The public, including SEANC’s Legislative Affairs team, was denied a chance to speak out this week at a Joint Legislative Committee meeting on reduction-in-force plans at the Department of Health & Human Services’ Children's Development Services Agencies by its chairman, Sen. Ralph Hise.

As part of last year’s budget, DHHS was charged with reducing funding for the agency by $8 million this year and $10 million next year. To accomplish this, DHHS has proposed consolidating four CDSA branches in the eastern part of the state, including those in Rocky Mount, New Bern and Wilmington, into one branch in Greenville. The services those branches currently provide, including service coordination, physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as family support for children up to age 3, would be taken up by a new agency in Greenville under contract with East Carolina University that would serve 28 counties.

The plan would cause a reduction-in-force of 177 current positions. Though 150 new positions would be created by the merger, there’s no guarantee given to those RIF’d employees that they would be rehired by ECU. Also, there’s no guarantee that ECU would hire workers with the same skill sets.

It’s important to note that all four of the branches in the current set-up have received the highest ratings possible from the federal government. No one can say that the employees there are doing a bad job. This action will adversely disrupt and impact services to the children and families served by the targeted branches and will run off state employees who are currently serving the state’s developmentally challenged children.

It’s also important to note that these cuts come in a department that recently paid a pricey private consultant more than $300,000 and has very little to show for it.

SEANC continues to meet with legislators on this important matter, and SEANC General Counsel and labor law expert Tom Harris is reviewing the process for compliance with state policy. SEANC will also repeat its request to speak at the committee’s next meeting on March 26.

Members and parents of the children in the affected areas are encouraged to contact their legislators to discuss this proposal. If you are a parent affected, please contact SEANC as well. We want to hear your story and see how we can best assist you.