Policy Matters

The Mississippi Department of Human Services presented their budget request to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on Wednesday afternoon.  The Department has requested $147.5 million for the 2013 Fiscal year, a $21.5 million increase from FY 2012’s budget of $126 million.

The graphic below breaks down the request into 5 areas: Child Support Enforcement ($2.6M), Economic Assistance and Aging and Adult Services ($.5M), Family and Children’s Services ($16.7M), Youth Services ($1.2M), and Support Services ($.5M).

The requested amounts are in response to several challenges faced by the Department:

• On average, there are 3,848 children in the custody of the state during any point in the year;
• In May, Mississippi was found not in contempt of the Olivia Y settlement;
• Funding of child welfare social workers at levels that are competitive in the marketplace remains one of the top priorities for keeping at risk children safe in Mississippi and making progress on the Olivia Y settlement;
• The Aging and Adult Services unit served 1,743,698 individual meals and another 358,790 congregate meals in FY11; however another 2,910 individuals remain on the program’s waiting list.
• There are currently 12,964 on the waiting list for child care services.  The waiting list occurred primarily in response to the expiration of $31 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.  The funds were used to clear the waiting list in October 2009.

The Department of Human Services engages with some of the most at risk children in the state.  With rising rates of poverty and levels of the uninsured, it is increasingly important that budget priorities reflect a balanced approach that includes increasing revenue.  A cuts only approach will make lines longer and prevent children from accessing the supports so desperately needed.