For the most part,
Wyoming fares poorly in children's health care. It's not Alabama-bad, but
statistics provided by national organizations regularly put us somewhere in the
middle of the pack. This would seem to run counter to Wyoming's status as one
of the few states that prospered economically during the past decade.
The latest Wyoming Kids Count data report ranks Wyoming
28th when it comes to twelve criteria, including teen death rates, low birth
weight babies, adequate prenatal care, etc. Here's a summary:
The child well-being
indicators in the 2012 Wyoming Kids Count report show improvement over time for
just four of the twelve indicators. Results have worsened over time across the
remaining eight. Many Wyoming mothers do not receive adequate prenatal care,
have difficulty finding a hospital to give birth, and they are often lacking in
education about the risk factors that can negatively impact childbirth and
child development.
Whatever the topic --
health care, mental health, substance abuse, K-12 education -- Wyoming ends up
ranked either in the bottom of the top tier or the top of the bottom tier. This
runs counter to the idea that Wyoming can have it all -- or "do it
all," as Gov. Mead said in his recent State of the State speech. We might
be able to do it all, but we haven't yet.
This is why it's
distressing to learn about cuts to my favorite non-profit organization. UPLIFT
provides services to those families with special needs children. I've been a
board member since 1998. I've also received UPLIFT services for my special
needs children. More about that below. But first, here's is some background on the
current budget cuts:
In 2011, thanks to
UPLIFT, families of 717 children with special health care needs received
support, advocacy, mentoring, and training with a positive impact on their
skills in the following areas:
·
Ability to better care
for their child at home
·
Ability to advocate for
their child’s needs
·
Ability to access needed
services
·
Reduction of family
stress due to their child’s special health care needs
The most important piece
of data indicated parents were better able to care for their children
at home thus reducing the need for costly out-of-home place. The
average annual cost for a child in out-of-home placement is $120,000.
UPLIFT support services average annual cost is only $1,500 per
child.
In 2011 UPLIFT served
children in 21 Wyoming Counties. UPLIFT currently maintains 5 regional offices
to better serve children and families statewide. Current state budget
cuts of 44% will result in the closing of offices and a significant reduction
in the number of children and families that will be served.
UPLIFT is the only statewide family-run organization providing these support
services and has been an active part of Wyoming communities since 1990. Over
the past 5 years UPLIFT has served 3,600 children and their families. Current
budget cuts will result in a loss of services to approximately 200 children
annually. Without adequate funding, anticipated negative outcomes
for families and communities might include increased out-of-home placement,
juvenile justice involvement, school failure, and increased family
stress.
If you're disturbed by
these cuts, contact your state legislators and tell them to do something about
it. I did. Here's my e-mail:
Dear
Sen. Fred Emerich:
I was
shocked to hear this week that Wyoming Department of Health budget cuts
to UPLIFT will
result in the closing of offices and a significant reduction in the number of
children and families that receive crucial services from this non-profit
organization. These cuts amount to 44 percent of the funding that UPLIFT
receives from the state.
I urge you to support a
bill that will restore this funding during the upcoming biennium.
Why is UPLIFT important?
It’s been crucial to my family on several occasions. UPLIFT is the only
organization in the state that provides one-on-one assistance to families whose
children require Individualized Education Programs or IEPs. My son was diagnosed
in kindergarten with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Without
special help provided by an IEP, he never would have graduated and gone on to
college (which he did). IEP meetings require parents to meet with a phalanx of
administrators, teachers and counselors from the school. Parents are often
clueless as to what they can request as far as special accommodations. UPLIFT
provides family support specialists who accompany the parents during these
school meetings. My wife and I received assistance from UPLIFT employees at IEP
meetings at McCormick Junior High and East High School. All this was at no cost
to us.
Our son is a community college grad and will attend CSU in the fall. He's doing just fine, thank you.
Eight years later, our
daughter needed assistance to cope with a severe learning disability, epilepsy
and Attention Deficit Disorder. UPLIFT staff assisted at IEP meetings. Later,
after our daughter was treated in a mental health facility for bipolar
disorder, UPLIFT provided crucial wrap-around support to help our daughter
transition back to school and the community. This was paid for through the
Wyoming Children’s Mental Health Waiver. This was a great thing because,
without it, we never could have afforded the long-term mental health care or
the transition services. These on-site support services cost much less than
in-patient treatment at a mental health facility. The average annual cost for a
child in out-of-home placement is $120,000. UPLIFT support services
annually average only $1,500 per child.
I am happy to report
that our daughter, now 18, is a student in the music program at LCCC – and
received a full scholarship. This would never have happened without crucial
services provided by UPLIFT.
We read so much about
Wyoming’s pioneer status and the difficulty its citizens have in receiving
health care services. Here is an organization that fills a huge need in the
state, one that would not be addressed without UPLIFT.
I am not just talking
about families in Laramie County where UPLIFT’s main office is located. In
2011, UPLIFT served 717 children in 21 Wyoming counties through its five
regional offices. In Fremont County, UPLIFT served 120 children. This county,
as you know, is home to thriving communities in Lander and Riverton and Dubois.
It is also home to pockets of grinding poverty, substance abuse and domestic
violence, both on and off the Wind River Reservation. It’s not too much of a
stretch to say that UPLIFT has saved lives in Fremont County.
Over the past five
years, UPLIFT has served 3,600 children and their families. Current budget cuts
will result in a loss of services to approximately 200 children
annually. Without adequate funding, there will be increased out-of-home
placement, juvenile justice involvement, school failure, and increased family
stress.
I’ve been following the
committee meetings leading up to the legislative session. I know that tough
budget choices have been made – and will continue during the session. But this
is one funding measure that is crucial to the well-being of Wyoming’s children.
Please support Sen. Peterson’s amendment. Our families are counting on you.
Sincerely,
Michael Shay
Feel free to use any of
my wording. You probably have your own story. Tell it.
In the meantime,
contribute to UPLIFT here.
