THE UTAH AMICUS

Nichole Adams Dunn
Effects of Medicaid Cuts on County Human Service Activities

"I think the effects of the Medicaid cuts at the federal level is an important issue. Replacing these funds at the State Level was one of Health and Human Services Appropriation Subcommittee's top priorities, now it looks like $2 million dollars won't be funded...and we have a surplus?

I have attached a sheet that explains how these cuts effect programs in the county
Effects of Medicaid Cuts on County Human Service Activities"

Overall, Salt Lake County Human Services acts as a safety net for its citizens—providing support to at-risk individuals of all ages. When policy changes and budget cuts occur at the federal and state level, the county system takes on additional burden to support those who are no longer receiving services at the state level or who are receiving reduced services. This is true for many of the Human Services divisions—aging, youth services, mental health, substance abuse, and community development.

The Federal changes in Medicaid will have direct impact on two Human Services programs—Youth Services and Community Resources & Development.

Youth Services (DYS)
~ The loss of IV-E funds has a direct impact on Youth Services as the state Division of Child and Family Services uses IV-E funds to support $353,500 of the Youth Services emergency care contract.
~ The emergency care contract pays for services in the Boys Group Home, Girls Group Home and the Christmas Box House. Each provides emergency residential shelter to children and youth who are experiencing abuse and neglect and addresses their emotional, physical, educational and placement needs.
~ While Youth Services will work to keep all beds open, reduced funds would require reducing the amount of time youth can spend in the programs which would mean less time to conduct comprehensive assessments and providing important services to the youth.
~ Comprehensive assessments are essential to determining appropriate placements (home, kinship, foster care, etc) for youth as they leave Youth Services care. Without them, youth may be placed into out-of-home settings that do not meet their needs, leading to a greater likelihood of moving youth to multiple homes. This can be very difficult for a youth.

Community Resources & Development (CRD)
~ This Division stands to lose approximately $300,000 from reductions in SSBG and CDBG funds.
~ CRD contracts dollars to organizations throughout Salt Lake County (e.g., homeless shelters, boys & girls clubs, food pantries, low-income housing) that provide services to the most underserved populations.
~ CDBG is the only federal program that is charged to ensure that citizens have decent, safe and sanitary housing and adequate public infrastructure.
~ These funds have been used to build senior citizen centers; build and improve parks, sidewalks, new sewer and water lines and upgrade neighborhood and youth facilities; assist in the construction of homeless shelters; rehabilitate homes; and purchase land for affordable housing.
~ Reductions in these funds will reduce the Division’s ability to meet these community needs.