Attached is a position paper from Parent to Parent of Georgia
regarding the restructuring of DHR and the fate of BCW! There is a
public hearing at the Capitol this Thursday.

________________________________________

Gov Perdue appointed a task force to look at the restructuring of DHR.
Their recommendations include the creation of two new departments (or
government agencies) and then restructuring the remaining parts of
the Department of Human Resources (DHR). The plan will create a
Department of Health and a Department of Behavioral Health, and DHR
will then consist of Developmental Disabilities (DD), Aging, Family &
Children Services (DFCS), and Child Support only.
Behavioral Health will consist of Mental Health and Addictive
Diseases. The Department of Health will consist of the current
Department of Community Health, Public Health (which is currently
located in DHR and is where Babies Canīt Wait currently is housed),
Planning and Regulation, and Health Care Finance and Management. In
this proposal Babies Canīt Wait would move to the new Department
of Health.

There has been some discussion of Babies Canīt Wait instead possibly
remaining under DHR (with Developmental Disabilities) or moving to the
Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL).

On Thursday November 20th, a public hearing will be held on the topic
of DHR restructuring, from 9 to 5:30 pm at the Capitol.

Here are the details of that hearing:

9-12:30 -
Overview of the proposal
Governor's task force rep
Agency Impacts on DHR and DCH

1:30-5:30 -
Implications for Mental Health
and
Developmental Disabilities
Implications for Public Health
Sign up sheet for public comments

To make public comment, individuals need to sign up in Room 245 of the
Capitol, or call House appropriations, 404-463-2245 to sign up.
Weīve been told that if there is a high volume of speakers, they may
not let multiple speakers address the same issue. But presence in the
room is important. Letīs fill the room with families of children with
disabilities who feel strongly about the future of the Babies Canīt
Wait program in Georgia.

As the PTI, our position is that families and children in Babies Canīt
Wait will be best served if it becomes a part of DECAL. We have
attached our position paper that explains and supports our decision.
It is very important that familiesī voices are heard at this public
hearing! You may have a different opinion about where Babies Canīt
Wait is best located, and thatīs okay too, but if you agree with our
position, please feel free to use our position statement to develop
your own talking points and/or written comments if you choose
to speak out about this matter. Staff from the PTI will be attending
the hearing and can hand-deliver any written comments that we receive
by the close of business Wednesday, November 19th. Please feel free
to send any comments to us if you would like for them to be delivered
Thursday.

Let me know if you have any questions or need any explanation about
our position and/or the hearing and public comment processes. Hope to
see you there!

Debra S. Tucker
Executive Director
Parent to Parent of Georgia, Inc.
3805 Presidential Parkway, Suite 207
Atlanta, GA 30340
770-451-5484 or 800-229-2038
www.parenttoparentofga.org