Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 13, 1995 TAG: 9501130097
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Members of the Roanoke Valley Alliance for Children lashed out at what they called an ``assault'' on state dollars for education, health, housing, public transportation and human services.
Proposed cuts to such services ``will hurt our children, and especially our children who live in poverty or have a disability,'' said Virginia Hardin, who heads the alliance. ``George Allen has let us know that he cannot truly value families and children. Where is the wisdom? Where is the vision? Where's the leadership that citizens of Virginia were promised?
``It doesn't take us very long before we realize that the proverbial emperor is wearing no clothes.''
The total dollar impact of Allen's proposals is difficult to predict, Hardin said. For many human service agencies that oversee child-focused programs, federal funding is contingent on a state match. When state dollars are eliminated, the dollars those agencies can draw from the federal government are affected, she said.
What concerned Hardin, and others assembled with her at the Campbell Avenue Child Development Center, was Allen's proposal that the community pick up where the government bows out.
Allen has suggested that services for the poor that are eliminated by his budget proposals be assumed by community groups. In unveiling his welfare reform plan last month, Allen said it would in part be up to civic groups, churches and synagogues to fill in any gaps left by the state's withdrawal of funding.
``Churches and the religious community are doing yeoman work anyway in terms of providing programs, after-school kinds of events for children,'' said Nelson Harris, a minister who is chairman of the Roanoke School Board and a member of the alliance's steering committee.
``If we were just talking nickel-and-dime items in the state budget, there might be some validity to the suggestion that churches take over some of these programs. But let's face it, churches, which are charities anyway, cannot in any way, shape or form even make a dent in filling in where the loss of revenue is in the millions of dollars.''
The alliance is a coalition of parents, child-service professionals and members of the business community, civic groups and other organizations. The organization looks out for the interests of children and families and coordinates efforts to make children's issues a priority in the Roanoke Valley.
``The negative impact of losing services to children takes awhile before it becomes apparent,'' Hardin said. ``It takes longer than the term of a Virginia governor.
``And by the time the negative impact becomes apparent, it will be too late to make up the losses of human potential and economic gain.''
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB