ideas implemented. All partners, Federal, State, local, private, non-profit and faith communities have come together and maximized their resources in time, effort, money so that all are contributing substantially to solving the issues identified herein.