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Ripple Effect

State budget cuts filter down to JVS day programs.

on Woodward, is not affected, because
its funding comes through Detroit-
Wayne County Mental Health Services.
flagship JVS program in
JVS' problems with the Oakland
Oakland County is in danger County Community Mental Health
because of unanticipated cuts Authority date back nine or 10 years,
in county funds.
said Bernard. During that time, he
Because of the cuts, which went into
said, "they have not given us any rate
effect Nov. 1, JVS stands to lose
increases, even as inflation increased
$400,000 from a program budget of
our per-client costs."
about $5 million.
About a year ago, after fund disburse-
The agency's day program for adults
ment was turned over to MORC, "we
with severe developmental disabilities,
agreed to a new contract with the under-
located at the Rose and Sidney Diem
standing that there wouldn't be more
Building in Southfield, will be the most
cuts this year," Bernard said.
severely affected. This program, which
Carmen: Totten, director of vocational
serves about 350 adults, includes a
services for MORC, denied there were
workshop where clients learn work skills
any guarantees or discussions about fur-
and earn a small wage doing simple
ther reductions during last year's negoti-
ation period.
tasks, an apartment where they practice
the skills of daily living, and other activi-
Totten said MORC is asking its con-
ties designed to help increase their sense
tract agencies to implement efficiencies
of independence and dignity.
to minimize the effect of the cuts
The cuts were passed
on consumers. MORC has
along to JVS by way of the
already made significant person-
Oakland County Mental
nel reductions in its own offices,
Health Authority and the
laying off 97 people since March
Macomb-Oakland Regional
and leaving 38 vacancies unfilled.
Center Inc. (MORC).
JVS decreased its expenses by
First, state cutbacks forced
$250,000 last year, Bernard
Oakland County to eliminate Dennis B ernard said. The agency reduced some
$8.5 million from its mental
programs, initiated some effi-
health budget. Then, the
ciencies, and started some new
revenue-producing programs.
county told MORC, which has a con-'
"There's no room left to reduce. The
tract with Oakland County to disburse
last drop of blood was taken out last
all county funds for people with devel-
year," he said.
opmental difficulties and mental illness-
Bernard said JVS hopes the Jewish
es, that it needed to slash $14 million
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit will
during the next two years or lose its
make up at least part of the shortfall.
county contract.
"Federation has many other needs,
To comply with this request, MORC,
and with the economy down [and their
which subcontracts to about 200 agen-
allocations already made for the year],
cies in Oakland, Macomb and Sanilac
they've told us they don't have the
counties, has reduced its payments to
money now, but they'll do everything
these agencies by 10 percent across the
they can to find it," he said.
board. It also will stop paying for med-
Nurenberg noted that, although JVS
ical and therapy support services in day
is a Federation member agency, its pro-
care programs.
grams have been financed mostly by the
. The cuts will have a huge impact on
government. Federation's allocation
JVS, said the organization's board chair,
accounted for only about 5 percent of
Dennis Bernard. Many JVS day program
the JVS budget until recently, when it
clients have seizure disorders, diabetes, or
increased to 8 or 9 percent.
other serious medical ailments that require
Foundation grants are a possible source
continuous monitoring by a nurse.
of funds, but grant applications take time,
A smaller adult day program at the
and time is running out, said Bernard.
Jewish Community Center in West
If JVS can't find a way to make up the
Bloomfield also will lose funds, said JVS
MORC shortfall by January, the pro-
president and CEO Barbara Nurenberg.
grams for developmentally disabled
JVS' adult day program in Detroit,
adults may be eliminated. L
located near the Detroit Medical Center

BARBARA LEWIS
Special to the Jewish News

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