How Should the Family Support Program be Funded?
Tennessee law requires a balanced budget. Therefore, when revenues are down, state expenditures must be curtailed. Should we protect programs that benefit our state 's most vulnerable citizens during times of economic decline, or should all departments share equally in expense reductions?
Federal stimulus package dollars will be used to pay for the Family Support Program in 2009-10. At the end of the year, where should we expect to find funds to support the program?
Much conversation has centered around the state 's financial crisis and in particular, the decline in sales tax revenue. Does Tennessee need a different method of taxation?
What are your thoughts and ideas on funding for vital human service initiatives such as the Family Support Program?
Filed under: The 2009 Campaign
This is a communication that went to State Representative Donna Rowland regarding a potential source of funds for the Family Support Program:
Dear Representative Rowland,
I continue to read with much interest your efforts to investigate how we are spending government money in such difficult times for our state. This item from your most recent newsletter just caught my attention:
“A general services contract for elevator service was drawn up to provide service for 400 elevators over four years if counties, cities, and universities joined in-but they never did, meaning service was only provided for 170 elevators. Rowland asked the committee to amend the contract and return the surplus of $9.5 million, and the committee agreed.â€
The reason these types of excesses are so breathtaking is because the state has plans to cut a 20-year-old program that is the only program currently serving people with disabilities who fall in the service gap for people with developmental disabilities. The Tennessee Family Support Program is one of the most cost-efficient, effective programs in state government. It was established to serve people with all forms of severe disabilities (a large proportion of them children) who are being cared for by their families at home. Funding distributions are provided through local non-profit agencies under the guidance of volunteer-based citizen councils. This year, the program is being funded by federal stimulus dollars.
Last year, even with a reduced budget, the program served 4,144 people with severe functional disabilities across the state. UCP has the contract for this program in Rutherford County. I have taken the time to go with our Family Support Coordinator to visit many of our Rutherford County families. These are loving families, far from wealthy people, who are caring for loved ones with very severe disabilities at home. The financial burden on these families is enormous. For example, one of our Rutherford county families has two children with disabilities; one of them requires a ventilator – and dad recently lost his job. Families are using the funds to pay for things that are not covered by insurance, such as incontinence supplies, lift and transfer devices, non-covered medications and therapies, respite and sitter services, specialized car seats, educational supports, and many other essentials that go far beyond the typical family budget. The $9.5 Million that you identified in only one excessive line item would pay for the entire program for the whole state of Tennessee for over a year.
We have been told by the Administration that the program will be cut because it does not draw down additional Medicaid dollars for the state. We have also been told that because the program is so small in comparison to other state programs, it is an easy target for elimination. As far as I am concerned, this is just wrong thinking. Some of the state’s Medicaid match programs cost over $700 a day per person. This is because the government is paying for the full cost of institutional level of care for people in certain federally funded programs. People in these high cost programs have functional disabilities comparable to individuals served by the Family Support program at an average cost of only $4.41 per day.
THESE ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS! Why aren’t we focusing on programs that provide the greatest benefit at the best cost? In one of the articles I read about you, there was another comment that struck a chord with me. I am paraphrasing here, but you said something along the line that if we carefully watch our pennies in state government, then big dollars in government spending will go down. I have believed for some time that our state has the money for baseline, essential needs such as the Family Support Program if we would only reevaluate our priorities. We have 168 families in Rutherford County who rely on the Family Support Program. Would you be willing to meet with us to talk about this program on behalf of constituents of Rutherford County? Here is a link to what the program is doing in Rutherford County: http://www.tnfamilysupport.org/counties/FSFactCounty75.pdf
Deana Claiborne, Executive Director
UCP of Middle Tennessee
Deana_Claiborne@ucpnashville.org