1Urging Governor Tom Corbett and Department of Public Welfare
2officials to visit any facility which could be subject to a
3cut in the 2013-2014 State budget and future State budgets.

4WHEREAS, Over the past two State budget cycles, the
5Department of Public Welfare has experienced significant cuts
6that have affected citizens across this Commonwealth; and

7WHEREAS, In the past two State budget cycles, several
8programming areas within the Department of Public Welfare budget
9have experienced substantial funding cuts, including community-
10based family centers, county child welfare, child care
11assistance, Human Services Development Fund block grant,
12homeless assistance and health care clinics; and

13WHEREAS, Department of Public Welfare funding totaled
14$8,607,000,000 in 2010-2011, a $62,000,000 decrease from the
152009-2010 fiscal year; appropriations concerning health and
16human services provided by the Department of Public Welfare were
17cut 0.8% in relation to the 2009-2010 budget. The services
18included the Community MR Base Program, special pharmacy

1services, homeless assistance, child care assistance, domestic
2violence, rape crisis, breast cancer screening, expanded medical
3services for women; and county child welfare was also cut by
4$26,443,000; and

5WHEREAS, A $29,600,000 reduction in funding can be seen in
6the 2012-2013 budget. The proposed consolidation of the Human
7Services Development Fund block grant which would consolidate
8funding for county-run human services programs distributed among
9the 67 counties. Programs that would be rolled into the Human
10Services Development Fund include community mental health
11services, community intellectual disabilities programs, drug and
12alcohol treatment services, child welfare and homeless
13assistance. The 20% decrease in funding resulted in a major loss
14for counties; and

15WHEREAS, Community-based family centers have seen damaging
16budget cuts particularly between the 2010-2011 fiscal year and
172011-2012 fiscal year as these vital centers faced a negative
1848.5% difference in funding; and

19WHEREAS, Community-based family centers are beneficial to
20communities and families as a whole. Parents learn about their
21children's development through various activities, gain access
22to health care information, education, training and employment
23information; and

24WHEREAS, Family centers are unique as they meet the needs of
25the surrounding area in which they are located. Family centers
26may provide services such as adult education, job training and
27placement, language skills, literacy programs, parent support
28groups, parenting skills programs, child health and development
29screenings, family activities, toy and book lending libraries,
30child care programs and summer and after-school activities; and

1WHEREAS, According to the Department of Public Welfare there
2are 32 State-funded family centers in Pennsylvania, 12 are
3school-based and 20 are community-based centers. Family centers
4are located in 28 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties and include 62
5sites. Almost 60% of Pennsylvania's population live in counties
6served by family centers; and

7WHEREAS, Centers across the State that assist citizens who
8suffer from a mental or physical disability will also be greatly
9impacted by a funding decrease as they assist in allowing
10individuals to live a productive lifestyle despite their
11disability; and

12WHEREAS, State centers operated by the Department of Public
13Welfare Bureau of Supports for People with Intellectual
14Disabilities, including the Ebensburg Center, Polk Center, White
15Haven Center, Hamburg Center and Selinsgrove Center, would be
16directly affected by a decrease in the Department of Public
17Welfare budget; and

18WHEREAS, According to the Central Montgomery Mental Health &
19Mental Retardation Center, approximately one in five American
20adults have their lives interrupted by some form of mental
21illness; and

22WHEREAS, Centers across this Commonwealth, such as Turtle
23Creek Valley Mental Health & Mental Retardation, Inc., in
24Allegheny County, Ken-Care Centers operating primarily in
25Southeastern Pennsylvania (Berks and Lancaster counties),
26Keystone Human Services in Central Pennsylvania and St. Joseph's
27Center in Northeastern Pennsylvania, provide services to
28individuals which include outpatient services, rehabilitation
29services, in-home and community-based assistance and adult day
30care programs, will be affected by a loss or decrease in

1funding; and

2WHEREAS, Governor Corbett and Department of Public Welfare
3officials should visit any facility subject to a budget cut,
4allowing them to have a clear idea of how the facilities operate
5with their current level of funding; and

6WHEREAS, By visiting these facilities and centers throughout
7this Commonwealth, the Governor and Department of Public Welfare
8officials will see firsthand how these facilities and centers
9directly affect the lives of patients, families, employees,
10friends and community neighbors; therefore be it

11RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge Governor Tom
12Corbett and Department of Public Welfare officials to visit any
13facility which could be subject to a cut in the 2013-2014 State
14budget and future State budgets; and be it further

15RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize that
16community-based family centers and centers for individuals with
17mental and physical disabilities affect the lives of those who
18rely on these services in a tremendous manner and should receive
19fair assessment prior to losing funding.