A Time To Reflect

We just enjoyed celebrating our national day of independence in the midst of cook outs, fireworks and outdoor fun. When we are able to slow down a bit and reflect back on the sacrifices made by others that allow us to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the leadership, perseverance and commitment of the early organizers of the Arc movement comes to mind.

Recently I attended a meeting with Arc Minnesota that was held in Brainerd. The Executive Directors of Arc Chapters from around the state connect regularly to share ideas, problem solve and keep abreast of what is happening across the state in the areas of public policy.

On my way back to St. Cloud I took a few minutes to swing by the old Brainerd State hospital which originally opened in 1958. Today the buildings are, for the most part, vacant; a few programs operating out of a couple buildings. The windows are bare – allowing a peek inside at empty rooms that once were filled with more than 1,330 patients, i.e. children and adults with special needs. I tried to imagine what it might have been like for parents who pulled into that driveway and viewed the multiple buildings for the first time. No doubt they felt a mixture of sorrow, anxiety, fear and relief. I also thought about how that same view might look to the individual who was arriving there to live, often-times far from family and all that was familiar.

Looking back into recent history provides us with an opportunity to thank the leaders of the original Arc grass-roots movement. Parents, in reaching out – seeking resources to help meet the critical needs of their children and families – found each other. They started small groups all over the country huddled around kitchen tables over coffee. We are grateful to these pioneers who found the courage to stand up for the changes that were needed and the stamina to make those changes happen.

Thank you to the faithful few who remain among us. May we honor your determined efforts to create opportunities and increased quality of life for your children and may we find and keep the passion needed to protect and improve services for our children. I wonder too, how do we compare?

Updates from the MinnesotaBudgetBites Organization

While we wait for the final outcome of the 2009 Minnesota Legislative Session, here are a few updates from the MinnesotaBudgetBites Organization.

Health and Human Services:

The Commissioner said not to expect any huge surprises – the unallotments are likely to be spread between 30 to 40 programs and will mostly reflect proposals that were made during the legislative session.

• Contrary to early reports, the cuts in HHS will not come mostly in the second year of the biennium. Instead, look for most of the unallotments in this area to take effect in the first year (which starts on July 1st).
• Look for additional cuts to provider rates and suspensions of previously authorized rate adjustments.
• Look for delays in implementing initiatives – including initiatives that were passed as far back as 2007.
• Although the Governor will attempt to avoid losing federal dollars, it is inevitable that the state will end up forgoing some federal matching funds as a result of unallotments.
• The hope is to avoid piling-on those areas which have already been significantly cut (probably referring to adults without children and hospitals impacted by the elimination of General Assistance Medical Care) and minimize the pain to the most vulnerable (he mentioned the elderly and people with disabilities).

It is also useful to note that in the next biennium (FY 2012-13), base funding for programs will return to the appropriations level prior to unallotment. That is not the case for any line-item vetoes made by the Governor, according to the Commissioner.

The Governor’s unallotment announcement may come at any time in the next week or two. We’ve heard that the Governor hopes to announce the entire unallotment plan at once, providing everyone with as much notice as possible to adjust to the cuts to programs and services.

As a procedural note, the Governor must present his unallotment plan to the Legislative Advisory Commission before it can be implemented. The LAC, however, has no authority to change or reject the plan. Instead, the legislature’s opportunity to respond will come when they reconvene next February. By that time, however, many cuts may have already taken effect.

As we learn more we will share that information with you.

Here is your chance to make a difference!

We are at one of the most critical times in the evolution of our community-based services system – maybe the biggest challenge to the system we have ever faced.   Individuals and programs are all at great risk. YOU can help to make difference during this critical time.

The Senate’s health and human services bill recently unveiled has greater cuts to some disability supports than the House bill. The Governor has not budged on reversing his proposed cuts. Because the House bill cuts less than the Governor and the Senate, this could be as good as it is going to get this session for people with disabilities. Below is a comparison of the House, Governor, and Senate budgets in key areas impacting persons with disabilities. The below chart and additional information in this blog is taken from The Arc of Minnesota website:

House’s HHS Budget	Governor’s HHS Budget	Senate’s HHS Budget
3% provider rate cut to disability services		3% provider rate cut to disability services	3% provider rate cut to disability services
$25 million cut in PCA services		$40 million cut in PCA out of $400 million	$30 million cut in PCA services
Reduces, but does not eliminate, dental, OT, PT & speech therapy		Eliminates these services for adults	Reduces, but does not eliminate, dental, OT, PT & speech therapy
Maintains funding for Region 10 QA		Eliminates funding for this program	Eliminates funding for this program
Maintains waiver growth		Eliminates waiver growth	Eliminates waiver growth
Cuts Personal Needs Allowance to $89/month		Cut Personal Needs Allowance to $89/month	Cuts Personal Needs Allowance to $89/month
Cuts $100 from low-income families receiving SSI		Cuts $125 from low-income families receiving SSI	Doesn’t cut low-income families receiving SSI
Increases licensing fees for providers		Increases licensing fees for providers	Doesn’t Increase licensing fees for providers

If there was ever a time to be strong and steadfast in your advocacy efforts, IT IS NOW! We need our legislators and our Governor to restore fairness to the spending proposals, not make them worse, and we need your voice to keep fairness fixed in their minds. We need them all to live up to their promise to protect our vulnerable citizens -- and we need YOU to hold them to it.

Here is what you can do!

1. Personally communicate. Look over the proposed cuts and choose 1-2 that will impact you at least weekly, then contact your legislators and let them know how this proposed change will impact you.
2. Sign up to be a Rapid Responder. You will then receive email action alerts and be able to quickly respond. Contact Rita at 320.251.7272 or makingadifference@ArcMidstate.org to do so.
3. Spread the word. Forward our alerts to your friends, families, and colleagues and urge them to respond as well. Organize letter writing, e-mail, and call-in campaigns in your communities of faith, social circles, adult forums – any group of people you think might be interested.
4. Participate in our Legislative Vigil. Visit Arc Minnesota’s website at www.TheArcOfMinnesota.org, go to www.arcmn.org. Click on the “Help Us Maintain a Constant Presence at the Capitol” link.

With your help, we have prevailed at the Capitol before. With strong grassroots efforts, we stopped the elimination of TEFRA for some families in the mid-1990s. We helped pass legislation to cut the waiting list in 1999 and 2000.

In 2005, we restored cuts made in the 2003 session. We can be successful again, but only if YOU and your network of friends, family and colleagues are part of the fight.

Legislators are telling us they need to hear from us. If we aren’t willing to make the efforts to speak on behalf of our loved ones and those in our care – why should others care?