CENSUS BUREAU, AND TENNESSEE, NEEDS YOUR HELP

If we don't get an accurate count in 2010, desparately needed funding for your town and for the state will bypass us.  Low income, minorities, and particularly Hispanic populations are frequently reluctant to be counted.  TCSW is helping to spread the word, and you are encouraged to have local events to break down misperceptions so people will STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!.  Here's your link to the information and how your community can partner with the Census Bureau.

BUDGET STRUGGLES IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

On June 17, 2009, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a budget reflecting the tireless work of the TCSW Public Policy Council and partners - restoring close to $50 million in devastating health and social service cuts. Click below for more information on TCSW action to restore services:

TCSW op-ed in the June 5th edition of The Tennessean.

Summary of the TCSW Public Policy Council impact and partners

TCSW Public Policy Council Report with budget analysis detailing information about reductions and funds available.  

Be Aware - NEXT spring the 2010-2011 budget will be the single largest challenge to services in our state history since much of the restorations were made with non-recurring dollars. Want to do something about it NOW? 

2009-2010 PUBLIC POLICY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION TO SUSTAIN FUNDING FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

The 2009-2010 Public Policy Council, a distinquished group of experts on Tennessee social policy, met on September 23 to set goals and resolutions for the coming year.  As noted above, the ability to sustain and improve supports for strong families and communities in the face of budget deficits constitues the greatest challenge to Tennessee in decades.

To effectively address the issues, the Council moved to adopt a single resolution to guide our work in the coming year; a resolution to collaborate across affiliations to research, educate and act on strategies to achieve funding, rather than reductions, for critical services.  The themes of policy action and related services have been combined into a single grid to better identify the overall issue areas affected by the budget.

In addition, the Council mandated an analysis of potential funding sources and a timeline for statewide education and action.  Click on the GOALS AND MINUTES link to find out more about concerns and plans.  Be sure to get involved locally through the MyTownTn network below.

TCSW identified the following areas of policy priorities to guide advocacy for improvements in these areas:

Adult Independence:

Protecting vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect. 

Home and community based services – ending institutional bias – Long Term Care

Employment for adults with disabilities

Coordination & Funding for senior and disability services

Fairness: 

Eliminating racial/ethnic disparities

Supporting fair and rational immigration policy

Prosperity: 

Reducing Tennessee’s high unemployment rate

Job training opportunities

Progressive tax policy

Living wage

Personal bankruptcy, predatory lending, debt consolidation groups

Educational Opportunities: 

Improving Tennessee’s drop-out rate

Improving academic achievement of Tennessee students

Access to early intervention, early education (Headstart, PreK, TEIS)

Supporting adult literacy

Physical and Mental Well-Being: 

Decreasing infant mortality

Improving children’s health, including mental health

Access to health care

            Uninsured and underinsured

            Substance abuse services

            Mental health services

Health care reform

Nurturing & Supporting Families:

TANF

Access to safe, affordable housing – reducing homelessness

Supporting the working poor,

Improving rural access to services

Child Care

Supporting relative caregivers

Reducing domestic violence

Developing Life Skills:

Youth programs

Parenting skills

Teenage mothers

Children in state custody

Community Safety:  

Reducing recidivism

Juvenile Justice – treatment programs

Sex Offender policy

Reducing crime

Strengthening Community Supports & Services:  

Service systems coordination

Workforce development and support.

Funding and policy

Building community networks

JOIN YOUR LOCAL MYTOWNTN NETWORK

Your local TCSW Regional Steering Committee can link you with regular policy activities beginning in the fall of 2009 to educate you about local issue identification and policy analysis. You will be well-poised to influence decisions about services, and be better connected with your state and local decision-makers. Click HERE to contact your local President and find out more.  

Important Resources/Links for information and contacts:

TN General Assembly:  Note: very useful with contact info, lists of committees, video streaming, etc.

Entire Tennessee Congressional Delegation: Senators and Representatives

Senator Corker:  corker.senate.gov/Contact/index.cfm

Senator Alexander: alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm

www.Recovery.org  and Recovery.Com have up to date information on the broad sweep of national economic stimulus measures.

 Visit  POLICY RESEARCH AND ISSUE ANALYSIS for legislative activity and the TCSW RESOURCE LIBRARY for data you need to build a stronger Tennessee. Tennessee statistics, best practices, and more are included.  We invite you to suggest additions of valuable documents.  

• Click here for POLICY RESOLUTIONS. The TCSW membership votes upon public policy positions for the organization which are a statement of our focus, priorities, and purpose. Summaries of current TCSW Policy Resolutions for issue areas are currently being revised. Examples of policy resolution topics: Families First and Welfare Reform Reauthorization, Truancy and Drop Out Prevention / Education, TennCare, Community Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Child Abuse Prevention, Early Childhood Education and more. 

 STATE AND LOCAL POLICY WORK                                           

TCSW is finding linkages among issues and disciplines with core, primary solutions that will empower Tennesseans to create and access opportunities for a better life:  better education, better jobs, better families, better local and state economies, and expanded supports and services to achieve those goals.   

What can YOU do? Get involved and 

• Post your thoughts on issues
• Post your events on the calendar
• Get involved in your regional Public Policy Committee
• Make suggestions to TCSW
• Be a member of TCSW !  Join HERE. 

ACTION ALERTS!!!! Policy - Issue Resources Public Policy Council

   THE TENNESSEE CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL WELFARE

  The Vision to See.  The Faith to Believe.  The Courage to Do.   Since 1913    

2008 Eighth Avenue Sourth, Nashville, TN  37204  615.313.9980 (office), 615.313.9981 (fax) Email: info@tcsw.org