Family Services of Metro Orlando (FSMO), the lead agency for Community-Based Care in Orange and Osceola counties, is joining forces with the Florida Coalition for Children and other social service organizations across the state in an effort to bring awareness to the community of the impact of the proposed budget cuts to Florida’s children and family services.
The Legislature is currently completing a 2008-2009 state budget that will cut more than $50 million from services to children who came into the state’s protection as a result of abuse. Statewide children’s advocates have mounted a campaign to persuade legislators to reduce the impact of budget cuts on programs serving abused children.
“These are tough times and while the state must cut spending, our legislators have an obligation to support programs that protect children, especially abused children who have been placed in the state’s custody to protect them from abusive parents,” stated Greg Kurth, CEO of Family Services of Metro Orlando.
Last year more than 3,000 children were adopted from Florida’s foster care system – up from 1,500 in just three years – most of which have special needs, including health care and mental health issues or are minorities who are harder to place in adoptive homes. While the state subsidizes care for 96 percent of adopted children, the proposed budget would reduce adoption subsidies by $13.8 million. Slashing subsidies may have a negative impact on adoptions, as many prospective parents lack the means to care for these children without state assistance.
“Slashing services to abused children will impede adoptions, preventing special needs children from receiving the safety and security of a loving home, as well as reduce the number of caseworkers available to care for children, therefore increasing the likelihood of suffering and death,” stated Karen Broussard, director of program development for Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando.
Among other cuts, foster care services through community-based care lead agencies, like FSMO, would take a hit of nearly $19 million. The cut would force higher caseloads on workers who look out for the interests of foster children, making it harder to ensure that kids receive the care they deserve.
Additionally, independent living programs would be slashed by $7 million. When foster children turn 18, they will be forced to move out of the foster homes where they have been living, even if still enrolled in high school. It is projected that 1,200 kids will age out of the system this year alone, and if the Legislature abandons them now, many are likely to end up homeless. Others may lose education benefits, eliminating their best chance to become self-sufficient.
“The consequences of the drastic budget cuts the Legislature is proposing are terrifying,” stated Kurth. “We are calling on our legislators to do the right thing and stand up for children who have already suffered too much. We ask all Floridians to urge their legislators to restore funding to these vital programs for abused children.”
