, I agree Re: PA families: Community Mental Retardation Services slated to lose $17 Million! What can YOU do to help?

February 25, 2010

Excellent, .Â

>

> ---

>

> CALLING ALL MAX MEMBERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES TO ACTION!

>

> Your action is needed immediately. The proposed Pennsylvania state budget has

just been released and, if passed as is, will result in a $17 million cut to

community services. The budget is on a past track so time is of the essence.

Please read the information below and take a moment to contact your legislator

today. It is urgent that legislators hear from you and others about this

unacceptable proposed budget.

>

> Diane Conway, Ph.D.

> Executive Director

>

> MAX Association

>

> Community mental retardation services are slated to lose $17M in the

Governor's proposed budget. The $17 million dollars will be taken from services

to people with intellectual disabilities, and pulled out of local economies in

the midst of the worst economic situation since the Great Depression. This cut

will not only impact individuals' served, but the staff who serve them!

>

> Here's the situation: The Governor's recommendation includes a $6 million

state fund cut in existing services for people with mental retardation. When

matching federal funds are included, the Governor is recommending that total

funding for existing community-based services for people with mental retardation

be cut by over $17 million. The failure to protect Pennsylvania 's vulnerable

citizens is entirely unnecessary, given the $388 million recommended increase in

the budget for the Department of Public Welfare and the $1.15 billion

recommended increase in the state's General Fund budget.

>

> Here's what you, your staff, family, and friends can do about it right now:

>

> Call and leave a message with your legislators using the talking points

included below. If you need to find out who the legislator is in your home

district you can look this up at the PAR Action Center by following the link

included below, clicking on " Elected Officials " and entering your zip code and

address: http://par.net/ PolicyLegislatio n/PARActionCente r/tabid/84/

Default.aspx

> Send personalized emails to your legislators through the PAR Action Center at:

http://par.net/ PolicyLegislatio n/PARActionCente r/tabid/84/ Default.aspx

> The web address included will take you directly to the page to begin writing

the email. Click on the " Take Action " button and please remember to personalize

it to increase the impact!

>

> Please contact me with questions or for assistance.

> Current Talking Points on the Governor's Proposed Budget for FY2010-2011

>

> Unfair Target of Budget Pain: This $17 million service cut unfairly targets

one extremely vulnerable group of Pennsylvanians for " budgetary pain " that has

not been inflicted on any other part of the DPW budget.

>

> Unnecessary Cut: The Governor's Recommended Budget for FY2011 is

$1,115,000,000 higher than this year's budget. This increase in spending should

not be built upon the backs of people with mental retardation.

>

> Two-to-one Federal Fund Match: The restoration of this unfair cut in services

would require only $6.1 million in state funds, since these funds will be

matched with $11.2 million in federal funds. It makes no sense for Pennsylvania

to walk away from $11.2 million in federal funds that it already receives.

>

> Third Year of Flat Reimbursement: Mental retardation services have not

received any funding increases needed to offset the increasing costs of

providing these services for the past two years, and none is included for next

year. This funding " freeze " in the face of increased costs of providing these

services, including increases in the cost of health insurance, liability

insurance, workers compensation insurance, fuel, and food, has already required

significant " belt-tightening " while agencies continue to meet state licensing

standards and federally-imposed quality standards.

>

> Thank you for taking a few minutes to help maintain the services for

individuals with disabilities. Since this issue can have such as huge impact on

the services provided to individuals with disabilities, please pass this along

and encourage other to act as well!

>

> Thank you to PAR as well for providing this information and leading the

charge..

>

> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

> Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection.

> http://clk.atdmt. com/GBL/go/ 201469226/ direct/01/

>

February 26, 2010

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/01/12/funding-cuts/6645/

julie@...

CC:

From: kiersten5560@...

Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:23:41 -0800

Subject: , I agree Re: PA families: Community Mental

Retardation Services slated to lose $17 Million! What can YOU do to help?

Excellent, .

>