Berrien County Collaborative receives $500,000 CDBG to build Boys & Girls Club!

STATE OF GEORGIA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR

For Immediate Release Contact: Office of Communications

Thursday, September 3, 2009 (404) 651-7774


Governor Perdue Announces Nearly $37 Million in Grant Awards

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today announced Georgia has been awarded nearly $37 million in federal grants from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the state’s Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP).

“The Community Development Block Grant program provides an essential financial resource to Georgia’s smaller communities in their efforts to fund projects that will assist low- and moderate-income citizens,” said Governor Perdue. “As communities large and small are making tough spending choices, today’s grant announcement represents an important funding source for programs that improve quality of life, economic development and job creation programs.”

Nearly $32.6 million allocated for CDBG awards will be used to support projects in 65 Georgia communities. Projects include water and sewer improvements, senior citizen facilities, health facilities, programs for at-risk children and replacement or rehabilitation of sub-standard and dilapidated housing. A complete list of projects and award amounts is included at the end of the news release.

The CDBG program is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which uses funds allocated through HUD to support local initiatives that focus on improving living conditions and economic opportunities throughout the state.

Governor Perdue also announced that Georgia was awarded nearly $4.4 million in Community HOME Investment Program funds. CHIP funds will assist 15 Georgia communities increase the supply of safe and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income persons.

“CHIP funds remain an essential resource for those communities that seek to increase available units and improve the standard of living for their fellow Georgians,” said Governor Perdue.

Added DCA Commissioner Mike Beatty: “We are pleased that these funds will be used to fund critical community development projects. Each year, the annual CDBG and CHIP funding announcement demonstrates how federal, state and local partners are working together to support local communities.”

For more information regarding Georgia’s CDBG and CHIP programs, please visit DCA’s website at http://www.dca.ga.gov/communities/CDBG/programs/CDBGCHIP.asp or contact DCA Assistant Commissioner Brian Williamson at (404) 679-1587 or brian.williamson@dca.ga.gov. In addition, an informational workshop for CDBG and CHIP recipient communities is scheduled for Sept. 24-25 in Pine Mountain. Recipient communities may direct workshop-related questions to Lisa Smith at (404) 679-5276 or lisa.smith@dca.ga.gov .

A complete listing of CDBG and CHIP awards follows on the next page. Communities are listed in alphabetical order.





Community Development Block Grant Awards



Recipient, Project Description, Planned Amount

City of Alma, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Arabi , Water Improvements, $468,144

City of Argyle, Water Improvements, $475,118

City of Ashburn, Multi Infrastructure Improvements, $500,000

Atkinson County, Health Center, $458,875

City of Baconton, Drainage Improvements, $499,964

Berrien County, Boys and Girls Club, $500,000

City of Blakely, Head Start Facility, $500,000

City of Boston, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Canon, Water Improvements, $500,000

City of Carrollton, Health Center, $500,000

City of Cartersville, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $500,000

City of Chickamauga, Water/Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Cochran, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $465,998

Coffee County, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $500,000

City of Colquitt, Multi Activity Program, $703,378

City of Damascus, Water Improvements, $396,057

City of Donalsonville, Water Improvements, $500,000

Dooly County, Housing Improvements, $488,047

City of Douglas, Housing Improvements, $210,000

City of Douglasville, Boys and Girls Club, $500,000

City of Eastman, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Ellijay, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Greenville, Housing Improvements, $500,000

City of Griffin, Water/Sewer Improvements, $500,000

Hart County, Water Improvements, $500,000

City of Homeland, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $269,377

City of Homerville, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Leesburg, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $500,000

City of Milan, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $497,761

City of Milledgeville, Housing Improvements, $453,918

City of Millen, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Molena, Water Improvements, $500,000

City of Monroe, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Moultrie, Drainage Improvements, $500,000

City of Ocilla, Sewer Improvements, $400,775

Pierce County, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $497,711

City of Pineview, Water Improvements, $462,808

City of Portal, Sewer Improvements, $489,840

City of Quitman, Multi Activity Program, $800,000

Randolph County, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $465,049

City of Reynolds, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Richland, Water Improvements, $500,000

City of Ringgold, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Rockmart, Multi Activity Program, $800,000

City of Sandersville, Multi Activity Program, $800,000

City of Siloam, Water Improvements, $331,900

City of Smithville, Housing Improvements, $500,000

City of Sumner, Water Improvements, $429,775

City of Sylvester, Water/Sewer Improvements, $500,000

Talbot County, Multi Activity Program, $800,000

City of Tarrytown, Water Improvements, $445,734

Taylor County, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

Thomas County, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $294,463

City of Thomasville, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $500,000

City of Thomson, Multi Activity Program, $800,000

Tift County, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $500,000

City of Toccoa, Multi Activity Program, $589,959

City of Union Point, Water Improvements, $500,000

City of Uvalda, Sewer Improvements, $485,000

City of Varnell, Senior Center, $500,000

City of Warrenton, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Woodland, Drainage/Streets Improvements, $295,753

City of Wrens, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

City of Wrightsville, Sewer Improvements, $500,000

TOTAL, $32,575,404



Community HOME Investment Program Awards



Recipient, Project Description, Amount

Ben Hill County, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of Cartersville, Housing Improvements, $300,000

Dooly County, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of Douglas, Housing Improvements, $281,605

Hall County, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of LaGrange, Housing Improvements, $300,000

Lowndes County, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of Marshallville, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of McIntyre, Housing Improvements, $300,000

Randolph County, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of Rockmart, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of Rome, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of Sandersville, Housing Improvements, $300,000

City of Thomasville, Revitalization Area Strategy, $200,000

City of Tifton, Housing Improvements, $300,000

TOTAL, $4,381,605



# # #

Berrien County Collaborative's NEW URL

The Berrien County Collaborative has launched a new URL. You can now visit our website a www.berriencountycollaborative.com.

School-Based Health Clinic

Berrien County Collaborative receives $50,000 from Healthcare Georgia Foundation Grant to develop school-based health clinic.

for more information go to:

www.healthcaregeorgia.org

Berrien County Collaborative Receives Carol White Physical Education Grant

U.S. Department of Education Awards $26.5 Million in Grants to Help Make Children Healthier and More Active

FOR RELEASE:
July 13, 2009

As a result of $26.5 million in awards from the U.S. Department of Education, more children will have access to physical education programs and instruction on healthy eating and good nutrition. The Carol M. White Physical Education Program grants will provide 73 public schools and community-based organizations in 25 states with funds to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs for students in grades K-12.

“Physical activity and healthy eating habits are as important as studying hard in school,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “The Department of Education will be doing more to make this connection to students and adults, and to educate our children in ways that can maintain good health.”

The Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant awards can be used to provide equipment and support for students to participate actively in physical education activities, as well as for staff and teacher training and education.

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/07/07132009.html

We can end hunger!

I've just taken action with the ONE campaign and asked my senators to set an example for the world by fully funding a request for $1.36 billion in global agricultural development funding.

I hope you'll join me: http://www.one.org/us/ag09/index.html?rc=ag09taf

This action couldn't be more urgent. Next week, President Obama and world leaders will meet in Rome for the G8 Summit. If we can convince the senate to step-up the fight against hunger now, America will set an example for the world and put pressure on other countries to invest in a global effort to end hunger.

http://www.one.org/us/ag09/index.html?rc=ag09taf

Together as ONE we can make a difference!

New Study on Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use

New National Study Shows that More than 1 in 5 Young Adults Need Treatment for Alcohol or Illicit Drug Use

Nearly 7 million Americans aged 18 to 25 were classified as needing treatment in the past year for alcohol or illicit drug use according to a new national study. The study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows that that 93 percent of these young adults did not receive the help they needed at a specialty treatment facility. These levels have remained relatively stable since 2002.

