NORTHSHORE PRIVATE PROVIDERS

press release

A group of Northshore Private Providers of services for people with

disabilities are holding a rally on Friday, May 15th, from 11:00 am to 12:30

pm at Cate Square in Hammond. The purpose of the rally is to garner

support from the general community to stop budget cuts to programs

designed to provide needed services for individuals with disabilities.

Among those organizing the Stop the Cuts Now Rally are Active

Treatment; CARE, Inc.; Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries;Gulf Coast

Teaching Family Services; OPTIONS; ResCare; Strawberry Fields; TARC

and Volunteers of America, GNO. According to OPTIONS Chief Executive

Officer Sylvia Bush, the private providers have all experienced cuts that

went into effect in early February and more cuts are contained in the

Administration’s budget that is currently being considered by the State

Legislature. “The State imposed a 3.5% cut for most programs in

February,” Bush explained, “and the additional cuts being considered total

over 7%. That adds up to a cut of almost 11% for services in this area.”

“The problem is that there is no where to cut,” Bush said. “We are

mandated to maintain a specific staff/client ratio that is necessary to

ensure the safety and quality of those services, so we can’t cut staff. The

only thing we can do is tell clients that we can no longer provide services

for them, and none of us wants to have to do that.”

 Helen Addison, Executive Director of Strawberry Fields, pointed out

that private providers statewide have come up with a solution that would

make the cuts unnecessary. “If the state will consolidate state facilities

and move the mandate for shared supports from three years to one year,

the money they will save will more than equal what they would save

through cuts to our programs.”

Altogether, the North Shore Private Providers employ hundreds of

local residents and have an economic impact on the community of almost

33.5 million dollars. They provide services for over 1000 individuals with

disabilities in Tangipahoa Parish.

Jackie McCarthy, Executive Director of Smiles, said that the group of

providers is asking for a Resolution of Support from city councils

throughout the parish as well as the Tangipahoa Parish Council. “We have

prepared a resolution explaining our position,” McCarthy said, “and we are

asking the elected officials of our parish to endorse that resolution.”

The May 15th Stop the Cuts Now Rally is open to the general public.

“The people of this area have always opened their hearts to people with

disabilities,” Bush said, “and we hoping that everyone in the community

who realizes what valuable services we provide will come out to support us

on May 15th at noon at Cate Square. Bring a brown bag lunch and add your

voice to those supporting people with disabilites.”