U.S. CONGRESSMAN BILL JOHNSON Proudly Representing Eastern and Southeastern Ohio

A program offered throughout Ohio and in Washington County helps expectant and first time moms with parenting, child development and resources.

Thursday, Shepherding the Next Generation, a group who is committed to speaking out on behalf of children at risk, met at Washington County Family and Children First to discuss and bring awareness to the Help Me Grow program.

During the meeting, Congressman Bill Johnson was presented the Faith and Family Award for his leadership in preventing child abuse and neglect.

The Help Me Grow program provides home visitors to expectant moms families with children under age 3.

They visit the home, work with the mother and help make sure the child is developing and healthy.

The program also helps in making sure all eligible moms are aware of the different resources available to them.

"We are going to turn America over to them one of these days and they need to be ready and giving parents and those children the opportunity to start life off the right way and to build, put in place those building blocks, that will prepare them for life's journey, that's very important," says Congressman Johnson.

The award comes after Congressman Johnson supported legislation to provide funding for home visiting programs.