Please visit http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0906261345.aspx for additional details.

News From The Hill

House Appropriations Approves $200 M for EFSP

Last Friday, June 12, the full House Appropriations Committee approved fiscal year (FY) 2010 Homeland Security legislation. The legislation included $200 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), which represents level funding from FY 2009 levels, but $100 million more than the President requested. Last Thursday, June 18, the full Senate Appropriations Committee marked up its version of the FY 2010 Homeland Security bill, which included $175 million for EFSP. Both the House and Senate may consider their respective versions of the legislation as early as this week.

House Passes CJS Spending Bill

Last Thursday, June 18, the full House Committee approved the FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which includes $114 million for Second Chance Act programs. This represents $100 million for Department of Justice grant programs, a $75 million increase over the FY 2009 level, as well as $14 million for the Bureau of Prisons for staff to implement the programs. The legislation also included $12 million for Mentally Ill Offender Treatment Program and $18 million for transitional housing grants for victims of domestic violence. The Senate Appropriations CJS Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its version of the legislation tomorrow, June 24, with the full Appropriations Committee to consider it on Thursday, June 25.

House Subcommittee Approves Funding for Homeless Veterans

Last Tuesday, June 16, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs marked up its FY 2010 spending bill. The legislation included $26 million for a pilot prevention program for homeless veterans, as requested by President Obama. It also included $150 million for the Homeless Veterans Grant and Per Diem program, $6 million above both President Obama's request and the FY 2009 level. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider the legislation today.


JCHS Releases State of the Nation's Housing 2009

Yesterday, June 22, the Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) released "State of the Nation's Housing 2009." The report includes chapters on housing markets, demographic drivers, homeownership, rental housing, and housing challenges. Between 2001 and 2007, there was an increase in the number of households with severe cost burdens. As a result, an unprecedented 16 percent of households spent more than half of their incomes on housing in 2007, with more than 19 percent paying 30 to 50 percent of their income toward housing. The report also cites data from January 2007 point-in-time homelessness counts, noting the 10 percent decrease in overall homelessness between 2005 and 2007; it also notes, however, that many cities are starting to note increases in homelessness as a result of the recession. JCHS concludes that full-time employment is not sufficient for many low-income families to afford decent housing while only paying 30 percent of their incomes toward housing.
State of the Nation's Housing 2009

Donovan Testifies at House Appropriations T-HUD Subcommittee Hearing

Last Friday June 19, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan testified at a hearing of the House Transportation and HUD (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee. Secretary Donovan discussed the Choice Neighborhoods Program, the future of Hope VI, and the status of Section 8 funding, among other issues. Secretary Donovan also mentioned that he recently discussed with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the possibility of developing a partnership between HUD and HHS to aid the development of better linkages between permanent housing and homeless services.


USICH Holds First Meeting, Announces HUD-VASH Allocations

Last Thursday, June 18, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) met for the first time under the Obama Administration. USICH works to coordinate the federal response to homelessness. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan was elected Chair of the Council for the upcoming year, while Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis was elected Vice Chair.

During the meeting, Secretary Donovan and Secretary Eric K. Shinseki of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) announced the allocation of $75 million to local public housing authorities for the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The allocations have not yet been posted online.


NLIHC Hosts Audio Conference on Funding for Trust Fund

On Friday, June 26 at 1 pm ET, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) will host a conference call to clarify the situation surrounding the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) budget. This fund, signed into law by President Bush and supported by President Obama during his election campaign, will provide permanent, ongoing support for those living in low-income housing. President Obama followed up on his support by including $1 billion in his FY 2010 budget to capitalize the NHTF. The NHTF is part of the "mandatory" spending in the budget, meaning that it will not have to compete with appropriations issues, such as HUD programs, or other "discretionary" spending. Since there has yet to be a clear statement regarding from the funding source for the $1 billion, NLIHC will host this call to address any confusion about NHTF and its funding. Sheila Crowley, President of NLIHC, will lead the call. Participants should dial 1.877.486.3171 and enter pass code 967187.


HUD Posts Update to HPRP FAQ

HUD recently updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of its HPRP resources on the Homelessness Resource Exchange (HRE). The updates include a clarification of when HPRP resources can be used to assist people with a housing subsidy: "...rental arrears can be paid on behalf of a person receiving a subsidy from another public program (e.g., Section 8) because it represents a different time period and cost type than the rental subsidy..." HUD has also posted documents detailing the data elements of the HPRP Initial and Quarterly Reports, as well as the revised HMIS standards.
HPRP FAQ


U.S. Conference of Mayors Releases Reentry Report

Last Tuesday, June 16, the U.S. Conference of Mayors released a report on prisoner reentry efforts in 79 cities. The report is based on survey results from 79 cities across the country. It found that 36 percent of the surveyed cities have made changes in ordinances or policies that had previously hindered reentry for ex-offenders. Among these cities, 58 percent changed ordinances related to housing. The report also included information on the successes, challenges, and goals that communities have had. Miami, St. Louis, and Spokane all identified homelessness prevention as a key goal of their efforts in the area of reentry.


SHNNY Releases Video on Impact of Supportive Housing in Neighborhoods

The Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHNNY) recently released a new video entitled "Good Housing. Good Neighbors," which highlights community members' reactions to three buildings providing supportive housing to people living with mental illness. The video, which lasts approximately five minutes, includes interviews with representatives from the supportive housing programs (both residents and staff), the New York State Assembly, the police force, block associations and community councils, and the New York University Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, among other groups.

New National Report Shows Substantial Disparities in the Levels of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Problems Experienced among the States

Some States Have Levels Twice as High as Other States in Certain Categories of Problems, but All States Face Daunting Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Challenges

A new report providing state-by-state analyses of substance abuse and mental illness patterns reveals that there are wide variations in the levels of problems like illicit drug use found among the states, but that every state suffers from these problems. For example, among those aged 12 and older, Iowa had less than half the current illicit drug use rate of Rhode Island (5.2 percent vs. 12.5 percent) – yet Iowa’s population aged 12 and older also had one of the nation’s highest levels of people experiencing alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year (9.2 percent).

Among the report’s other notable findings:

• Vermont had the nation’s highest incidence rate of marijuana use among people aged 12 and older (2.5 percent) while Utah had the lowest (1.6) percent.

• The District of Columbia had the nation’s highest rate of past year cocaine use among those aged 12 and older (5.1 percent) while Mississippi had the lowest (1.6 percent).

• Utah had the nation’s lowest rate of current underage drinking (17.3 percent) while North Dakota had the highest (40 percent).

• Tennessee had the nation’s highest rate of people aged 18 and older experiencing a major depressive episode in the past year (9.8 percent) while Hawaii had the lowest (5.0 percent).

The report was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) based on the 2006 and 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Using data drawn from interviews with 135,672 persons from throughout the country the report provides a state-by-state breakdown along 23 different measures of substance abuse and mental health problems including illicit drug use, binge drinking, alcohol and illicit drug dependence, tobacco use, serious psychological distress and major depressive episodes.

“This report shows that while every state faces its own unique pattern of public health problems – these problems confront every state,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator, Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “By highlighting the exact nature and scope of the problems in each state we can help state public health authorities better determine the most effective ways of addressing them.”

The report also provides valuable data on the changes occurring within each of the states during the time since the last report (drawn from the 2005 and 2006 NSDUH surveys). For example, the report shows the rate of current tobacco use in Colorado rose from 26.5 percent to 29.8 percent during this period.

