It's a simple message, really: Value yourself. And yet, people make the wrong choices time and again.

The world saw it last weekend when Whitney Houston, a singer of immense talent and an American treasure, died. The cause of her death has yet to be determined, but Houston fought a long battle with drugs and alcohol. Her death should serve as a cautionary tale about the choices people make.

We see it on the streets and in our schools — young people who are ridiculed by parents or disrespected by classmates. We see it in the jails. Those with little hope commit crimes that will dog them for the rest of their lives. Employers are reluctant to hire them, friends and relatives lose trust in them.

The circumstances often are different, but they share a common theme: A lack of self-confidence.

It is why we need programs such as Hopes, Choices and Values, which is being presented by Mental Health America of Lancaster County to women at Lancaster County Prison.

The program, which was the subject of a feature story in last Saturday's editions, is designed to give young women in jail an opportunity to see themselves as worthy and valued members of society.

At a recent session, county MHA Director Mary Steffy reminded them that they are born with an innate value and that who they are "makes a difference in the world."

It is a message many never received at home or from their peers. It is a message that some only realize as they mature. It is a message that is needed, not just to save those in jail, but to save those who could end up there.

And it is a message that is threatened when government cuts funding for the poor and for mental health services. It is why people need to advocate for the poor and the downtrodden.

Life isn't fair, but it offers rewards for those who persevere through adversity. Hold onto your core values, Steffy advises, and realize that you can make a difference.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

It is an adage with which people of every age and every station in life can identify.

Jail is not a pleasant place to be. But a program such as this shows those who are there how values and choices can lead to hope.