Reforms Can Create Damaging Backlash

Washington State is embarking on a risky experiment. There is talk about a possible restructuring of the Department of Social & Health Services. In addition, Spokane County has already taken steps to overhaul our local social service system, breaking up Community Mental Health and cutting emergency services for battered women. The goal of better accountability, efficiency and service delivery is not only needed but welcomed.

But tinkering with the bureaucracy and delivering needed human services are two different things.

Here in Spokane, county commissioners have replaced the system that delivers mental health care to low income people. This led to funding cuts in the Evergreen Club which helps mentally ill people lead productive lives. It cut funding for SCAN, the Spokane Child Abuse and Neglect organization which works to prevent child abuse and help stressed parents. Also, commissioners have cut $40,000 from the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter, the only confidential shelter in the area.

It appears that the end of the Evergreen Club may be imminent despite vocal support from the community. Without new funding from federal grants, corporations and individual contributions, both SCAN and the domestic violence shelter will struggle.

There is a tendency to look at federal sources as a substitute for local support. However, this leaves human service agencies more dependent on federal budget politics. We are not the only community looking at ways to reform our social service system. Throughout the country, an increasing number of social service agencies have been forced to compete for a shrinking supply of dollars. And all will not get the support needed to continue.

These changes will have a ripple effect on the whole community.

Spokane prides itself on quality of life. We focus on recruiting new businesses to improve our economy and create new jobs. Economic development becomes a moot issue, however, if we cannot support healthy families and healthy children. Poverty, domestic violence, child abuse and mental illness exist. Parents under stress and looking for support in dealing with their children find practical training and comfort with programs like SCAN.

Women fleeing an abusive situation have a safe haven at the YWCA shelter. And people with mental illnesses could gather at the Evergreen Club for communal support and services.

Without these programs, who will take up the slack? By default, the schools often have to try, even though it’s not their job. Domestic violence and mental illness hurt children in particular. However, there are not enough school counselors currently. Adding the responsibility for our social issues could have devastating results as young lives collapse and kids drop out, turn to drugs and even reach for guns.

It is time for an improvement in our social service system. It is imperative however, that we don’t lose sight of the vulnerable human element in this process.

This is an issue for all of us. One which impacts our quality of life and our ability to make Spokane an economically viable place to work and raise our children in a healthy community. We need to keep a focused eye on the human impact of our social agencies. They serve our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues. People should be a priority. We need to be proactive in our human services because if we aren’t, the well-intentioned reforms could create a costly, socially damaging backlash and hurt the viability of our community.