The full report is available online at http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k7state/TOC.cfm. Copies may also be obtained free of charge by calling SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) or http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=18128.. For related publications and information, visit http://www.samhsa.gov/ .
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SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

Inspirations Intensive Outpatient Counseling Center

Inspirations Intensive Outpatient Counseling Center is designed to provide mental health treatment to adults 55 and over. Inspirations is located at East Georgia Regional Medical Center but managed by Allegiance Health Management http://ahmgt.com/ or http://www.eastgeorgiaregional.net/Services/Inspirations-Outpatient-Geriatric-Psych/Default.aspxwww.eastgeorgiaregional.net/Services/Inspirations-Outpatient-Geriatric-Psych/Default.aspx. We specialize in helping older adults maximize their mental and emotional state by providing a therapeutic setting that assists them in dealing with loneliness, sadness, loss of independence, low self-esteem, anger/irritation, dementia, excessive worry, and difficulty coping with life changes. Our goal is to teach patients life skills that help them achieve and maintain functional independence within the community. Inspirations is staffed with qualified mental health professionals who enjoy working with our senior population. We serve five counties (Bulloch, Evans, Candler, Screven, and Jenkins), provide transportation, and serve a nutritious meal based on their diet. Inspirations will accept patients outside of the catchment area but will not be able to provide transportation at this time. Seniors enjoy our program because we offer activities and provide them with therapy, education, socialization, and skills that keep their minds sharp. We accept referrals from private homes, nursing homes, assisted living homes, and physicians. Our staff will provide treatment that will promote emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, and environmental wellness.

As healthcare providers and community service agents, its imperative that we are aware of the services available to the community. If you know someone that could benefit from our services, please give us a call. If you desire more information about the program please feel free to contact us.


Regina Renfroe, MPH, CHES
Community Educator
Inspirations of Statesboro
rrenfroe@ahmgt.com
912-486-1756 (office)
912-678-3732 (cell)
912-486-1758 (fax)

President Announces Social Innovation Fund

On May 5, 2009 President Obama announced that he would ask Congress in the FY2010 budget to provide $50 million in seed capital for his Social Innovation Fund. The Fund, which will be administered by the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, will identify the most promising, results-oriented non-profit programs and expand their reach throughout the country. The intent of the fund is finding and scaling the best social innovations; partnering with those who are leading change in their communities; and creating a policy environment for all these innovations to thrive. The Social Innovation Fund will build a "pipeline" of programs that have demonstrated results and are ready to spread across the country to meet community needs.

Free KFC via OPRA

OPRA has a link on her website to a coupon for a free KFC Basket. You can go to www.oprah.com and click on the KFC tab or go directly to http://www.unthinkfc.com/.

ENJOY

Matt

Perdue, education groups at odds on stimulus cash

By KRISTI E. SWARTZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, April 24, 2009

Two education groups want Gov. Sonny Perdue to spend an additional $178 million in stimulus money now, but he plans to hold it for upcoming school budgets.

The Georgia School Funding Association and the Atlanta-based Southern Education Foundation said Friday the state appears not to be tapping into all of the available money from the federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. The money is designed to help restore state-cut funding, especially to public schools and colleges.

Joe Martin, executive director of the school funding association, said in a letter to the state Board of Education that there is “no compelling reason to delay the receipt and use of these funds” to ease the effect of cuts made by the Legislature for the rest of fiscal 2009.

Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said it is more prudent to use the money during fiscal 2010 and 2011 instead of in 2009 because the school year is almost over. Also, using the money later will help in case the economic turnaround is slower than expected, he said. The governor plans to request the money early in the fiscal year, which begins July 1, but the funds will be distributed regularly throughout the year, Brantley said.

“No money is being left on the table,” Brantley said. “It’s just a matter of … how do you apply it in terms of offsetting cuts and not leaving a big hole in the future that would be harder to fill.”

Georgia received its first batch of Fiscal Stabilization Fund money last month. The second is expected in the fall. To get the second part, states must explain how they will improve education in several areas, such as teacher quality and academic standards and exams.

On Tuesday the state Board of Education will vote on how to apply stimulus money that will help schools in several areas, such as homeless students, special education (IDEA) and low-income students (Title I).

State of Georgia Under-Funds K-12 Schools and Higher Education In Allocating Federal Funds in Violation of the Recovery Act

The Georgia General Assembly failed to adequately reduce cuts in education funding by under-utilizing available federal funds in violation of the national Recovery Act, according to a report released today by the Southern Education Foundation (SEF).

The SEF report calculates that the Georgia legislature cut state funding for education in the final 2009 and 2010 budgets during its recent regular session by a combined total of $1.05 billion even after allocating $666.5 million in Recovery Act funds to K-12 schools and public colleges and universities. But, the legislature had as much as $844.7 million available from the Recovery Act to allocate to reduce the state's education shortfalls.

“In effect, the State of Georgia has left on the table a minimum of $178.2 million in Recovery Act funds that should be used now to reduce school cutbacks at a time when the State has enacted severe cuts that will impair or prevent many of Georgia’s schoolchildren from receiving an adequate education,” the SEF report states.The Recovery Act requires states to use available “stabilization” funds as much as possible to restore education funding to the levels in their 2008 or original 2009 state budgets, whichever was higher. The State of Georgia has failed to do so.

SEF has written to US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan requesting that his department "assist and assure the State of Georgia" complies with the federal law. "Georgia is walking down the wrong path," stated SEF President Lynn Huntley who also is asking US Attorney General Eric Holder to cooperate with the Education Secretary in assuring enforcement of the Act's provisions.

SEF calculates that, to be in compliance with federal law, the State of Georgia should allocate approximately $119 million in additional Recovery Act funds to K-12 education, $47.7 million to the state's public four-year colleges and universities, and an addition of $10.9 million to the two-year colleges.

The Serve America Act

The Serve America Act, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), was passed by the Senate last night. This legislation creates several new volunteer programs and also increases incentives for participation in existing volunteer programs like Americorps. CIS actively supported this legislation and we are please it has passed. The next step is for the House and Senate to meet and reconcile differences between the House-passed version and the Senate-passed version.

Among the new programs created by this legislation:

Education Corps will enlist thousands of volunteers to support improved education in low-income communities. This will present a tremendous new opportunity for CIS affiliates to enhance their staffing with volunteers, similar to how several affiliates have done using AmeriCorps.

The Volunteer Generation Fund will enhance the capacity of organizations, such as CIS, to recruit and manage volunteers effectively beyond full-time corps members. This fund could potentially grow from $50 million in the first year to $100 million in the fifth year.

The bill would also create Youth Engagement Zones in low-income communities to provide grants for local partnerships engaging students in service-learning activities within their communities. Grants would range from $250,000 to $1 million per year for up to five years.

An additional fund in the new legislation would provide competitive grants to expand proven solutions to challenges that our communities face. CIS Affiliates are well-positioned to apply for these grants when they become available. The total fund would grow from $50 million in the first year to $100 million in the fifth year supporting local sub-grants of at least $100,000 per year for up to five years.

South Georgia at the State Capitol

By State Sen. Greg Goggans
ATLANTA (Mar. 27, 2009)

Home Purchase Tax Break Passed Senate Goes Back To House:

HB 261 authorizes an income tax credit for the purchase of a single-family home; essentially for the final 6 months of 2009. The amount is either 1.2 percent of the purchase price of such eligible single-family residence or $3,600.00, whichever is less.


Tax Credits Spur Job Growth:

The “Georgia Works Tax Credit” suspends levy of filing fees for new businesses as collected by the Secretary of State. HB 481 would give businesses a $2,400 tax credit for each unemployed person they hire and keep on the job. The “Tax Credit” will be available quarterly for amounts between $25 and $125 per unemployed individual hired as an employee for up to four calendar quarters, this applies to unemployment insurance tax obligations. The corporate income tax will be phased out for Georgia corporations by FY 2020 if funds are available.


