UMCH to reduce programs due to delinquent state payments
As a result of on-going delays and uncertainty in state funding, the United Methodist Children’s Home has had to make significant reductions to the Best Beginnings / Nurse-Family Partnership program. UMCH has been forced to reduce the number of low income families served by the program in Marion & Jefferson Counties and also reduce the number of employees in the program. The grant-funding program of the Ounce of Prevention Fund is 9 months delinquent in providing payments for services. The Ounce of Prevention Fund receives funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) is a voluntary, research-based program where highly educated nurses work with first time pregnant women who are of low income. The program offers services during pregnancy and remains involved with the family through the first 2 years of the child’s development. The NFP program has been shown to improve prenatal care and pregnancy outcomes; improve child health and development; and improve self-sufficiency for families. UMCH provides NFP services to over 80 clients in a year, but that number will be reduced to approximately 40 families. The program has recently had to discontinue services to over 30 families in Jefferson & Marion Counties.
The program cuts also include elimination of the Doula component of the Best Beginnings program, resulting in services being recently discontinued for 14 pregnant teens. Doulas are trained staff that provided physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth. Doula services were available for first time parenting teens (ages 13-19) who reside in Marion & Jefferson counties. On average, the 2 Doula staff provided services to over 30-40 pregnant teenage girls a year; however UMCH had only been operating with one staff for the past several months due to funding delays.
“We are extremely disappointed that we have been forced to reduce the services in such a valuable program. UMCH has made all efforts to operate this program at full staff, but we are owed over $200,000 for this program alone and we just cannot financially supplement the program any longer. There will be many families in need that will be denied vital services like NFP & Doula, which will ultimately affect the health and well-being of infants and families in our communities. The predicament that so many social service agencies are being put in because of delinquent payments for services from the state of Illinois is very disheartening. Ultimately children and families will suffer as agencies are forced to make very difficult financial decisions. We are also very saddened that these cuts will result in lay-offs for several of our dedicated employees.” – Kay Zibby, Vice President of Operations.