Opinion: Put Youth First When Developing State Budget

Dear Editor, Patch: 

While I acknowledge the severe fiscal constraints facing New York  State, reduction in youth funding in Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget is far out of proportion to the projected deficit as a function of total state funding.   

We need to keep children and youths first in our minds when considering budgets.  The impact on communities if Cuomo's proposed budget passes will be detrimental.  

Some of the programs he is proposing to cut provide a safety net for trouble youths and cutbacks will jeopardize the existence of programs for youth development and delinquency prevention, special delinquency prevention program and runaway and homeless youth.   

The proposed Primary Prevention an Incentive Program will wipe out our local safety net for troubled youth and will jeopardize Youth Bureaus across the State.  Lets keep our children and youth first and look at the health and well being of our community when reducing budgets.

(Editor's Note: The Programs eliminated by the PPIP were funded at $84.8 million in SFY10-11, but there is only $35 million allocated to the PPIP. Also, the PPIP requires a county match, 62% state, 38% local,  for programs previously funded by the state through contracts or county allocations. If the proposed budget is passed by the state legislature without revision, it is likely that state support for crisis hotlines and street outreach programs, via the Office of Children and Families’ Youth Development and Delinquency Prevention (YDDP) and Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) funding streams, will cease, according to the Long Island Crisis Center.) 

Christine Matis, Chairperson
Huntington Youth Board