Property Assessments Frozen:

HB 233 provides for a moratorium period for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, and continuing until January, 2011 during which valuation increases of property are limited. This legislation states that the rate of increase of the assessed value of property for county, county school district, municipal or independent school district ad valorem tax purposes is frozen from one taxable year to the succeeding taxable year.


Additional Legislation Awaiting Governor’s Final Signature:

SB 44: Provides for purchasing preferences for certain supplies, materials, equipment, and agricultural products manufactured or produced in Georgia.
SB 165: Authorizes the Department of Community Health to obtain income eligibility verification from the Department of Revenue for all applicants in pursuit of Medicaid and the PeachCare for Kids Program.
SB 210: Allows home schooled students to participate in the student honors program.
HB 123: Changes the definition of “child molestation” to include by means of an electronic device (i.e. webcam).
HB 195: Allows members of electric membership corporations to serve on juries where the EMC is a party, unless the judge finds bias.
HB 237: Allows adoptive parents of hard-to-place foster children to receive financial assistance.
HB 227: Provides that registered voters who have obtained a protective order or who are receiving services for domestic violence may request to have their address remain confidential.
HB 482: Would eliminate the state inventory tax on all Georgia businesses.
HB 484: Provides that dependent children of military personnel stationed in Georgia on active duty are eligible to meet the residency requirements of HOPE scholarships and grants.
HB 552: Extends the ban which states that no well or borehole will be drilled or used for the purpose of injecting any surface water into the Floridian aquifer in any county governed by the Georgia coastal zone management program before July 1, 2014.


Please remember to contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area. I am here to represent you and it is an honor for me to work on your behalf. As always, I’d like to thank members of the Senate staff, who contribute regularly to my column.


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Sen. Greg Goggans represents the 7thSenate District, which includes Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce and Ware counties and a portion of Cook County.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Thursday, March 26 2009



SPONSORED BY

Circlestone Country Club



HOSTED BY

Berrien County Chamber of Commerce

Cook County Chamber of Commerce

Lakeland-Lanier Co. Chamber of Commerce


The Chamber s are really excited about being a part of this event!!

Circlestone has some wonderful ideas they want to share with you, and have planned a great afternoon and evening. There will be Door Prizes, so please place your business card in our fish bowl. This is a great opportunity for you to invite a potential new member for both the Country Club and your Chamber.


3:30 PM

SCRAMBLE GOLF TOURNAMENT

RSVP BY MARCH 24

CALL PHILLIP IN THE PRO SHOP

229-896-3893



5 PM

SOCIAL TIME

CULINARY DELIGHTS, DRINKS

DOOR PRIZES

RSVP BY MARCH 24

PLEASE CALL YOUR CHAMBER


Please join us in support of your local

Country Club and Chamber of Commerce

‘Help Is Here Express’ Bus Tour Comes to Valdosta

To Help Patients in Need Access Prescription Medicines

Valdosta, Georgia – The “Help is Here Express” bus tour will be in Valdosta on Monday, March 23, stopping at Woodlawn Forrest Church of Christ to help uninsured and financially-struggling Georgians access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The bus tour is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) – a nationwide effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies – raising awareness of patient assistance programs among residents who have been face layoffs or a loss of health care benefits in a struggling economy. Additionally patients who visit the bus can also learn about new medicines in development to fight chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma.

To date, the PPA has helped more than 5.5 million patients, including more than 230,000 Georgians. Since its launch in April 2005, the PPA bus tour has visited all 50 states and more than 2,500 cities to raise awareness about patient assistance programs. The “Help is Here Express” is staffed by trained specialists able to quickly help uninsured patients in need access information on more than 475 patient assistance programs, including nearly 200 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. When the “Help is Here Express” moves on, patients can visit PPA’s easy-to-use Web site (www.pparx.org) or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) where trained operators field calls in 150 languages.

WHEN: Monday, March 23, 2009

9 – 11 AM

WHERE: Woodlawn Forrest Church of Christ

1515 N. Forrest St

Valdosta, GA 31601


WHO: Partnership for Prescription Assistance

Karl Uhlendorf

“At a time when national unemployment is the highest in almost two decades, the PPA has become an important lifeline for a growing number of patients,” PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin said. “Millions of Americans have been added to the jobless rolls over the last several months and there could be a sharp increase in the number of our citizens losing health care benefits.’’

Tauzin added that the PPA is currently helping “thousands of people every day,” including those who need treatments to fight such debilitating chronic diseases as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and asthma. In Georgia alone, there are millions of cases of chronic diseases, according to the Milken Institute and the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. Nationwide, more than 133 million Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, which is responsible for 7 out of every 10 deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“With the number of people affected by chronic disease going up every year, and economists predicting that unemployment will continue to grow well into 2009, the PPA and its message of hope are now more relevant than ever,” Tauzin said. “No one – and I mean no one – is helped by a medicine that sits on the shelf and is out of reach financially. In Georgia, we will continue to help folks all over the state for as long as the assistance is needed.”

In addition to stopping in Valdosta on Monday, the “Help Is Here Express” will bring the Partnership for Prescription Assistance to several other Georgia cities, including Tifton, Albany, Americus, Columbus, Macon, Gainesville, Athens, Augusta and Waynesboro.

For more information, contact: Abby Horn, (404) 885-9596 x24.

Berrien County Mentalist

Mentalist Keith Matheny will be performing at the Family Life Center at 12 pm Thursday, February 26. Admission to the event is free. Bring your own lunch and come enjoy a great show by Mentalist and Motivational Speaker Keith Matheny. He recently performed at the Chamber’s annual banquet and due to his popularity we are bringing him back for an encore performance. Grab some take out from your favorite restaurant and come enjoy the free show. The following restaurants will be preparing brown bag lunches for the event Cadillac Ranch, Barry’s, Huddle House, and K&D Subs. Please call in advance to ensure your lunch is ready.

Hope to see you there.

CASA Appropriations

Congress has today posted its compromise agreement for FY 2009 appropriations (the fiscal year which runs October 1, 2008 – Sept 30, 2009). I am very pleased that the recommendation for CASA’s funding is $15 million, a 14% increase over the previous year. This is a testament to the reputation of CASA/GAL volunteer advocacy in communities across the country, and the efforts of our network in communicating with Congress, especially during CASA Meets Congress. This will translate into more grants that will be available in the current grants cycle. It will not affect the application process currently underway.

The 2009 appropriations measure also provides up to $365 million for state VOCA grants, an estimated 18% increase over FY 2008. Additionally, the Economic Stimulus package approved by Congress last week provides an additional $47.5 million for state grants. The Office of Victims of Crime will be working to expedite dissemination to states of the additional funds contained in the stimulus bill.

As you have heard, a key focus of last week’s stimulus bill provides temporary funding to state governments to deal with the economic crisis. Provisions in the economic stimulus package that help vulnerable families and our children include:

Tax Incentives to Hire “Disconnected Youth (up to age 25)

TANF

Increase in IV E foster care assistance

Temporary increase in Medicaid payment rate

Understanding that so many state budgets, and as a result CASA/GAL programs, are seriously challenged by the economic crisis, these developments may be a helpful bridge for many programs to sustain advocacy for children.

Foreclosure Assistance

I saw this story on ABC News and thought it might be helpful to families who are facing foreclosure. According to The Consumer Warning Network, one way to stall foreclosure proceedings is to ask the mortgage company to produce the original note that was signed when the mortgage was processed. In many cases, the rights to the mortgage has been sold so many times, the company that currently owns it can’t produce the original documents. If they can’t produce the documents, they can’t prove that the debt is legitimate.

Please visit the following Web site for more information:

http://www.consumerwarningnetwork.com/2008/06/19/produce-the-note-how-to/

Please distribute. I hope this helps someone.

