In the field of education, we know that ages birth to five are the most important years for molding behavior. School social workers are professionals, trained in viewing families holistically. They serve all families equally, regardless of social status. They look for the strengths in families, and use them to assist the families to overcome weaknesses.
School social workers placed in every preschool and elementary school nationwide, would help families to improve parenting skills, to get jobs, to get students to school, and to help children get needed services: medical, educational, and mental health.
These services would be far less expensive than the current "War on Drugs" and would help prevent later crimes by the children as they grow.