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 1
 
C
OMMITTEE ON
H
UMAN
S
ERVICES
 
 T
OMMY 
 W 
ELLS
,
 
CHAIRPERSONFISCAL
 
 YEAR 
 
2010
 
COMMITTEE
 
BUDGET
 
REPORT
T
O
:
Members of the Council of the District of Columbia
F
ROM
:
Councilmember Tommy WellsChairperson, Committee on Human Services
D
ATE
:
April 30, 2009
S
UBJECT
:
Report and Recommendations of the Committee on Human Services on the FiscalYear 2010 Budget for Agencies under its PurviewThe Committee on Human Services, having conducted hearings and received testimonyon the Mayor’s proposed operating and capital budgets for Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) for theagencies under its purview, reports its recommendations for review and consideration by theCommittee of the Whole. The Committee also comments on several sections in the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Act of 2009, as proposed by the Mayor.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION
……………………………………………………… 3
 
II. SUMMARY
A. Fiscal Year 2010 Agency Operating Budget Summary Table 5B. Fiscal Year 2010 Agency Full-Time Equivalent Table 7C. Fiscal Year 2010 Agency Capital Budget Summary Table 9D. Summary of Committee Budget Recommendations 10
III. AGENCY FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Introduction 20B. Department of Human Services 21C. Child and Family Services Agency 41D. Department of Disability Services 60E. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services 74F. Children’s Youth Investment Trust Corporation 85
IV. FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET REQUEST ACT APPROPRIATION LANGUAGERECOMMENDATIONS
88
 V. FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET SUPPORT ACT RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Recommendations on Budget Support Act Subtitles Proposed by the Mayor 89
 
 2
1. Title V, Subtitle A. Grandparent Caregivers Extension Program
(approve)
2. Title V, Subtitle E. DYRS Grant-Making Authority
(disapprove)
B.
 
Recommendations for 
New Budget Support Act Subtitles
91
 VI. COMMITTEE ACTION AND VOTE
103
VII. ATTACHMENTS
105A. March 25, 2009 Fiscal Year 2010 DDS and DHS Budget Oversight Hearing Witness Listand TestimonyB. April 3, 2009 Fiscal Year 2010 CFSA Budget Oversight Hearing Witness List andTestimonyC. April 6, 2009 Fiscal Year 2010 DTRS and CYITC Budget Oversight Hearing WitnessList and Testimony
 
 3
 
I. CHAIRMAN’S
 
INTRODUCTION
 
Last year in this space, I wrote in my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on Human Services aboutthe tragic case of Banita Jacks, whose four daughters, Brittany Jacks, Tatianna Jacks, N’Kiah Fogle andAja Fogle were found on January 9, 2008, in their mother’s home – the apparent victims of homicide atthe hands of their own mother.In examining the multiple contacts the Jacks family had with various District government agenciesfollowing their move to the city in December 2005, the Committee found shocking inefficiencies in thecity’s safety net. We saw what happens when individuals and families fall through the cracks of thatsafety net, and how the result can literally mean the difference between life and death.Since the tragedy of the Jacks/Fogle family, last year we bore witness to the case of “Mr. Johnson,” whodied in squalid conditions in his own apartment while awaiting services from the Department onDisability Services. Despite contact with the Adult Protective Services Agency, Mr. Johnson languishedin his home without adequate care, and died, ironically, just days before he was finally approved toreceive the services he had applied to receive, and had been waiting to receive, for many years.We have also seen case after case of young people committed to the custody of Department of YouthRehabilitation Services falling through the cracks of that Agency’s case management system whilecommitted to the custody and care of the agency, only to become victims of crime themselves, or, in somecases, becoming repeat offenders and suspects of violent criminal behavior.What these cases have in common is case management that failed to meet the needs of these individuals.We must ensure that we have quality case management in the District’s system of care and servicedelivery, and adequate funding to support quality case management. This is especially true as we movetoward more community based services for persons who depend on our Human Services delivery system.The need is further accentuated in trying economic times when there is increased demand for services andsimultaneous pressure to cut government spending. Our systems continue to be stretched thin. With thissaid, I am pleased that the budget recommendations that the Mayor sent to the Council at the very leastmaintains the majority of Human Services at last year’s funding levels.In addition, we welcome the President’s supplemental budget authority in the form of federal stimulusdollars, which will help us meet the needs of our most needy and vulnerable residents through difficulteconomic times. These funds will allow us to continue to meet the needs of individuals and families,even as we continue to make progress in the reform of our human services delivery agencies – reformsthat share the common theme of strengthening “community-based services.”Examples we have seen are in the Homeless Services arena, as we have moved toward a Housing Firstapproach. By the end of FY 2009, the District’s Department of Human Services (DHS) will have movedmore than 655 individuals and families into permanent supportive housing units in the community. Todate, my Committee has yet to receive any calls or complaints regarding the placement of theseindividuals. As of today, the Housing First program is enjoying a success rate in excess of the 85%success rates of the best comparable programs across the country. DHS should be commended for thiseffort.
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