Legislative News Bulletin

Legislators have completed 21 of 40 legislative days. Gov. Sonny Perdue announced last week that he was lowering the state’s revenue estimate for FY09 by $450 million. The FY09 budget shortfall has grown to $2.65 billion. Perdue directed state agencies to cut another $130 million from the FY09 budget. Only four months remain in the current fiscal year to make these additional cuts.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by President Barak Obama last week, will bring to Georgia an estimated $1.7 billion in increased Medicaid match funding between FY09 and FY11, more than $1.26 billion in an education block grant, and $280 million in a flexible block grant. Perdue has proposed using some of the Medicaid match funding to free up enough state funds to proceed with the Homeowner Tax Relief Grants in FY09, which will require $428 million.

Work is proceeding on the FY09 budget. Most House Appropriations Subcommittees, including those that deal with funding for the departments of Community Health, Human Resources, and Education, met on Feb. 23 to finalize their recommendations. The House is expected to vote on the FY09 budget this week.

LEGISLATION

Healthy Children
HB 39 (Rep. Ron Stephens, 164th) would increase tobacco tax by $1 per pack of cigarettes. Status: The Ways and Means Public Finance Subcommittee will hold a hearing on HB 39 on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. in Room 341 of the Capitol.

HB 229 (Rep. Brooks Coleman, 97th) creates the SHAPE (Student Health and Physical Education) Act. Beginning in 2011 -12, students in grades 1 – 12 enrolled in physical education must have an annual fitness assessment approved by the State Board of Education. Status: In House Rules awaiting placement on calendar for a vote in the House.

HB 474 (Rep. Pat Gardner, 57th) increases the PeachCare income eligibility limit from 235 percent of the federal poverty level to 300 percent. Status: Assigned to House Appropriations.

SB 5 (Sen. Don Thomas, 54th) requires seat belts in all passenger vehicles, including pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, used for transporting people, but excludes vehicles “used on a farm in connection with agricultural pursuits.” Status: Passed Senate. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs.

SB 92 (Sen. Judson Hill, 32nd) would dismantle current Medicaid and PeachCare programs, and provide low-income families with assistance to purchase private-sector health-insurance plans. Status: Discussion by Senate Insurance & Labor scheduled for Feb. 17 was postponed until Feb. 24. EDITOR’S NOTE: One to watch.

School Success
HB 193 (Rep. Tom Graves, 12th) would allow the requirement for a 180-day school year to be defined as an hourly equivalent. School districts could lengthen the school day and have a four-day school week. Status: Passed House Education Committee. In House Rules. HB 198 (Rep. Mark Williams, 178th) contains the same language. Status: Scheduled for discussion in House Appropriations Education Subcommittee on Feb. 23.

HB 215 (Rep. Steve Davis, 109th) creates the Graduating Everyone Matters Act, which establishes three diploma options for high-school students: a general diploma, a career/vocational/technical diploma and a college prep diploma. This would return Georgia to high-school graduation requirements abandoned in the late 1990s. Status: Amended to offer two diplomas: Career/Vocational/Technical and College Preparation. Passed House Education. Assigned to House Rules.

HB 400 (Rep. Fran Millar, 79th), titled Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy Act, would develop programs to improve graduation rates and the preparedness of students for postsecondary education and careers, and provide for model programs for students at risk of dropping out of high school. Status: Assigned to House Committee on Education. Discussed on Feb.18 but with no action taken.

Stable, Self-Sufficient Families
HB 237 (Rep. Ed Lindsey, 54th) provides financial assistance to families adopting “hard-to-place” children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Status: Passed House. Assigned to Senate Health & Human Services.

HB 290 (Rep. Doug McKillip, 115th) increases minimum wage and provides for cost-of-living increases. Status: Assigned to House Industrial Relations.

Strong Communities
HB 245 (Rep. Wendell Willard, 49th) allows juvenile court to suspend the driver’s license of a child below age 17 charged with a delinquent act. Status: Assigned to House Committee on Judiciary Non-Civil.

South Georgia at the State Capitol

By State Sen. Greg Goggans

ATLANTA (February 20, 2009) – This week was a great week for Georgia homeowners, small businesses, and citizens alike here at the General Assembly. As me move into the second half of the 2009 Session, I am proud to report solid measures that I am sponsoring and supporting are making their way through the legislative process and hopefully will bring much needed job creation, homeowner tax relief, and a funded trauma care network.

Senate and House members announced the Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success Act of 2009 recognizing that the greatest stimulus for a prosperous economy comes from an environment that promotes opportunity, productivity, and innovation. This plan recognizes that we are currently in very difficult times for most families and businesses, and offers initiatives like a $500 credit toward unemployment insurance tax for eligible employees hired, a $2,400 income tax credit for hired employees, elimination of the state inventory and sales tax deposit for all Georgia businesses, and the gradual removal of the corporate income tax. There will also be a “Start a New Business Holiday” where entrepreneurs can have business application fees waived.

This plan spends no taxpayer money and allows the market to respond immediately. It will create an attractive environment for new business startups and others looking at out state for possible expansion. This proposal is the exact opposite of what the federal stimulus needed to be about, which is empowering small business, not the government.

I firmly believe that the hard-working citizens of Georgia are the answer to finding economic success, not inflating government to solve all our problems. We must find ways to create true and sustainable job creation and take advantage of the intellectual and entrepreneurial spirit of everyday Georgians. This plan sets Georgia on the right path towards economic recovery with investing in hard-working people and free-market solutions, and getting government out of the way.

Senate Resolution 277, the legislation I authored which establishes the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund, just passed favorably out of the Senate Finance Committee and will soon be heard on the Senate floor. The measure would impose a charge of $10.00 per year on each passenger vehicle licensed and registered in the state. A dedicated funding source is sorely needed for our state to manage and improve our trauma care system, which could help save over 700 lives a year. There is no price you can put on life and its time Georgia steps up to the plate and creates a permanent source of revenue for this essential and urgent need. I am proud to lead the charge in making sure every person in the state has access to trauma care and will fight hard to see this measure though this year.

At the start of the 2009 Session, I joined Senators and House members to make funding the $428 million 2009 Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) our top legislative priority. I did not want to have over 3 million Georgia homeowners forced to pay an additional $200 to $300 in property taxes at a time when every dollar counts for families being forced to make tough financial decisions. House Bill 143 would guarantee that HTRG be honored this year and sets up a system to where any future grants would be based on available funds from a revenue surplus. On Tuesday Governor Sonny Perdue signed HB 143 into law.

I have been working on an important bill that seeks to add integrity to our state Medicaid and PeachCare programs. Senate Bill 165 would authorize the Department of Community Health (DCH) to obtain income eligibility verification from the Department of Revenue (DOR) for applicants to the state health care program. DCH will have the ability to make sure any applicant is not exceeding the income threshold to receive the service. Ensuring all Medicaid and PeachCare funds are going toward only those who qualify is something I hope to maintain and protect with this bill. The measure passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Thursday and will head to the Senate floor for consideration.

Please remember to contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area. I am here to represent you and it is an honor for me to work on your behalf. As always, I’d like to thank members of the Senate staff, who contribute regularly to my column.


# # # #


Sen. Greg Goggans represents the 7thSenate District, which includes Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce and Ware counties and a portion of Cook County.

BILLIONS IN NONPROFIT PROJECTS HALTED BY CREDIT CRISIS

Johns Hopkins researchers estimate $166 billion in infrastructure projects delayed nationwide.

Like state and local governments and private businesses, America’s 1.4 million nonprofit organizations have many major “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects on hold because of the credit crisis, according to a new survey by the Johns Hopkins University Nonprofit Listening Post Project. For a country eager to promote employment, these projects offer an inviting target.

