UPEC Joins Statewide Coalition on Child Welfare Services

Saturday, March 13, 2010

REDDING - UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker signed in support of a Statewide coalition of elected officials, county agencies, legal representatives, current and former foster youth, social workers, service providers and many other organizations, associations and community-based agencies. In a letter to state leaders, the coalition is urging them to reject Governor Schwarzenegger’s $120 million ($80 million General Fund) reduction to Child Welfare Services in his 2010-11 budget and to reject any further cuts in this vital safety net program. “We represent employees in several counties who will be impacted by these cuts. These cuts will negatively impact children, workers and the economy of the communities where our members serve”, stated Darker.

The Governor first made this reduction as a line-item veto in 2009 and has sustained the cut in his proposed budget, released in January. The Coalition to Protect Our Children, Our Future stated this cut is already yielding devastating consequences to children that will ultimately shift the financial burden of caring for them to other state programs. It slashes the last remnants of State protections for our most vulnerable children, harms children and adds costs to future California budgets,abandons those who “age out” of foster care and subverts the will of the Legislature.

Last Spring, both the Senate and Assembly determined that cuts to Child Welfare Services would put California children at risk and cost the State over $40 million in federal funds. Nevertheless, Governor Schwarzenegger unilaterally reduced the Child Welfare Services budget. It jeopardizes millions in Federal funds and will cost California in steep Federal penalties resulting in an increase in costs to taxpayers.