Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Melody's story
Check out Melody's story here. This is from the Texans Care for Children think tank. They feature different children who have grown and thrived with the help of Early Childhood Intervention Services. Angela Lello tells us that throughout the month of May, some House members are inviting real Texans impacted by proposed budget cuts to the Capitol to tell their story. If you know of anyone who would be interested in coming to the Capitol to share their personal story in the House chamber, contact Ryan Phipps with Rep. Castro’s office at ryan.phipps@house.state.tx.us.
ECI update
Here is an update from Angela Lello--Public Policy Director for Texas Council for Developmental disabilities. Seems were at a standstill for right now but hopefully there will be answers soon...
"The Senate Finance Committee completed its work on the budget, but the full Senate has yet to bring the bill (CSSB 1) up for a vote on the floor. There have not been enough votes needed to suspend the rules in order to begin floor debate of the budget in the Senate. At this point, it is unclear what will need to change in order to secure the votes needed to bring the budget to a floor vote. Once that happens and the budget passes the Senate, a Conference Committee will iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. Just a recap: the House Budget underfunds ECI by about $55m and would result in approximately 26,500 children served with 2 hours of direct services on average per month; the Senate version of the budget underfunds ECI by about $30m and would result in approximately 23,500 children served with 3 hours of direct services on average per month. (Currently over 30,000 children are receiving 2 hours of direct services on average each month.)"
"The Senate Finance Committee completed its work on the budget, but the full Senate has yet to bring the bill (CSSB 1) up for a vote on the floor. There have not been enough votes needed to suspend the rules in order to begin floor debate of the budget in the Senate. At this point, it is unclear what will need to change in order to secure the votes needed to bring the budget to a floor vote. Once that happens and the budget passes the Senate, a Conference Committee will iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. Just a recap: the House Budget underfunds ECI by about $55m and would result in approximately 26,500 children served with 2 hours of direct services on average per month; the Senate version of the budget underfunds ECI by about $30m and would result in approximately 23,500 children served with 3 hours of direct services on average per month. (Currently over 30,000 children are receiving 2 hours of direct services on average each month.)"
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Get Involved!
How can you get involved? Advocacy is needed at all levels--local, state and federal--for our vulnerable youth.
Here are a list of resources to get you started:
-Texans Care for Children: http://texanscareforchildren.org/Get-Involved
-Voices: http://www.voices.org/take-action/americas-kids-americas-future/
-Get involved in a child's life. Mentor a child in need through Big Brothers, Big Sisters
-Be informed! Sign up to receive emails and updates from the Kids Count program through the Center for Public
Policy Priorities
-Join the Texas Chip Coalition in their efforts to strengthen Children's Medicaid and CHIP programs in Texas
Here are a list of resources to get you started:
-Texans Care for Children: http://texanscareforchildren.org/Get-Involved
-Voices: http://www.voices.org/take-action/americas-kids-americas-future/
-Get involved in a child's life. Mentor a child in need through Big Brothers, Big Sisters
-Be informed! Sign up to receive emails and updates from the Kids Count program through the Center for Public
Policy Priorities
-Join the Texas Chip Coalition in their efforts to strengthen Children's Medicaid and CHIP programs in Texas
A need for social workers
There is an extensive amount of research on early childhood development and the long-term benefits of high-quality early childhood intervention programs (click here for a list of articles). This research is staring policymakers in the face, however they still continue to cut from the programs that are in place only to benefit the underprivileged, developmentally delayed and at risk youth of our nation. They cut funds but expect more work by increasing service hour requirements and in the same breath decrease monetary resources. The policymakers create barriers not only to the implementation but also to the access of early childhood programs by forcing agencies into restrictive eligibility criteria.
Many different children benefit from the services of ECI, from children with developmental delays to children who have been abused or neglected to children of different ethnicities. Linette Azzi-Lessing, PhD explains, "the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires child welfare systems to refer infant and toddler victims of maltreatment for assessment by early intervention programs. CAPTA's intent is to identify and begin addressing developmental delays and other conditions as early as possible." Minorities--Latino and African American children--are overrepresented among young children with disabilities, which stems from socioeconomic issues around access to health care, nutrition and prenatal care. According to Azzi-Lessing social workers' presence in the field of early intervention is dwindling. Social workers bring vast knowledge and experience around child development as well as advocacy. Social workers need to stand up and "educate policy makers about the importance of extending early intervention services to young children affected by social and emotional risk factors such as poverty and maternal depression (Azzi-Lessing). We as social workers need to stand up and advocate for policies that benefit youth as well as get involved with early childhood programs to ensure the implementation of family-centered and culturally competent services.
NECTAC clearing house
Growing Together
Many different children benefit from the services of ECI, from children with developmental delays to children who have been abused or neglected to children of different ethnicities. Linette Azzi-Lessing, PhD explains, "the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires child welfare systems to refer infant and toddler victims of maltreatment for assessment by early intervention programs. CAPTA's intent is to identify and begin addressing developmental delays and other conditions as early as possible." Minorities--Latino and African American children--are overrepresented among young children with disabilities, which stems from socioeconomic issues around access to health care, nutrition and prenatal care. According to Azzi-Lessing social workers' presence in the field of early intervention is dwindling. Social workers bring vast knowledge and experience around child development as well as advocacy. Social workers need to stand up and "educate policy makers about the importance of extending early intervention services to young children affected by social and emotional risk factors such as poverty and maternal depression (Azzi-Lessing). We as social workers need to stand up and advocate for policies that benefit youth as well as get involved with early childhood programs to ensure the implementation of family-centered and culturally competent services.
NECTAC clearing house
Growing Together
Update on ECI cuts:
Josette Saxton--Mental Health Policy Associate and Texans Care For Children advocate--updates us on the dire situation around ECI funding in this recent email:
"The House passed a budget that would reduce funding for ECI by $35m in the next biennium, compared to its current base budget. Because of reduced funding, DARS will need to narrow eligibility requirements in order to serve fewer children. Although the Senate Finance Committee was originally looking to fund ECI at current levels, it instead voted out a budget that would reduce funding for ECI by $30m. While this is more than is being proposed by the House, the Senate Finance Committee also inserted a rider that, if included in the final budget, directs DARS to increase direct service hours to 3 hrs on average each month (current average is 2). This means DARS will have to narrow eligibility even more than under the House proposal. The estimate I've heard associated with the Senate proposal is that DARS would be able to serve around 23,500 children in ECI, compared to serving over 30,000 children today. The full Senate is expected to vote on the Senate Finance Committee's proposed budget later this week, with few if any changes to the committee's recommendations. The next step will be for a conference committee, made up from 5 members from House and Senate each, who will hash out the differences between the two proposals."
"The House passed a budget that would reduce funding for ECI by $35m in the next biennium, compared to its current base budget. Because of reduced funding, DARS will need to narrow eligibility requirements in order to serve fewer children. Although the Senate Finance Committee was originally looking to fund ECI at current levels, it instead voted out a budget that would reduce funding for ECI by $30m. While this is more than is being proposed by the House, the Senate Finance Committee also inserted a rider that, if included in the final budget, directs DARS to increase direct service hours to 3 hrs on average each month (current average is 2). This means DARS will have to narrow eligibility even more than under the House proposal. The estimate I've heard associated with the Senate proposal is that DARS would be able to serve around 23,500 children in ECI, compared to serving over 30,000 children today. The full Senate is expected to vote on the Senate Finance Committee's proposed budget later this week, with few if any changes to the committee's recommendations. The next step will be for a conference committee, made up from 5 members from House and Senate each, who will hash out the differences between the two proposals."
Effects of ECI cuts
The need for Early Childhood intervention services continues to dramatically increase. We know that healthy care in the first 5 years of a child's life is crucial to their development. Bruce Perry M.D. Ph.D, Senior fellow of Child Trauma Academy, reveals that we are born with an undeveloped brain. During the development of the brain it "oganizes and grows in a sequential fashion" starting with the brain stem. If the child experiences chronic or traumatic stress in the first years of life their brain can become "sensitized, overreactive and dysfunctional" (Bruce Perry). Early intervention with this population of children is crucial in identifying possible delays and stressors due to delays in a child's development. According to Department of Assistive and Rehavilitative Services ECI has been growing around 7% annually. As the number of children needing ECI services increases the budget has remained stagnate creating a gap between service needs and service delivery. With a budget that is shrinking fewer special needs children are being served which inevitably costs the state more money down the road. ECI services are designed to provide upfront services early on which will help offset later costs in special education, diagnostic services, disability services, and juvenile justice services.
Another service provided through ECI is respite care. Respite care is a support service for families to get a needed break to run errands, work or just relax. The funding for respite care has remained the same over the years even with the increasing number of children ECI has served. The ECI program recieves federal funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which mandates that they provide services to all eligible children. DARS reports the ECI service system at the present time is "not sustainable and may not be delivering the benefits to children and families that lessen their dependence on special education and other state services over time." (Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.
(DARS) 2012-2013 Legislative Appropriations Request
Bruce Perry Neurosequential Model
Another service provided through ECI is respite care. Respite care is a support service for families to get a needed break to run errands, work or just relax. The funding for respite care has remained the same over the years even with the increasing number of children ECI has served. The ECI program recieves federal funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which mandates that they provide services to all eligible children. DARS reports the ECI service system at the present time is "not sustainable and may not be delivering the benefits to children and families that lessen their dependence on special education and other state services over time." (Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.
(DARS) 2012-2013 Legislative Appropriations Request
Bruce Perry Neurosequential Model
Kids, Cuts, & the Texas Budget - Thursday, April 28th, 2011, 2:00 - 4:00pm
A great way to get involved in this cause!:
SAVE THE DATE!
Kids, Cuts, & the Texas Budget
April 28th 2011 | 2:00 - 4:00
An exciting symposium on Kids, Public Policy, & The Texas Budget is coming
your way! The Texas legislature is proposing making huge cuts to public
education, children's health insurance, and many other services that kids
need. Texas' budget this time around is going to have a huge impact on kids
in Texas. Join Jane Burstain, Ph.D, and Frances Deviney, Ph.D, from the
Center for Public Policy Priorities, and Sue Milam from NASW Texas, as they
discuss what budget cuts mean for Texas kids, and what you can do about it.
Refreshments will be provided, and the first 20 to sign up will earn free
CEUs!
For more information, contact Bernard Klinke (Klinke@cppp.org).
SAVE THE DATE!
Kids, Cuts, & the Texas Budget
April 28th 2011 | 2:00 - 4:00
An exciting symposium on Kids, Public Policy, & The Texas Budget is coming
your way! The Texas legislature is proposing making huge cuts to public
education, children's health insurance, and many other services that kids
need. Texas' budget this time around is going to have a huge impact on kids
in Texas. Join Jane Burstain, Ph.D, and Frances Deviney, Ph.D, from the
Center for Public Policy Priorities, and Sue Milam from NASW Texas, as they
discuss what budget cuts mean for Texas kids, and what you can do about it.
Refreshments will be provided, and the first 20 to sign up will earn free
CEUs!
For more information, contact Bernard Klinke (Klinke@cppp.org).
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