Nonprofits always struggle to generate investment capital due to their nonprofit status and their inability to access the equity markets, but the survey results show that the recession has compounded their woes: The 1,837 organizations surveyed identified 1,065 shovel-ready projects stalled by the inability to secure financing. A state-by-state listing of these projects is at http://www.jhu.edu/listeningpost/news.

The organizations that participated in the survey differ widely in size, cover all regions, and represent a diverse array of fields, including children and family services, elderly services and housing, community development, arts and culture, and others. Based on survey results, the researchers estimate that even excluding hospitals and higher education, which were not covered in this survey, nonprofit organizations nationwide have over $166 billion worth of community infrastructure projects ready to go if funding were available.

“As Congress, the president, and state governments begin making concrete plans for allocating the economic recovery funds recently enacted by Congress, they would do well to consider the considerable backlog of worthy projects stalled at the country’s nonprofit organizations,” said Lester M. Salamon, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies, which conducted this survey as part of its Listening Post Project.

“Nonprofit infrastructure projects have the double benefit of strengthening our communities and generating jobs—both of which are needed in this time of testing for our nation,” observed Peter Goldberg, president of the Alliance for Children and Families and chairman of the Listening Post Project Steering Committee.

Examples of projects delayed indefinitely by the credit crisis include the Southside Youth Center planned by the 25-year-old San Antonio Youth Centers to provide classrooms, a workforce training center, and a child development center to a deeply impoverished community; and the 105-year-old Family Service of Roanoke Valley’s plans to renovate a downtown facility to provide mental health services for children, families and older adults.

Other key findings of this survey include:

* More than 40 percent of the responding organizations reported that they had “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects, and 13 percent said they had more than one.
* Of these projects, 27 percent are for new construction projects and 73 percent are renovations or expansions;
* Typical examples of these projects, in addition to those cited above, include an employment training center in Louisville, a social enterprise and volunteer center in Michigan, the expansion and renovation of a children’s museum and art gallery in Florida, and a range of continuing care facilities, brownfield cleanup efforts, river restoration projects, and physical improvements to blighted neighborhoods.

* California and New York head the list of states with sizable amounts of estimated shovel-ready nonprofit infrastructure projects, but sizable amounts exist in virtually all states.

“Thanks to this eye-opening data, we now know about existing significant opportunities not just to stimulate employment but also to improve the social infrastructure of our communities,” said Tim Delaney, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, a Listening Post Partner organization. “Let’s make sure nonprofit infrastructure projects are given as much consideration as roads, public buildings, and businesses in the uses made of economic recovery and bank bail-out funds.”

The full text of the report “’Shovel-Ready’” but Stalled: Nonprofit Infrastructure Projects Ready for Economic Recovery Support,” complete with state-by-state estimates, is available online at http://www.jhu.edu/listeningpost/news.

South Georgia at the State Capitol

By State Sen. Greg Goggans

ATLANTA (February 13, 2009) – This week I proposed and supported legislation that will more efficiently provide Georgians with protection in crucial areas of their lives—trauma care, food safety, and child security from sexual predators.

More than one million Georgians live more than 50 miles from a trauma center. This puts them way beyond the golden hour when emergency caregivers have the greatest chance to save someone’s life. I have made a commitment to the people in my district to make Georgia safer and improve the quality of life. To honor my commitment, I have introduced Senate Resolution 277, which establishes the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund. The life saving measure would impose a trauma charge of $10.00 per year on each passenger vehicle licensed and registered in the state.

In Metro Atlanta a fatality occurs once every 339 accidents; in rural Georgia a fatality occurs once every 74 accidents. This higher death rate in areas such as ours is no accident due to the injured that are unable to get to a hospital in time. Crash data show accident death rates increase the further victims are from a trauma center. The Georgia trauma death rate is 63 percent while the national average is 56 percent. Experts say we could save 700 more lives by fully funding trauma care—I believe we could save more. Trauma care cost money; no trauma care will cost more. There is no price on saving someone’s life.

Georgia is the number one peanut producer in the nation producing 45 percent of the United States’ peanuts. Consumers must be assured their food is safe and we must protect the integrity of Georgia’s producers. This week my colleagues and I of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 80, the Food Safety Testing, Reporting & Record Keeping bill. The legislation imposes stricter guidelines on food testing for processing plants in response to the nationwide salmonella outbreak that was linked to a South Georgia peanut butter plant in Blakely.

This legislation provides the Department free access to any food processor’s testing records for the presence of contaminants. The Commissioner of Agriculture is also directed to establish requirements for regular food testing on a yearly or more frequent basis. Processors are to report suspicions or positive finds of contaminates within one business day of the discovery directly to the state. The bill gives the commissioner the right to test any food if there are reasonable grounds to suspect contamination.

A measure to help protect school children from sexual predators also overwhelmingly passed. Senate Bill 14 amends current state law by adding that no one on the National Sex Offender Registry or the state sexual offender registry can be elected to serve on a local board of education. The idea that a pedophile can be a member of a local school board and have unrestricted access to schools cannot be tolerated. We must do everything in our power to protect the children of our state and this bill will help us achieve that goal.

Please remember to contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area. I am here to represent you and it is an honor for me to work on your behalf. As always, I’d like to thank members of the Senate staff, who contribute regularly to my column.


# # # #


Sen. Greg Goggans represents the 7th Senate District, which includes Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce and Ware counties and a portion of Cook County.

News Bulletin--February 10, 2009

Legislators have completed 15 of 40 legislative days. Economic news continues to worsen, as state revenue figures for the month of January showed a decline of 14.3 percent as compared to Jan. 2008. The year-to-date revenue decline is 4.8 percent. Gov. Sonny Perdue’s revenue estimate, which is the foundation for his budget proposals for Amended FY09 and FY10, was based on a revenue decline of 4.6 percent.

House and Senate leaders announced a new schedule last week. They will continue to meet three days a week on Tuesdays through Thursdays until March 25, the 35th legislative day. The session will adjourn until the last week in June, when legislators will return for the final five legislative days. This schedule, which would postpone finishing the state budget process until Congress approves a federal stimulus package, will leave state leaders little time before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

LEGISLATION

Healthy Children

HB 39 (Rep. Ron Stephens, 164th) would increase the tobacco tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack to generate new revenue. Status: Assigned to House Ways and Means.

HB 229 (Rep. Brooks Coleman, 97th) creates the SHAPE (Student Health and Physical Education) Act. Beginning in 2011-2012, students enrolled in physical education in grades 4 – 12 must have an annual fitness assessment approved by the State Board of Education. Status: Hearing scheduled for Feb.10 in House Education Academic Support Subcommittee.

HB 307 (Rep. Jim Cole, 125th) is Perdue’s bill to broaden an existing provider fee for Medicaid managed care organizations to all commercial HMOs in Georgia and implement new provider fees for hospitals. Revenue from the fees will be used to protect funding for Medicaid and PeachCare programs.
Status: Assigned to House Appropriations.

SB 92 (Sen. Judson Hill, 32nd) would dismantle current Medicaid and PeachCare programs, allowing low-income families to receive premium assistance to purchase private sector health insurance plans. Status: Senate Insurance and Labor.

School Success

HB 278 (Rep. Matthew Ramsey, 72nd) would ease expenditure controls for Quality Basic Education for 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years to help local school systems dealing with deep budget cuts. Status: House Education.

HB 193 (Rep. Tom Graves, 12th) would allow the requirement for a 180-day school year to be defined as an hourly equivalent. School districts could lengthen the school day and have a four-day school week. HB 198 (Rep. Mark Williams, 178th) contains the same language. Status: Both were assigned to House Education. HB 198 was withdrawn and reassigned to House Appropriations.

SB 90 (Sen. Eric Johnson, 1st) provides a voucher for parents to enroll a public-school child in another school within the local school system, or in a private school. The school has discretion to accept the child in accordance to policy. Status: Senate Education & Youth.

