Post by Tim Collins on Mar 5, 2009 13:39:31 GMT -7
***Protect Early Childhood Intervention Services!***
Proposed funding for ECI falls far short of the projected need, so
tell Legislators not to make children with developmental delays and disabilities
wait for critical services that help children and save us all long-term costs!
What's happening:
The number of children in need of Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) for developmental delays is likely to grow significantly in 2010-2011. However, the budget being considered by the Legislature accounts for growth at a rate that is a third below what the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services projects it will see. As the budget proposal stands, the state would likely not be able to provide critical services for children who qualify for and need ECI services now.
What it means:
When funding for ECI trails the demand, the state is forced to narrow its eligibility requirements--making young children with developmental delays wait longer to receive the services and supports they need when those services have the best chance of improving outcomes, both for the child and for taxpayers, who otherwise shoulder much higher remediation costs down the road. As the rate of premature births rise, as awareness and diagnoses of disabilities increase, and as ECI serves more children in the Child Protective Services system, the ECI caseloads have steadily risen in recent years and show no sign of reversing course.
***WHAT YOU CAN DO***
Contact legislators about the proposed cut to ECI funding. The House and Senate budget committees are currently weighing funding for health and human service programs. If you are concerned about the proposed ECI cut and the narrowing of eligibility it will likely bring about, please contact (by letter, phone or e-mail) the members of the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Health and Human Services and the members of the Senate Finance Workgroup on Health and Human Services listed below.
Urge these committee members to provide enough funding to continue serving children at a minimum 6% projected growth rate, per the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services' budget request. Tell state leaders to avoid making children with a developmental disability or atypical development wait for services they need right now.
Forward this email on to other supporters of young children, so they know they can take action.
House Committee on Appropriations - SubCommittee on Health & Human Services
Chair Rep. John Zerwas: john.zerwas@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0657
Vice Chair Rep. Dawnna Dukes: Dawnna.dukes@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0506
Members:
Rep. Ellen Cohen: Ellen.cohen@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0389
Rep. Craig Eiland: Craig.eiland@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0502
Rep. Carl Isett: Carl.isett@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0676
Committee Clerk: Julie Haeber Julie.haeber@house.state.tx.us
Senate Finance - HHS Workgroup
Sen. Bob Deuell: bob.deuell@sentate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0102
Sen. Jane Nelson: jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0112
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.: Eddie.lucio@senate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0127
Sen. Tommy Williams: tommy.williams@senate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0104
Committee Clerk: Amy Jeter Amy.jeter@senate.state.tx.us
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING TEXAS CHILDREN
Proposed funding for ECI falls far short of the projected need, so
tell Legislators not to make children with developmental delays and disabilities
wait for critical services that help children and save us all long-term costs!
What's happening:
The number of children in need of Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) for developmental delays is likely to grow significantly in 2010-2011. However, the budget being considered by the Legislature accounts for growth at a rate that is a third below what the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services projects it will see. As the budget proposal stands, the state would likely not be able to provide critical services for children who qualify for and need ECI services now.
What it means:
When funding for ECI trails the demand, the state is forced to narrow its eligibility requirements--making young children with developmental delays wait longer to receive the services and supports they need when those services have the best chance of improving outcomes, both for the child and for taxpayers, who otherwise shoulder much higher remediation costs down the road. As the rate of premature births rise, as awareness and diagnoses of disabilities increase, and as ECI serves more children in the Child Protective Services system, the ECI caseloads have steadily risen in recent years and show no sign of reversing course.
***WHAT YOU CAN DO***
Contact legislators about the proposed cut to ECI funding. The House and Senate budget committees are currently weighing funding for health and human service programs. If you are concerned about the proposed ECI cut and the narrowing of eligibility it will likely bring about, please contact (by letter, phone or e-mail) the members of the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Health and Human Services and the members of the Senate Finance Workgroup on Health and Human Services listed below.
Urge these committee members to provide enough funding to continue serving children at a minimum 6% projected growth rate, per the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services' budget request. Tell state leaders to avoid making children with a developmental disability or atypical development wait for services they need right now.
Forward this email on to other supporters of young children, so they know they can take action.
House Committee on Appropriations - SubCommittee on Health & Human Services
Chair Rep. John Zerwas: john.zerwas@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0657
Vice Chair Rep. Dawnna Dukes: Dawnna.dukes@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0506
Members:
Rep. Ellen Cohen: Ellen.cohen@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0389
Rep. Craig Eiland: Craig.eiland@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0502
Rep. Carl Isett: Carl.isett@house.state.tx.us (512) 463-0676
Committee Clerk: Julie Haeber Julie.haeber@house.state.tx.us
Senate Finance - HHS Workgroup
Sen. Bob Deuell: bob.deuell@sentate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0102
Sen. Jane Nelson: jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0112
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.: Eddie.lucio@senate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0127
Sen. Tommy Williams: tommy.williams@senate.state.tx.us (512) 463-0104
Committee Clerk: Amy Jeter Amy.jeter@senate.state.tx.us
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING TEXAS CHILDREN