Thousands donated to Partners

When state officials cut funding to a well-regarded Spokane center that cares for abused children, the nonprofit appealed to private donors.

In response, Partners with Families and Children received $129,000 in donations – enough to sustain the program while it lobbies the state Children’s Administration to restore its funding.

“It was really heartwarming to have that kind of response,” said Mary Ann Murphy, the center’s executive director. “This carries us through until we can make our case in the Legislature. We had the wolves right at the door.”

Empire Health Services contributed $100,000 to the nonprofit, and urged other businesses to contribute as well. A spokeswoman for Empire was not immediately available for comment.

Last month, state officials cut Partners’ six-month contract in half, to $142,000. The state agency also eliminated $72,000 a year in funding for the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center in southeast Spokane.

The announcement sparked a rally for the two programs, drawing in community leaders from law enforcement, social and health services and local government. Murphy said a team of local leaders traveled to Olympia earlier this month to meet with top state officials and lobby for the programs.

Last year, state officials ordered a review of thousands of contracts held by the Children’s Administration, which overspent its budget by an estimated $12 million. Last spring, Gov. Christine Gregoire criticized the agency’s fiscal management.

“We can’t deliver on our mission to children and families if we don’t have an adequate way to account for our practices,” said Cheryl Stephani, the agency’s director. “We have to live within the resources that are appropriated to us.”

Austin DePaolo, executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. center, said the center agreed to a limited fee-for-service contract and that it will only be able to work with families entangled in the state’s child welfare system.

“We need to work with families before they are involved” with Child Protective Services, DePaolo said. “We really need to move toward earlier intervention and prevention.”

The center will only be able to work with families for up to six months under the new contract, DePaolo said.

Murphy, whose agency specializes in treating children who have been exposed to drugs and violence, worries that the shorter contracts – as well as limits on the number of times a family can visit – create further uncertainty in the already chaotic lives of the children.

“We feel like we are creating here a safe environment for these families, that we will be here for them through thick and thin,” Murphy said. “This changes the message to, ‘Maybe we’ll be here for you.’ “