There's complaints the state of Iowa is not giving agencies, like Family Resources, enough money. The Wittenmyer Youth Center in Davenport serves hundreds of kids every year, but with money running low, they're cutting jobs and services.
A total of 45 full time direct care and support positions are being slashed, along with some part time positions, and 35 children in the 24-hour care programs will have to be transitioned into a other homes. A spokesperson for Family Resources said while the cuts are going to be extremely hard on both the kids and their caretakers, it's something that has to be done.
The state reimburses the agency nearly $99 per day for each child Family Resources cares for, but $138 per day is what it actually costs the agency. That's a $39 shortfall and agency leaders said they just can't continue paying it.
"You take 77 children, times 40 dollars, times 365 days per year, and you pretty quickly understand why this has been an issue for us," said Cheryl Goodwin, Family Resources President and CEO.
Goodwin said four years ago the state took away certain streams of funding and since then, the agency has been struggling to stay afloat. She said cutting jobs and services has not been an easy decision.
"It was very difficult, our staff are incredible. When we informed them Friday their first concern was not themselves, but what's going to happen to the children."
They have every reason to be worried. The kids at the Annie Wittenmyer Center suffer from some of the toughest problems.
"Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, they come to us with emotional issues, behavioral, mental issues," said Goodwin.
The staff is what gives them a solid foundation to stand on, with 24 hour care, therapy and more.
"Some of these children have been with us 6 months to a year and this is their home away from home, so for them, to have to leave and start over somewhere else is going to be incredibly difficult."
Not to mention, being placed farther away from their families will also impact the kids as well. Goodwin said although it breaks her heart, the kids who need them most are the most expensive to care for and they're the ones who will to be placed elsewhere first. She said both the juvenile courts and the Department of Human Services will work with Family Resources to figure what is best.
"It will be very difficult to for us to transition these children out after the time and effort that has gone into working with them up to this point. It was a very hard decision for all of us involved."
On top of the employee's who are losing their jobs, additional cuts are being made to existing workers benefits. The agency is also being restructured and reorganized to save money.
Family Resources did submit a reimbursement proposal to the Iowa Department of Human Services for what it considers a fair and reasonable rate. Leader there have done this is the past with no luck, but said if it were to be approved they could reverse their decision. No word yet on when DHS will respond to that proposal.
