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Budget Cuts Hit Hard
The budget cuts that continue to batter South Carolina are again threatening many of the programs that benefit our community. In the most recent round, the Department of Social Services (DSS) budget received another slashing. That cut, combined with an increased demand for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, resulted in the elimination of the teen pregnancy prevention funding across the state. These cuts come at a time where South Carolina saw an increase in teen pregnancy rates for the fourth year in a row. The elimination of this funding will impact local programs across the state, resulting in decreases of critical prevention services available for young people.
In Aiken, approximately 43% of our budget comes from the DSS teen pregnancy prevention grant. With these funds, our organization has implemented research proven programs throughout the county with positive results. The most recent data reported that Aiken had its first decrease in teen pregnancies in 3 years.
The funding is less but the demand keeps increasing.
The impact of this cut means that we will have $75,000 less (of a $200,000 annual budget) to continue to provide services for youth. In 2009, our organization:
*provided individual educational counseling to 520 teens (under 19 years old) through our Positive Outcomes Clinic Program.
* implemented a research proven pregnancy proven curricula with 165 youth and educated another 345 youth during single session educational workshops through our Real Talk for Youth Program
* provided infant simulators for 200 middle and high school students so they could experience the 24/7 demands of being a parent through our Real Care Baby Program.
* Trained 185 adults in the Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention workshop and educated an additional 200 parents on topics related to parent-child connections through our Parent Power Program.
The real concern is that we have had more requests for our services in 2010.
Unfortunately if we can't recover the funding that we have lost, we are going to loose programs and staff. Ultimately it will be our youth who will suffer and if teen pregnancies start to go up, the community/tax-payers will feel the impact as well.
Although we are currently seeking funding from other sources and are asking for community to support our organization during our time of crisis. You may donate securely on-line through our donate now button or mail your contribution to :
Aiken Youth Empowerment
PO Box 355
Aiken, SC 29802
Thank you in advance for your support!!
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What Can I Do To Help?
We understand that times are tough and everyone is cutting back, but it is important to remember that investing in teen pregnancy prevention is an investment in our community resulting in fewer dropouts, less crime, less child abuse/neglect and more youth growing up to be productive members of our community.
Give to the United Way.
The United Way just kicked off their 2010 campaign. They fund local agencies in Aiken County. Our organization is a proud United Way Agency. In 2011, we will be counting on the United Way to help us through our budget crisis. With your support we will be able to continue the high quality youth development and prevention programs in our community.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
We are also looking for community members who enjoy entertaining, hosting home shows or organizing workplace events to consider:
* Hosting a special dinner, such as wine tasting, golfing, knitting or scrap-booking benefiting our organization.
* Host a home show - Pampered Chef, Southern Living, Premier Jewelry etc. as a fundraiser.
* Arranging a special work lunch benefiting our organization.
If you are interested or have other ideas to help our fundraising efforts please contact
Aileen Daly or Susan Meehan at 441-0016 or e-mail
smeehan@aikenyouthempowerment.org.
