Human Services and Budget Cuts

I have very real concerns about the safety net for human services. A combination of reduced budgets, reduced staff and increased demand are straining the resources of our state to their limits. Knowing that revenues at the end of 2012 are projected to be at the same level as 2005 makes it very clear to me that we have to find new ways to deliver services. We cannot expect to go back to the way we have done things in the past; the money will not be there.

We know that many of our social costs are attributable to substance abuse and mental health issues. We know that many of the folks who need help do not have the ability to pay on their own and Medicaid covers them. Medicaid reimburses below cost, so our mental health system has a financial structural issue.

Our mental health (designated agencies) and substance abuse providers have to find ways to deliver their desperately needed services to many more people than are currently receiving counseling. Years ago adult education (now adult learning) served individuals at their kitchen tables and they were certain they could not find a different way to deliver services. Adult learning underwent a dramatic structural change and now serves many more people in totally different ways and is much more successful than they were previously.

As governor I would have our mental health agencies and private practices meet and work with the state to develop a comprehensive plan for how to provide high quality services to the folks who need them. This is the only way we are going to address the corrections population; a long-term plan with the private and public agencies to address the needs of mental health and substance abuse. As governor I would reduce the red tape that goes with Medicaid, I would recommend common evaluation tools and suggest the state only pay for evidence based treatment programs.

Where it is possible we need to make use of technology; record keeping and tracking and information can be done by technology, we need to have all of our human resources used to deliver direct services to Vermonters, not doing paperwork. I would support recovery programs in the communities and demand that all state dollars spend produce accountable results.

I am certain that working together we can solve the social issues we face. We can construct a better way to deliver services and help Vermonters get back on track to living productive, successful lives. But we all have to learn to do things differently.