|
State Budgets
in Crisis
 State
budgets are generally acknowledged to be in their worst shape since
World War II. Having taken action to close at least $50 billion
in deficits during fiscal year 2003, states are facing an even larger
projected shortfall for 2004. In almost every state, this has translated
into deep cuts to programs that support vulnerable people. Basic
services, such as Medicaid and state-funded health insurance, have
taken big hits, as have programs aimed at supporting, strengthening,
and preserving families at risk. Programs for prevention, even those
with proven success, seem to be particularly attractive targets
for the budget axe.
For children
with mental health difficulties and for their families, these cuts
may carry dire consequences. There is of course an immediate potential
for danger as access to services, supports, and medications is curtailed.
In the longer term, there is a question of how service systems that
have been decimated can continue to function, as providers struggle
to meet greater and greater needs with fewer and fewer resources.
Yet this is
an outcome which Americans, as citizens and voters, have chosen.
In our home state of Oregon, voters rejected a temporary income
tax surcharge knowing in essence what the ramifications would be.
There are many people who see the states' current budget difficulties
as a long overdue correction, an opportunity to reduce big government.
Some argue that cutting public services will provide the impetus
for increased privatization, volunteerism, and community fundraising.
For others,
even those most devastated, there is hope that the current crisis
will also bring some opportunities. States are being forced to debate
the fairness and adequacy of their revenue bases. Providers must
continue to look for ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency
of the services and programs they offer. Certainly there is heightened
passion in dialogue and debate regarding these issues at the local,
state, and national level.
We invite you
to participate in such a dialogue here. What are your experiences?
What do you see happening around you? What are our sources of hope
and opportunity? Are there ideas or innovations that states or communities
have used to buffer people from the fallout of budget cuts? Where
can we pin our hopes and place our positive energy?
For further information on state budget crises:
Comments:
 What concerns me is that the basic needs for most families are not even being met before we go to wanting to drug these kids. Especially in an economy like this, kids must have food, a place to live, proper eye and dental care, clothing, transportation, love and safety. Once these needs are met then we can move beyond that. Jerking kids out of their own homes and putting them in with strangers is no more then kidnapping in so many cases and it traumatizes them believe that. Even removing them and putting them in relatives homes can be traumatizing if it is not what the children want. We can't cover up the pain of what the system is doing to so many children so unnecessarily by drugging them, this might be a real good time to look at what we have done and see that some of it has been wrong and that changes can and should be made in our priorities. I would like to think about this some more. I think things can, should, and do need to be changed. What happens when we have bunches of kids being treated or drugged and the money does run out? There has to be some alternatives to all of it. Some better ways must be explored. Posted Wednesday, January 30, 2008 by Janie Lee, M.Ed. at 12:56 PM
Kids health should be a base direction of the program of development of social sphere WBR LeoP Posted Saturday, January 20, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Systems of care have been reactive vesus pro-active. This has become even more pronounced since the budget cuts. While community based treatments/supports are being promoted to discourage out of home placement these options are declining. This leaves families with little or no options. Case loads are increasing and children are becoming lost. While our budgets are being directed at war against terrorism we are also in a war to save our children and our families and we are losing. Unless systems are drastically re-designed I fear for the outcomes. Posted Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 02:26 PM
I agree with the previous post that many of the efforts to cut costs have the perverse effect of creating greater inefficiency and expense. Here in Oregon, we have cut services and money for medications for adults with mental illness, however, they are showing up at hospitals and jails in increasing numbers, causing greater expense. We have seen this also with people with physical health concerns who have lost coverage for medications and are now showing up in emergency rooms. Posted Monday, March 31, 2003 at 09:45 AM
In my state, which is Connecticut there have been some severe budget cuts within state level departments that have a direct effect on children and families.
I am the parent of more than one child with special mental health needs and this is what I have seen....
The Department of Children and Families(DCF)adminsters childrens mental health programming in this state. They recently experienced layoffs at various levels and regional administrators were especially hard hit.
Those with senority that were layed off had the option of bumping someone who had less time in on the job, thusly the senior employess would still have a job. However, the new position could shift the employee between DCF(where they originally came from) across to antoher state department, such as The Department of Social Services(DSS) or The Department of Mental Retardation(DMR). How is it a money saving measure to relocate someone, who must use agency dollars to be retrained?
In addition, regional offices of DSS were closed. This increases out of pocket expenses for an already strained client. It also increases the case loads of workers who could't handle what they already had on their plates. How soon will it be before families suffer from lack of services?
Lastly, CT is toying with the idea of reducing the number of regions that serve clients within the departments of DCF, DMR, DSS. Will that reduce costs? Program administrators will have a hurculean task assimilating the newcomers to their region. The trickle down effect to families is likely to result in more folks going without appropriate intervention,especially in the area f childrens mental health.
My theory is that paid and trained liaison positions between families and the systems that serve them will helpbridge the gaps...and there will be gaps! Posted Sunday, March 30, 2003 by a parent's perspective at 02:01 PM
Re the Federal Budget stuff, the CBO (COngressional Budget Office, which is nonpartisan) recently estimated that tax breaks would lead to a 1.8 trillion dollar deficit in the next decade. I believe this is not including the cost of the current war.
Posted Sunday, March 23, 2003 at 05:28 PM
Regarding the comment about schools posted earlier, I agree that teachers are very demoralized. The No Child Left Behind Act is making things worse too, by forcing schools to evaluate themselves only via high stakes tests. This forces teachers to focus on narrow sorts of "learning" and test taking skills. Our schools are educating more kids better than at any time in history, yet there is a strong perception that schools are failing. This makes the public reluctant to support public education. Conservatives support vouchers (which allow relatively affluent people and kids without special needs) to leave the public system, leaving only the more expensive kids there, and a much reduced base of support for those schools. Posted Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 12:23 PM
I know many teachers in Oregon, and the surrounding states, are saying that the profession is extremely undervalued. Children are needing more services than are able to be provided for them, and this comes across in the classroom. It is a terrible feeling to become well trained in a profession you love, and then to be in the classroom, knowing what every child needs, and to know that they are not getting it, and that no matter how hard you work as a teacher, they will not be getting the things they need. Teachers are being shown more and more that they are NOT valued and they work they do is NOT important. Not just monetarily, but by lack of community and voter support. I think many who work in service for others experience this as well. Posted Wednesday, March 19, 2003 at 02:54 PM
Post a Comment:
Return
to Current Featured Discussions Page
Top |
