Governor Patrick's Proposed FY2011 Budget

On January 28 Governor Deval Patrick released his proposed Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11) budget. His FY11 budget totals $28.2 billion and includes close to $800 million in spending reductions. Funding for Teen pregnancy prevention and teen parent programs are as follows:

• Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP): TPP (4530-900) was consolidated with 11 other line items into one account: 4510-2500 "Health Promotion, Violence Prevention, and Workforce Expansion". The sum of all line items in this new consolidated account was reduced by approximately $2.6 million when compared to the current FY10 budget (post October 9-C reductions)
• Teen Parent Child Care (TPCC): TPCC accounts (3000-4050: TANF Related Child Care and 3000-4060: Child Care Access) were consolidated with one other child care account into one line item—3000-4060: Child Care Access. The sum of all line items in this new consolidated account was reduced by approximately $4 million when compared to the current FY10 budget (post October 9-C reductions)
• Young Parent Program: The Employment Services Program line item (4401-1000), which includes the Young Parent Program was reduced by approximately $8 Million overall when compared to the current FY10 budget (post October 9-C reductions. Under the Governor’s proposed budget, YPP funding would likely be reduced by 5-10%.
• Teen Living Program (TLP): TLP (4403-2119) was reduced very minimally, by $333 when compared to the current FY10 budget (post October 9-C reductions.
• The Young Parent Support Program (YPS): The Children and Family Services line item (4800-0038), which includes YPS was consolidated with three other line items into a one line item: 4800-0038 Services for Children and Families. The sum of all line items in this new consolidated account was reduced by approximately $20 million when compared to the current FY10 budget (post October 9-C reductions). Under the Governor’s proposed budget, the impact on YPS funding is unknown at this time.
• Healthy Families (HF): Children’s Trust Fund 3000-7000, which includes HF was reduced minimally, by approximately $65,000 when compared to the current FY10 budget (post October 9-C reductions).

These reductions are not final. The Governor’s proposed FY11 budget is the first step in a multi-step process. The legislature will weigh in with budget proposals of their own- the House in March and the Senate in May, which is followed by a conference committee budget proposal. The Governor’s final budget is released in July. Teens, young families, and their program providers must be strong advocates for the essential programs that support these youth. There will be many opportunities to advocate for funding for teen pregnancy prevention and teen parent programs between now and July. To sign up to receive advocacy alerts from the Alliance, please email Liz Umbro: umbro@massteenpregnancy.org .