Stable, Self-Sufficient Families
HB 237 (Rep. Ed Lindsey, 54th) provides financial assistance to families adopting “hard-to-place” children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. Status: House Children & Youth.

HB 290 (Rep. Doug McKillip, 115th) provides for an increase to the minimum wage and subsequent cost-of-living increases. Status: House Industrial Relations.

Strong Communities

HB 245 (Rep. Wendell Willard, 49th) allows a juvenile court to suspend the driver’s license of a child below age 17 if charged with a delinquent act. Status: House Judiciary Non-Civil.

Congratulations! We are making progress on Stimulus bill!

House Stimulus Bill Includes Roughly $80 Billion for Education

Your Voices are Being Heard!

Thank you so much for all your calls and e-mails! Your voices are being heard!

The stimulus bill being debated by the House of Representatives right now contains roughly $80 billion in funding for schools. The funds will flow through federal formulas directly to schools and indirectly through a state stabilization fund. If a state chooses to receive money from the stabilization fund they are required to send more than 60 percent of the money directly to schools. Between the federal aid formulas and the state stabilization funds, resources are available for site coordinators.

The Senate bill is under consideration at the Committee level and will move to the Senate floor later this week or next week.

CIS will be providing an analysis of both the House and Senate bills as well as information on accessing these funds locally over the next few weeks.

Thank you so much for all of your efforts to convince the House to include money for site coordinators. If you have not yet e-mailed or called your Senators, you still have time. Please click here to send an e-mail.

Should you have any questions, please contact Dan Fuller at 703-518-2556, or via e-mail: fullerd@cisnet.org.

Watch the Debate LIVE at http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx

South Georgia Athletic Challenge

February 28th, 2009

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America have sponsored a new initiative in South Georgia. This premier partnership will assist in establishing Clubs throughout South Georgia. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cook County started the corporate site for this initiative in Adel Georgia three years ago. Since their inception, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cook County has partnered with the Berrien County Collaborative to open a new location in South Georgia. The new Club located in Nashville has partnered with the Berrien County Board of Education and Collaborative to continue to build momentum for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Georgia initiative.

Through the South Georgia Athletic Challenge (SGAC) we hope to provide greater awareness and support for this initiative. Recent studies have shown that after school programs are proven to be the most efficient and effective way to keep kids off the streets and in school. The SGAC will mark the first event of its kind for South Georgia. This is a voluntary event that will allow student athletes to compete and represent their schools in several challenges.

All participating student athletes must have a waiver signed by each of their respected coaches prior to entering the SGAC event. Each school may enter 2 eligible student athletes per event. One judge from each school must be present for each of the 12 events. There will be a drum competition throughout the day that will require each participating school to provide an eight member drum line to compete. The participating schools may also provide up to 3 participants for the slam-dunk showcase.

There will be a $25 registration fee for each school to participate in the event. The best score in each event will be registered and counted toward the event title. The details for sponsorship and registration are listed below. If you would like more details please call 229-686-6576 or go to www.yes2berrienkids.org and click on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Georgia tab.

Schools that wish to participate may sign-up to sponsor the event in several ways, but it is not required. We will provide one 10X10 area for each school at no charge to sell school merchandise and memorabilia. No food or drinks may be sold at school booths. All other vendors must register with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Georgia prior to event in order to secure space. Each vendor will receive 20-day passes to the SGAC event along with their $100 contribution for their booth space. Vendors will only be charged $100 for their 10X10 space, however, they will receive 20-tickets to the SGAC event along with the contribution. If they need more space, the price will incrementally go up by $100 per additional 10X10 space allotted for their booth. They will only receive 10 additional tickets for the second and third space expansion. Vendor placement is limited, so please register as soon as possible. (Please go to www.yes2berrienkids.org for registration forms).

Awards Ceremony: The overall winner of the SGAC will receive bragging rights and the SGAC CUP that will reside at their respective school for one year along. The School’s name will be engraved on the trophy, so everyone will know the winner for years to come. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place individual winners from each challenge will be awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals.

The top four teams will receive:

➢ 1st Place will receive $1,000, an engraved plaque and THE SGAC CUP.
➢ 2nd Place will receive $750 and an engraved plaque.
➢ 3rd Place will receive $500 and an engraved plaque.
➢ 4th Place will receive $250 and an engraved plaque.

**The SGAC is a team event and winners will be determined by number of points earned during each event. The school with the most points at the end of the day wins.

**The school with the most participants in attendance will receive a $250 scholarship. Due to Berrien County hosting the event, they will not be eligible to receive this scholarship.

If you are up for the challenge and interested in participating in the SGAC event, please go to our website at www.yes2berrienkids.org and click on the SGAC event info link. If you have questions, please contact Matt Jansen at 229-686-6576.

Economic Stimulus Package Breakdown

Dear Colleagues:

The Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives today released its Economic Stimulus Package. The House of Representatives will begin hearings next week on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As you know, we are working to have the Congress include funds for CIS site coordinator positions in the legislation. You have likely received the CIS action alert with sample e-mail you can send your U.S. Representatives and Senators urging them to include money for CIS site coordinators in the legislation. Please take action and also forward the alert to other supporters of CIS. We must make our voices heard to succeed.

Here are some highlights of what the Appropriations Committee has proposed related to education and community services:
The overall funding for education in this bill for the next two years is $41 billion. Here is the breakdown:

Title I Help for Disadvantaged Kids: $13 billion for grants to help disadvantaged kids in nearly every school district and more than half of all public schools reach high academic standards.

IDEA Special Education: $13 billion for formula grants to increase the federal share of special education costs and prevent these mandatory costs from forcing states to cut other areas of education.

School Modernization and Construction: $14 billion for K-12 school renovation and modernization including technology upgrades and energy efficiency improvements.

Education Technology: $1 billion for 21st century classrooms, including computer science labs and teacher technology training.

Statewide Data Systems: $250 million for competitive grants to states to design and develop data systems that analyze individual student data to find ways to improve student achievement, providing teachers and administrators with effective tools.

Education for Homeless Children and Youth: $66 million for formula grants to states to provide services to homeless children including meals and transportation when high unemployment and home foreclosures have created an influx of homeless kids.

Child Care Development Block Grant: $2 billion to provide child care services for an additional 300,000 children in low-income families while their parents go to work. Today only one out of seven eligible children receives care.

Improving Teacher Quality: $300 million, including $200 million for competitive grants to school districts and states to provide financial incentives for teachers and principals who raise student achievement and close the achievement gaps in high-need schools; and $100 million for competitive grants to states to address teacher shortages and modernize the teaching workforce.

There is $40 billion to states and an additional $39 billion to school districts, public colleges and universities. These two funding sources have been created to stabilize budgets, prevent tax increases and deep cuts to critical education programs.

Community Services
Compassion Capital Fund: $100 million for grants to faith- and community-based organizations to provide critical safety net services to individuals and families.

AmeriCorps Programs: $200 million to put approximately 16,000 additional AmeriCorps members to work doing national service, meeting needs of vulnerable populations and communities during the recession.

Community Services Block Grant: $1 billion for grants to local communities to support employment, food, housing and healthcare efforts serving those hardest hit by the recession. Community action agencies have seen dramatic increases in requests for their assistance due to rising unemployment, housing foreclosures, and high food and fuel prices.

