October 15th, 2009

Reports the Tribune-Reviews:

Children’s programs end up winners under the new state budget, but the 101-day delay before its passage likely caused irreparable harm to child-services agencies, said child-welfare advocates Wednesday.

Under the budget, the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program will expand to ensure there is no waiting list. Counties will receive a $7.9 million boost for child-welfare programs.

The budget impasse occurred, in part, because some legislators took a stand to help find money for children’s programs despite the recession, said Joan L. Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.

“This was a huge legislative effort for children,” said Christopher P. Smith, executive director of Child Watch of Pittsburgh, which hosted about 25 people for a panel discussion yesterday at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. “The process has been extremely damaging. … It was balanced on the backs of a lot of kids and children’s services.”

In the three months that legislators argued budgetary matters beyond their July 1 deadline, nonprofit human-service providers that rely on state contracts laid off staff, cut services — and some closed. Some providers won’t reopen, and others could take six to nine months to replace employees, although the clients they serve have immediate needs, Smith said.

The state Treasury started mailing about $3 billion in checks for providers this week, Treasurer Rob McCord said Tuesday. Allegheny County officials said they expected some money to come yesterday or today.

Read more at the Tribune-Review.