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.

Memphis Tigers coach, Josh Pastner, takes action to empower individuals with disabilities

One of our CDJP graduates, Steven Beckham (pictured on the right with U of M basketball player, Doneal Mack, on the left), recently participated in a basketball camp hosted by The University of Memphis and Memphis Tigers men's basketball coach, Josh Pastner!

Students and adults from various agencies throughout the Mid-South were invited to participate in a one-day basketball camp on Saturday, November 7th. Thanks to The University of Memphis and Coach Josh Pastner for your vision and support of The Arc's mission!

The Arc kicks off 2009-2010 membership drive.

Memberships are an important source of funding for The Arc's programs and services. Join us today!
Click here to submit a membership form online!

Awesome news for special education in Tennessee

The October 17-18 issue of The Memphis News reported that the Tennessee Department of Education has been awarded a $3.4 million grant for its special education students. The grant will be distributed over the next four years and will go toward increasing literary and math skills and improving early childhood outcomes for children diagnosed with autism. The grant will also go toward making sure that children from low income families are taught by experienced and qualified teachers.

This is great news for Tennessee's students!

You can view the press release here.

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.