If you're interested in the 13 page summary, please go to: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/PressSummary01-15-09.pdf

Governor Perdue to Eliminate School Nurses

I wanted to let all of you know about something very important to
all School Nurses in the state of Georgia. Yesterday, January 14th,
Governor Perdue made public his proposed budget for 2010. It states:

Eliminate state funding support for school nurses. ($30,000,000)

This means the School Nurse monies for School Year 2009-2010 are
eliminated in this proposed budget. The Board of GASN is mobilizing,
building coalitions and trying to ramp up support to help influence
the turn around of this proposal. We will have somerecommendations to
you, our members and colleagues by early next week. Of course, it
never hurts to start getting your support systems together. We all
know there are parents out there that value School Nurses, and we will
need their support now more than ever. We all need to work together
on this issue. We will address this as professionals who feel that
children in our state deserve a School Nurse in their School
community! Thank you for your attention. Look forward to hearing from
us!

Joanne Giel, RN

President - GASN

South Georgia at the State Capitol

By State Sen. Greg Goggans

One of government’s fundamental roles is to assist its citizens. As a state senator, I strive every day to help the people who have decided to make our great state their home. Through the launching of initiatives such as GeorgiaHealthInfo.gov, Open.Ga.Gov and 1-800-Georgia, Georgians can access information needed to make decisions on issues essential to their everyday lives.

In an effort to give Georgians access to the latest healthcare quality, cost and health education information, the Department of Community Health (DCH), recently announced the launch of GeorgiaHealthInfo.gov as a resource to help Georgians make educated health decisions. The new website is being launched in two phases during 2009, with the first phase accessible now. It enables a person to search pharmacies by zip code to determine the best price for prescription drugs, offers quality assessments for medical facilities and provides easy access to the Mayo Clinic’s vast health education database. The Mayo database gives users access to prevention, wellness and disease management information plus cost and quality analysis for healthcare plans, prescription drugs, local hospitals and outpatient procedures.

The second phase of the website will include extensive provider profile data and user support for long-term care options. Both phases of the website will be fully operational by this summer.

Another new website, Open.Ga.Gov, began operation on January 1. Visitors to the site can easily locate information on state government salaries, travel expenditures, professional services expenditures, government contracts and comprehensive annual reports. Performance audits, program evaluations and special examinations released by the Department of Audits and Accounts over the last five years are also available. The information maintained on the site is updated annually.

Too often, I receive phone calls from constituents who are frustrated with being transferred numerous times in search of information. 1-800-Georgia is a toll free service now available for citizens who are seeking services but don’t know who to call. The call center will connect callers to the correct government agency with their first call. The phone service is supported by the state’s KnowledgeBase, which is updated daily and validated for accuracy quarterly by representatives from every state agency.

Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to continue representing the 7th senatorial district. It is an honor to serve you in the General Assembly. Happy New Year!

As always, I’d like to thank members of the Senate staff, who contribute regularly to my column. Please contact me in my office at the Capitol with your questions, comments or concerns.

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Sen. Greg Goggans represents the 7th Senate District, which includes Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce and Ware counties and a portion of Cook County.

Mental health budget under assault

By Matt Flumerfelt

VALDOSTA — With Georgia’s new legislative session set to begin on Jan. 12, mental health advocates are gearing up to challenge Gov. Sonny Perdue’s plan to privatize the state’s mental health system and to oppose further attempts by the governor to cut the budget of the already under-funded system.

The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) has been inundating the governor’s office with letters, said Nancy Tennyson, a longtime NAMI member who lives in Brooks County. NAMI sent a letter called Gray Matters to all its members, requesting them to print it on gray paper and send it to the governor’s office.

Gray Matters asks the governor to take a number of steps to improve the state’s mental health system, including exempting mental health from any further budget cuts, going forward with plans to separate mental health and addictive diseases from the Department of Human Resources and Behavioral Health and make it an independent department, and fully funding the recommendations of the governor’s mental health commission.

NAMI is also preparing to release another National Survey of Mental Health Services in the U.S. this year, Tennyson stated. Georgia received a grade of “D” on the last NAMI survey.

This past summer, the governor shifted $8.4 million from the mental health budget to, “other programs in the State Department of Human Resources to meet administrative expenses and cover funding deficits,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The governor’s mental health commission, in their final report released on Dec. 4, 2008, questioned the wisdom of cutting the mental health budget at a time when Georgia’s mental health system is already under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for “critically deficient conditions.”

Given the state’s current budget deficit, however, the commission’s recommendation for “an ambitious five-year blueprint to reform Georgia’s troubled mental health system,” seems unrealistic.

The governor’s commission does not endorse the privatization plan, according to its own report.

The U.S. Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into all seven of Georgia’s state hospitals, following the publication of a series of articles entitled “A Hidden Shame,” in the Atlanta Journal Constitution beginning on Jan. 1, 2007, that exposed deplorable conditions in state mental facilities. The Perdue commission was created in the wake of those articles and subsequent investigation according to the Constitution.

An article in “Out of Control,” a publication of the Reason Foundation, states that Georgia’s push to

privatize its mental health facilities has gained momentum because “service quality under state operation has literally deteriorated to the point that lives are at stake.”

Following the lead of Washington, D.C.’s Department of Mental Health (DMH), which announced in October 2008 that it plans to privatize its mental health centers in 2009, Georgia state officials want to hire for-profit companies to build and operate three new psychiatric facilities to replace all seven existing state hospitals, according to the Constitution.

Proponents claim that privatizing saves money and improves care. D.C.’s Department of Mental Health Director, Stephen T. Baron, is quoted in the Reason Foundation article saying that, “If DMH privatizes its centers, it will save a lot of money and have a chance to increase the number of residents it helps.” DMH spokesperson Phyllis Jones, in the next paragraph, identifies the source of the savings. “The private providers tend to have cheaper labor costs.”

Critics of privatization complain that combining competition and the profit motive with medical care is risky, with Georgia’s mental health consumers being those at greatest risk under such a plan.

NAMI member Lisa Majersky, in a letter printed in the Athens Banner-Herald on Dec. 4, 2008 stated, “Putting the profit motive into medical care is, in my opinion, a crime against humanity.” Majersky argues that private corporations would be less motivated to cooperate in cases of possible wrongdoing because negative publicity could affect profitability.

Sue Gupton, executive director of the South Georgia Community Service Board d/b/a Behavioral Health Services of South Georgia (BHS), stated that she opposes privatizing the state’s mental health facilities.

“I’m sure the current administration is looking to save money,” Gupton stated, “but so often with privatization the services are cut to accomplish this.”

“I support NAMI’s opposition and like many I am wondering why there is such a rush to make these monumental changes when a new department is likely to be created in July,” Gupton said. “Why wouldn’t you wait six months and have the new commissioner of behavioral health make those decisions for the future?”

Gupton stated that funding cuts have already resulted in major downsizing for BHS, which has gone from a staff of 400 to approximately 250 and from programs in every county to programs in only three of the 10 counties they serve. Even with the cuts, however, they continue to serve all 10 counties, but with severely diminished resources, Gupton stated.

“If BHS had not experienced years of funding crises, the impact of the budget cuts could be managed, but given the history of the funding, the next round of cuts will severely impact the already underfunded service delivery system in South Georgia.”

Gupton pointed out that when the economy takes a downturn, there is always an increase in the demand for services — increased anxiety and depression, increased stress leading to increases in substance use and abuse, domestic violence and child abuse, etc. If the resources are not available or if there’s a long wait to get into services, these problems will be handled elsewhere, i.e. through the criminal justice system, emergency rooms and so forth.

“Cutting social services during an economic downturn seems unwise,” Gupton stated. “These issues have to be addressed and paid for somewhere, either at the front end through better access to the services, or on the back end through the corrections system or ERs. A question to be pondered,” Gupton stated, “is where will those entering through ERs go if state hospital access is so limited?”

Nora Lott Haynes, president of NAMI Georgia, said that the state’s plan is backwards. “First,” Haynes said, “we need to fix the community mental health treatment system before we look at changing the hospital system. And,” Haynes stated, “nothing will work if we don’t have adequate funding.”