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"No Cuts to Supports for
People with Developmental Disabilities!"
The impact of a poor economy
On Monday, the news wasn’t good for
Georgia’s state revenues. Governor Sonny Perdue, struggling to deal with an
expected $1.6 billion budget shortfall, has ordered agencies to cut their
budgets by 6 percent for this year and has told them to offer budget proposals
for midyear adjustments in January and for the year that begins next July 1 that
show how they could achieve cuts of 6, 8 and 10 percent if necessary.
Right now you can help us by contacting the Commissioner of DHR's office and members of
the Department of Human Resources' Board
(Stay tuned for our message
regarding
the Department of Community Health)
What is at stake
The multi-year funding plan called for 2,500
services last year, and we received only 500. This year the plan also calls for
2,500, and the current budget proposal includes only the 150 we need to meet the
requirement of the Money Follows Person initiative. If this is the best we can
do, the waiting list will be over 7,000 next year. Reducing the Waiting Lists to
a reasonable pace requires substantial, consistent, annual allocation of
resources. We must maintain the effort.
Please do 5 things today by sending a message to:
1) One email to the DHR's Commissioner B. J. Walker
2) One letter to the DHR Board Chair,
3) One letter to the DHR Board Vice-Chair
4) One letter to the DHR Board Secretary
5) One letter a DHR Board member closest to your home
Our Message:
Thank you for your past effort to support adults
with disabilities throughout Georgia. Please continue this commitment to the
multi-year funding plan by honoring our common goal to ensure persons with
disabilities live to their full potential by expanding community based services
throughout Georgia.
Georgia has over 6,160 people with developmental disabilities currently on
community waiting lists. The waiting lists grow every year by 1,000 people
because individuals and families fall into crisis, or caregivers pass away. Over
700 students age out of the school system every year needing supports. The
multi-year funding plan called for 2,500 services last year, and we received
only 500. This year the plan also calls for 2,500, and the current budget
proposal includes only the 150 MRWP services we need to meet the requirement of
the Money Follows Person initiative.
Please, find a way to maintain the effort. If this is the best we can do, the
waiting list will be over 7,000 next year. Reducing the Waiting Lists to a
reasonable pace requires substantial, consistent, annual allocation of
resources.
Please remember
to include your
name and address on any communication.
Thank you for
making a difference.
Click here to send an email to Commissioner Walker |
