Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Utah Cuts Foster Care Funds

So in our new world of "where can we cut the budget?" DCFS and Foster parents are taking a hit. When comparing what foster families are reimbursed from other states....Utah's foster parents are actually due for a 40% INCREASE. Unfortunately as of July 1, 2009 foster parents will see less money coming in to help alleviate the costs of raising children who have special needs and need extra care.

DCFS employees are also seeing cuts. Workers are being forced to furlough 40 hours. If you haven't had the privilege of meeting a case worker let me share a couple of examples of their life. You can read from their own words at the following blogs.
Musings of an Evil Social Worker
Eyes Opened Wider
Without caseworkers at DCFS nothing would get accomplished. Without RFC's (resource family consultants) there would be no advocate for the foster family. I can't do what I do without these groups of people and without them children in foster care will suffer.
The ironic thing....DCFS can't cry out against this....it is illegal for them to do so.

So I am giving you this information because Foster Care needs your voice. Please call your state legislator and let them know how you feel about funds being cut from foster care.
In Utah they will be cutting 5 million in 2009 and another 5 million in 2010.
These cuts WILL affect the approximately 2,600 children now in foster care and the children that will be coming into state custody!!!!
It will make it harder for some families to continue fostering, harder to recruit new families to foster which equals a disaster for kids...especially kids with extra special needs.

Please contact your representatives!
Utah Senate
Utah House

I also encourage you to spread this information to others...the more bugging our representatives the better...lets make alot noise about this issue and hopefully they will listen!

2 comments:

Savannah said...

That's not right! They need to find another way to alleviate their funding crisis. These children should not be the ones to bear the burden.

SmallAdventures said...

I agree on so many levels!!!!
Thank you!