Another marathon budget process leaves MI infants and young children at increasing risk.
Dear Crime Fighters and Allies:
In another marathon budget process, state lawmakers went up to the wire
in passing the remaining agency budgets. They managed to do so with
nearly $1 billion in federal monies that will leave either the need for
revenue increases, gapping holes in services, or both, as a new slate of
lawmakers wrestles with prepping for Fiscal Year 2012 as they take
office in January 2011.
See for yourself by downloading the Department of Human Services (DHS)
Budget Fiscal Summary:
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/Summaries/10h5882_CR1.pdf
Lawmakers managed to restore the funding for the statewide competitive
after-school program (once at $5 million, was restored at the $3 million
level), but child welfare remains in jeopardy with so many needs
shifting from prevention to treatment, while child poverty continues to
increase (1 in 5 statewide), and approximately 50% of new births are
paid for through Medicaid.
In the DHS Budget, the language for the Zero to 3 program/Children's
Trust Fund was restructured, although in December 2009 the
Administration had shifted all funding (nearly $4 million) from 46
county projects administered by the fund and redirected it to 5 urban
centers. The funding 'lapse' of $2 million from FY 2009-10 will be used
to plug holes in other areas of the budget. Sadly, the shift from 46
counties to 5 urban areas also has a seen a shift in program emphasis
from prevention. You will note in the Fiscal Summary on the DHS Budget
that there are increases for 684 new staff under item #1 to deal with
protective services and foster care, which occur often as a result of
abuse or neglect. Those are called "Child Welfare Improvements."
No doubt that the revenues are not in the treasury to continue all
programs at a sufficient level, but we are now literally witness to a
generation of kids being thrown under the bus, backed over and then used
for traction. If you have the chance and have not yet done so, take a
look at the court case that shows what abysmal protection we have
offered at-risk kids in Michigan. It can be accessed at the following
link:
http://www.childrensrights.org/wp-content/uploads//2009/02/2009-01-21_mi
_case_fact_sheet.pdf
It is unconscionable that we have neglected the welfare of our most
vulnerable citizens. We have failed to protect them, but now we are
failing to both prevent and protect them from harm. Getting rid of
prevention programs is counter intuitive when we know that the
prevention programs work to help keep kids and families out of the
justice system, CPS, and Foster care, while saving valuable human lives
and taxpayer dollars in the process.
As we all interact with the next anticipated shipment of state leaders,
keeping them informed of the priorities and helping them to see their
stake in ensuring those priorities is critical. Again, we are talking
about a generation of kids who are at risk, but who will also grow to
one day soon be the backbone of our Michigan economy.
Best regards,
K.P.
K.P. Pelleran, MPA
State Director
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan
Boji Tower - Suite 1220
124 W. Allegan Street
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 371-3565 ext. 233
Fax: (517) 371-3567
www.fightcrime.org