This legislative session is a ‘long session’ or one that will affect the budget for the next two years. It is particularly difficult this year as Indiana is still in the midst of a financial crisis. IYSA recognizes the continuing fiscal challenges of the state and without question understood the need to weather an 8% reduction in its Youth Service Bureau Fund in 2009 and a 50% reduction in funding of the Safe Place Fund. Unfortunately agencies later had their contracts reduced further by first 5% and again by 10% in 2010, resulting in a major fiscal impact.
In this current session, IYSA is advocating for the reinstatement of 2009 funding levels. The Youth Service Bureau Fund is now in the budget of the Department of Child Services with a 15% reduction over 2009 funding. Prevention funding continues to be reduced with the YSB Fund dropping from 1.65 million in 2007 to the now proposed $1.3 million. YSBs served 10 thousand additional youth and families in 2010 while curbing staff, training and programming. It will be difficult if not impossible to continue this trend and effectively serve vulnerable youth.
