State government should not undermine our children’s health
As we all know, the economy is not working for working families today — and health
care is a major part of the problem. To make matters worse, early this month, Connecticut governor revealed her proposal to trim $1 million from the state’s 75 school-based health centers to help cut the budget deficient. That translates into hundreds or even thousands of underinsured and uninsured children that might lose the only access they have to medical care.
In Danbury, for instance, we see public service programs increasingly challenged with the dilemma of providing health care to a rapidly growing population of underinsured and uninsured local children.
One of the greatest difficulties faced by the parents or providers is making sure that students are able to pay for the medications prescribed for treatment. Faced with having to choose between putting food on the table for their families or buying medications, the decision is often made to delay the suggested treatment, thus jeopardizing health outcomes.
The School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are without a doubt an indispensable service to that sector of the population, and those families cannot afford to lose that assistance.
The broader community, including health and social service programs, business, government, private corporations and the general public, has demonstrated a strong spirit of collaboration and shared passion for improving the health and well-being of the residents of our state. This spirit of camaraderie must remain alive and strong so the SBHC clinics can remain functional and at full force.
Think of all children that can use the SBHCs – regardless of income or healthcare coverage – because SBHC services are aimed at (but not limited to) students who do not have access to a family doctor or whose families have little or no health insurance.
The health of Connecticut’s children should be a priority. To me, this is simply common sense. On Governor Rell’s website, she states that in developing
the proposed budget, they examined and evaluated every aspect of state government. Among the critical principles her administration seeks to accomplish is to assist those residents and families struggling to meet their most basic needs.
Cutting funds to SBHC could have serious implications, such as reducing healthcare services for students prior to the end of the school year. How would that measure help residents and families struggling to meet basic needs? Perhaps Mrs. Rell should concentrate on eliminating waste in government, as she also proposed. If done efficiently, that might just save enough money to keep the SBHC clinics operating as needed.
As a member of the Danbury community, I was able to organize two fundraising events on behalf of the School Based Health Centers at Danbury High and at Broadview Middle School. That single effort, with the generosity of friends, local businesses and community members, raised $14,000 for the clinics. I believe that when a community comes together beautiful things emerge to improve our quality of life.
The same can be done at the level of state government if our leaders come together and prioritize the needs of the people they were elected to serve rather than their personal agendas.
Our children are the future of our nation. Our state government should make sure that its decisions will empower them rather than escalate the struggles their families are already facing due to economic restraints.
My hope is that Governor Rell will reconsider the proposed cuts in the School Based Health Centers and help keep our children healthy, strong and in school.
