Feds cut children-at-risk funding

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA ¾ The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has drastically cut funding for children and youth services throughout Pennsylvania.

“These children at risk are the most vulnerable people in our society, and to cut their services so drastically is unprecedented,” said Andrea White, Wayne County Director of Human Services. She addressed the county commissioners on June 6.

The cuts will amount to a loss to the county of $331,290.

“This may be a small amount to some counties, but it’s a real blow to us,” White said. The human services department has been receiving these funds, called Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, for nearly 20 years.

“We were expecting some funding reductions, but not 100 percent, not the entire program,” White said.

“If we are doing something wrong in our managing of these programs, we’d like to know,” White said. White suspected that it was a budget decision by the Bush administration. Budget year 2006-2007, which begins July 1, will be affected by the cuts.

Programs supported by these funds include preventative services for both dependent and delinquent children, day treatment for delinquent children, family preservation programs to keep families together, after-school programs and specialized counseling for young offenders and victims.

“In order to maintain mandatory services, we will be faced with hard economic decisions to maintain services to protect these children,” White said.

The county commissioner responded by sending out letters of protest to the county’s state and federal representatives.