Expected Budget Cuts Jeopardize Family Focus

By WY Daily Staff Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Parents and infants participate in a Family Focus class at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Grafton.

The Colonial Services Board is considering cutting the local Family Focus program as a way to absorb possible state-ordered budget cuts of up to $646,000.

Family Focus has been an introduction to parenting and, more importantly, other new parents for the last 26 years. The populations the group serves have expanded over time, but Family Focus has always been about getting parents to become confident, loving caregivers.

CSB Executive Director David Coe says new state budget cuts won’t be officially announced until around the Labor Day holiday, but unofficially he’s heard from senior officials to expect to have to reduce his budget by between 13 and 15 percent – likely closer to 15, he says.

The CSB, which serves residents of Williamsburg, James City County, York County and Poquoson, is a behavioral health agency that offers services in the areas of mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse.

Earlier this year the governor asked all state agencies to prepare budget scenarios including 5, 10 and 15 percent reductions. In a recent speech to the Joint Money Committees, Governor Kaine said, “I’m sure that the depth of the national recession was something that none of us - even the most pessimistic - would have predicted.” He said the state will need to close a gap of $1.5 billion for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Coe says the nine Community Service Boards in the Hampton Roads areas are facing a collective $2 million in budget cuts. On top of the reductions, the CSBs in the state will see an additional cut in Medicare services and will likely see hospital beds in the state reduced with patients sent back to CSBs for care, Coe says. He is concerned that federal block grants that now go to CSBs will also be in danger of being reduced. Directors of the nine CSBs are meeting this week, says Coe, “to figure out what in the world we will do to help manage acute care in the region.”

“We don’t know how deep [state cuts] will go, but a 10 percent cut is what we’re proposing right now,” says Coe. This preemptive cut would likely be implemented in September. By the time the Colonial Services Board factors in leave payouts and unemployment costs, he expects the $430,000 they’re going to propose now will end up costing $700,000. And this is only phase one, he cautions.

The cuts are distressing to Coe, who now has to help decide which aspects of services and staff to cut from the budget. He says the CSB will likely downsize residential and employment programs, restructure middle management, and reduce or eliminate training and travel programs. Additionally, he says four programs will likely be cut, including the Family Focus program.

“We care about families and kids,” he says, but eliminating Family Focus will save about $170,000. He says he knows the community is very supportive of the program, and if a church or other organization were able to offer the program (without money from the CSB), that would be great.

Family Focus program manager Sheree Press is very concerned about the possibility of her program being shut down. “It will be just devastating,” she says.

Family Focus has been working from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in York County since 1983, and at York River Baptist Church in Norge since 1987. Family Focus currently serves between 40 and 60 families, says Press.

Family Focus hosts playgroups for parents and their infants, a preschool program, and various parenting classes. Leaders offer parenting classes for pregnant teens and they go to the regional jail and offer classes and a playgroup for incarcerated parents and their children. They also offer a Hispanic playgroup that’s growing quickly, Press says.

Press found out Friday that the Family Focus program may be cut, and the decision will likely be made at the CSB board meeting on September 1. Four salaried employees and 14 part-time staff could lose their jobs.

“I don’t think [the CSB] knows how valuable we are in the community,” says Press. “We are a lifeline for many people. There’s nothing like this in the area… this recession is when parents need us the most to help prevent child abuse and neglect.”

She says in stressful times when parents may lose jobs, they really need a support network to help them and their kids.

Press says that since she sent out emails and letters Monday to families who are part of the program, she’s received lots of concerned calls. Press has been suggesting parents call or send an email to the CSB or come to the board meeting on September 1, to “let the board know that this is a mistake.”

Press doesn’t know the details of the plan to eliminate her program, but she says some of the program’s funding comes from community grants.

“I’m not giving up yet,” she says. “I’m thinking positive, that’s all you can do.”

The board meets Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors chamber, Building F of the James City County complex on Mounts Bay Road. The meeting has been relocated from the CSB conference room to accommodate those who wish to attend.