Children's services take budget cuts on the chin

The hits to Southeast Missouri after a $1.1 billion cut in the state's budget keep coming.

From mental health to education to public safety, programs and departments across the state were forced to tighten purse strings or close shop.

Cape Girardeau is facing the loss of several jobs as Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center, a local tax assistance center and a satellite office of the Division of Environmental Equality have been slated for closing.

After announcing his decision to make the across-the-board cuts, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon said the cuts were necessary because the budget approved by the Republican-led Legislature was "dangerously out of balance."

Last year, Nixon froze about $400 million for education, health care and other programs, releasing the money only after the Legislature failed to override his veto of an income tax-cut bill. The most recent round of cuts come after a promise from lawmakers to override Nixon's veto of a slew of tax-cutting bills.

Some have criticized the governor's decision because it primarily takes aim at services that would benefit children.

The diminished funding is especially problematic for Cape Girardeau County because the region already has a shortage with youth programs and services. Lonnie Lusk, chief financial officer for the Community Counseling Center, and Kyle Schott, program manager for Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, are part of the Putting Kids First Coalition. The group was designed to support the mental health and well-being of children and teens in the county.

A study by the multiagency initiative found more than $5 million was needed to sufficiently fund programs to help local youth in need. This total was based on the number of programs and services available in the area and how many people were turned away because of the lack of space or funding.

That was the number before the budget cuts. As the governor and the Legislature continue to haggle over numbers, Lusk and Schott said it's impossible to guess what the financial outlook will be for local children's agencies later this year.

Nixon has indicated he will release the funding for education if his vetoes on the 10 tax-cutting bills are not overturned in the September veto session. Even if the governor gets his wish, Lusk and Schott are not optimistic the full $1.1 billion will be released.

The cuts eliminated a new psychiatric residency program at the University of Missouri, which had the potential to bring more children's psychiatrists to the state. They also significantly reduced funding for autism programs, Office of Child Advocate and programs for foster children. The funding for the Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri's Healthy Moms/Healthy Babies program, which provides education and resources to young at-risk mothers through their child's first year of life, was basically cut in half, Schott added.

"It's become an annual thing, playing political football, and the children in Cape County are suffering because of it," Lusk said.

But he and Schott said the county has a unique opportunity to take care of its own when it comes to children's services. The Putting Kids First Coalition was successful in putting Proposition K on the August ballot after a petition was signed by 8 percent of the county's registered voters. If approved, a one-quarter-cent sales tax would go into effect and a board and executive director would retain local control of the funds.

Lusk said keeping control in local hands would mean local children's services were "not totally subject to the whims of the politicians in Jefferson City and Washington." It also would give more stability to local agencies, meaning they could start new programs with more confidence the funding would be available and employees would have fewer fears about job security.

Schott said statistics show there's a need to boost funding for children's services in Cape Girardeau County, not reduce them. The county's number of homeless children has nearly doubled over the past two years -- to 240 -- and is one of the worst-ranked counties when it comes to high school dropout rates. Changing the statistics won't be easy, but improving the mental health and well-being of children is an important goal.

"We see these people. We see them suffer, and we see them improve and that's what keeps us going," Lusk said.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.