 | Press ReleaseThe Solano County Children’s Budget 2003 (download PDF version) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: April 2, 2004 Contact: Jennifer Kaiser, Communications & Outreach Manager Telephone: 707.421.7229 ext. 114 Email: jkaiser@childnet.org New Report Finds Spending for Children Declining as Needs Rise FAIRFIELD, Calif. – At a time of economic insecurity when local families face increasing concerns about job security and providing for their children, the good news is that Solano County has maintained its fiscal commitment to children’s services. The challenge, however, is that federal and state funds for these services are dropping. In order to address this looming gap, it is critical that Solano County agencies work together to access untapped sources of funding. These findings and many more can be found in The Solano County Children’s Budget 2003, a comprehensive report that tracks local spending on programs that benefit children and families. The report, the third in an annual series produced by the Children’s Network, found that spending for services to prevent child abuse, child poverty, teen pregnancy, and juvenile crime remains among the smallest county expenditures. This year’s budget identifies state and national economic trends that are having an impact on children’s services in Solano County and offers strategies for maximizing resources for children’s services. “The piece of the pie provided by federal and state funding for children is rapidly dwindling.” said Kim Thomas, executive director of the Children’s Network. “So far, Solano County has stepped in to cover the gap. It can’t go on indefinitely. As a county we need to do everything we can to effectively share shrinking funds and tap new funds to protect our most important resource – our children.” The result of months of analysis by a team of Children’s Network staff, county officials and community members, The Solano County Children’s Budget 2003 is a tool to inform elected officials and residents about the effectiveness of local investments in children. By examining the separate budgets of each of ten different county departments that provide children’s services, school and nonprofit organization budgets, the report is the only resource to provide a complete picture of county spending on children. This year’s Children’s Budget includes information about Economic Security, Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Child Welfare Services, Juvenile Justice, Recreation & Development, Child Abuse Prevention & Family Support, and Education. Key findings include: In spite of a significant investment on the part of First 5 Solano, funding for prevention has not increased as a percentage of the children’s budget and in actual terms. Only programs providing intervention and treatment increased both as a percentage of the children’s budget and in actual terms. Research shows that prevention is cost effective. Child abuse prevention and family support make up only about 1% of the budget; comparatively. There is a childcare crisis in Solano County, in availability and in funding. There are more than 51,000 children who need childcare, and fewer than 12,000 licensed daycare slots available. In 2003, the percentage of federal and state funding of children’s services decreased from 86.4% to 82% of the children’s budget. These figures reflect a decreased investment in children, a 20-year state level trend.
Supervisor Barbara Kondylis endorses The Children’s Budget. “The Children’s Budget is very helpful as we determine how to plan effectively and allocate our shrinking resources to help the children of Solano County. We all need to work together to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of children’s services, because they are our future.” The Solano County Children’s Budget 2003 is produced by the Children’s Network under a grant from The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation. The Children’s Network is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children in Solano County through education, advocacy, and collaboration with public and private partners. For more information about The Solano County Children’s Budget 2003, call Dr. Tamsen Stevenson, Senior Research Analyst, at the Children’s Network at (707) 421-7229 or visit our website at www.childnet.org. |
