Good news for Tennessee families!

The Tennessee Disability Coalition has reported that the Family Support Program will be funded for two more years! The program was in risk of being eliminated, and through numerous petitions, letters, and phone calls from self-advocates, families, and supporters, our voice was heard and it made a difference. The Tennessee Family Support Program is the only program that provides funding to individuals regardless of their diagnosis, income, or age. It's still early in the year and anything can happen, but this is great news.

Family Support Program is in jeopardy

Save the Family Support Program!

As many of you know, Tennessee's Family Support Program is at great risk of being eliminated! We want to keep you informed of the latest developments so that you can get involved. Here is what’s happening across the state:

Monthly Conference Calls:
Date: November 18, 2009, 3:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern/2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
What is Family Support?
Easter Seals, in collaboration with Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), is hosting a series of monthly conference calls on Family Support. Each call is designed for families of children with developmental disabilities and self-advocates to learn more about family support options, as well as how to advocate for service improvements. This is the first in a series of family support conference calls; additional calls will be held on the third Wednesday of each month. For call-in information, please register at http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/40554288.

MESSAGE FROM TN FAMILY SUPPORT ALLIANCE:
Governor Bredesen is holding public departmental budget hearings this week. The Division of Intellectual Disability Services, which oversees the Family Support Program is scheduled to present their budget recommendations from 1:00pm to 1:45pm on Thursday, November 19. The hearing will be held in the State Capitol Building.

As of today, the State of Tennessee anticipates a budget shortfall in the range of $1.5 Billion dollars in the coming fiscal year.  This represents a 9.4% cut from the $26.3 Billion budget Governor Bredesen presented to the legislature last year.

We now have authoritative documentation that the Division plans to submit a budget of only $202,100 to the Governor for the entire statewide Family Support Program. Last year, the budget for the program started at $7.67M dollars.  During the year, the program was cut by $1M. This appropriation means that the Family Support program will be cut by 97% if the Division’s budget is allowed to stand.

The Tennessee Family Support Program serves citizens with severe disabilities, many of whom have few, if any, other resources. At present, it is the only program that serves “gap” populations, including persons with developmental disabilities other than intellectual disabilities, as well as certain middle income families who do not qualify for government supports even though these households are bearing extreme disability-related costs.

The Governor’s Budget hearings are open to the public. Please attend. Write Governor Bredsen and ask him to include the Tennessee Family Support Program in his budget when he presents it to the State Legislature. Visit and write your local legislators before they return for the January session and let them know how much the Family Support program means to you personally.  Ask them to preserve and protect funding for the Tennessee Family Support Program.

If you cannot attend, you can watch the hearing online at http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/gov/budget.

WSMV-TV reports on budget worries for Tennessee Family Support Program

About a month ago, we blogged about the possible elimination of the Tennnessee Family Support Program. Fortunately, the issue is getting some media attention. WSMV-TV of Nashville reported on the state's budget crisis and what it could mean for funding for people with severe disabilities. Mary Hildebrand of The Arc of Davidson County speaks in the video about how the funding cuts would affect the over 4,300 families who are served by the program. The video also features a family (Courtney Weaver and her mother, Theresa Smith) who benefits from the funds, putting a face to this critical issue.

You can learn more about the Family Support Program here.

Also, if you haven't already, join the Tennessee Family Support Alliance which brings awareness to the Family Support crisis and provides updates as well as information about legislators you can contact in your area.

Help Save Tennessee's Family Support Program!

We need to hear your story!!

As many of you know, Tennessee's Family Support Program at great risk of being eliminated!

According to the TN Family Support Alliance, "In 2009, the Division announced a $1 Million reduction to the program... The notification of reduction in funding was accompanied by a letter indicating that 2009-10 funding primarily would come from federal stimulus dollars and that barring additional federal funds, the program would be effectively eliminated in the 2010-11 state fiscal year."

According to annual consumer satisfaction surveys that are maintained by the state, the Family Support program is widely recognized as one of the most successful services ever to be operated in Tennessee. Currently, the Family Support program serves around 4,300 families and more than 6,000 families of persons with severe disabilities are on the statewide waiting list.

In order to effectively advocate that this program be maintained, we need to hear from the families that these cuts will affect. Please email us your story about how the loss of this program will impact your family. We will be collaborating with families and other agencies in the coming month to determine the best plan of action. Your stories can be sent to Megan Long at mlong@arcmidsouth.net.

Additionally, we want to invite you to stop by our office and sign the petition, urging our legislators to save this vital program. You can also download the petition and help us gather signatures from friends, family members, churches, and other support networks. All petitions must contain original signatures and need to be returned to The Arc of the Mid-South by September 30th. Your signed petitions can be emailed to Megan Long, faxed to (901) 327-1197, or mailed or delivered to 3485 Poplar Avenue, Suite 210, Memphis, TN 38111.

Don't forget to attend the Shelby & Fayette County Family Support Program Meeting at Memphis Center for Independent Living (1633 Madison, Memphis) on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:00am for more updates on this issue.

We look forward to hearing from you!