November 07, 2009
What's Inside:
Home « Local « Proposed cuts threaten sheltered workshops
Proposed cuts threaten sheltered workshops
Nixon seeks to boost funding for program
Nixon seeks to boost funding for program
MARYVILLE, Mo. — A bad economy is altering assembly lines at most businesses these days, including those staffed by Northwest Missouri’s sheltered workshops.
At NoCoMo Industries Inc. in Maryville, workers have been taken away from relatively dormant duties in favor of others that are faring better in the slackening economy.
Circumstances could grow even more dire for such job sites for the developmentally disabled, pending budget reduction/elimination proposals circulating through the Missouri Legislature. In January, Gov. Jay Nixon pledged to increase funding for developmentally disabled workers. Mr. Nixon is seeking a $3.6 million increase for the workshops and a $3 increase in a daily reimbursement rate that would bring total funding to nearly $25 million for fiscal year 2010.
NoCoMo Manager Richard Hallenberg said negative impacts felt throughout the economy at large have gradually rippled down to the workshop’s operations. The facility features about 50 disabled employees and a supervisory staff of 10.
“We’re experiencing the same kind of setbacks that any business is experiencing,” Mr. Hallenberg said. “A lot of our contract work is down. We have less revenue coming in for that reason. ... Our customers’ business is slow.”
Among its jobs, the shop recycles form ledger paper and cores from a local printing company. Other tasks include paper and cardboard baling, along with building pallets and shipping crates for local firms and others within a 50-mile radius. The shop also glues package inserts for Maryville’s Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing plant.
That line and the packaging and label of hardware items has fallen off.
The decline in business has not translated into layoffs, but Mr. Hallenberg said it’s a consequence that could hamper those activities at the end of the fiscal year. Layoffs could occur by spring or summer if sheltered workshop funding is slashed.
“Considering that some of the workers live in group homes, it would be costly to the state,” he said, referring to Missouri’s expense for care.
Companies that do business with NoCoMo are retrenching operations and attempting to keep their workers occupied, he added.
One thriving part of the workshop is found in the donations that are distributed to downtown Maryville thrift stores — which have witnessed good sales, Mr. Hallenberg said.
“That’s probably keeping us going, really,” he said.
Unified Services, Harrison County’s sheltered workshop in Bethany, is so far weathering the economic storm based on the diversification of its services, said manager Susan Legaard. She supports Mr. Nixon’s call for added funding.
A rebound to the overall economy would trickle down to assist the sheltered workshops, Ms. Legaard added.
“There are a lot of workshops that have waiting lists (of disabled workers) to get in,” she said.
Missouri Parents As Teachers, which also depends on state funds for its survival, is another region-wide organization facing possible budget cuts. Mr. Nixon has said he supports maintaining current funding levels for the program.
Debbie Kunz, coordinator of Parents As Teachers in St. Joseph, said she is aware of a House-to-Senate proposal that recommends a 10 percent funding reduction.
“We don’t know if that will mean reduction in services,” Ms. Kunz said. “When you do (cuts to) services, you’re not preparing.”
Ensuring that parents have access to resources to help prepare their children for kindergarten is the goal, she said. She is urging parents to lobby lawmakers for the preservation of Parents As Teachers money.
It’s estimated that 3,000 St. Joseph School District families participate in the local Parents As Teachers program, she added.
Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.
This story has 3 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
Story Tools
Hyperlink Legend
E-mail story
Print friendly version
iPod friendly version
Today's Top Headlines
Jobless rate hits ‘sobering’ levels
Stories of courage, heroics emerge after deadly rampage
Guard group arrives home
County budget situation improves
No one injured in Ag Processing explosion
school
JOB SEARCH
RECENTLY DISCUSSED
A resounding yes on school levy
(179 comments)
Same sex marriage loses in Maine
(64 comments)
Ft. Hood suspect remains in coma
(20 comments)
No one injured in Ag Processing explosion
(3 comments)
More Popular Discussions
(179 comments)
Same sex marriage loses in Maine
(64 comments)
Ft. Hood suspect remains in coma
(20 comments)
No one injured in Ag Processing explosion
(3 comments)
Surely, many of these 3,000 St. Joseph parents could prepare their own children for entry into kindergarten. My goodness. Makes me wonder how any of us survived and succeeded without the government's ready help at the door of our parents!
Xrep-
Yes, surely these parents could, but the added help is awesome. The PAT program provides parents with EXPERT knowledge and advice and NO COST. PAT screens children at early ages for hearing, vision, motor skills, developmental delays, etc. Many parents would not have this screening done, as it is quite costly if done at a doctor. When kids come into school and have had PAT, you CAN tell. PAT provides enrichment activities, group play and parent support.
I am a teacher, and know a bit about development, yet I am utilizing our school's services with my new baby to be! Any advice and help is a step up. So many of our children are NOT getting the support at home, and many times it's not because the parent don't WANT to, it's because they don't know HOW to! JUST BECAUSE THINGS GET BETTER AND CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY AREN'T NECESSARY OR USEFUL!! I am so sick of hearing people say, well it wasn't like that when we were kids, or when we were raising kids. Well, guess what...a lot of things have changed. That's life...evolution and modernization!
As for the workshop situation, my uncle has Down's Syndrome and works at NOCOMO in Maryville. He has worked there for years, and to hear that it may close, breaks my heart! They provide jobs for this group of people. WIthout it, I wonder what my uncle and many others will do. WHen he gets his paycheck, there is not a prouder man in my family. Is it much? No, but it's something that makes him normal!!
nwbearcatgirl - I agree with your comment 100% with PAT and Sheltered Workshop. I have never met more motivated, hard working individuals who don't complain about anything and are so appreciative of what they have than those Individuals the Sheltered Workshops employ. We are a nation in need of "JOBS" especially MO. The Sheltered Workshops employ individuals who do meanial work that could otherwise be shipped overseas for the same rate of pay, but instead its here in the USA, NWMO area employing those individuals. They may only make $0.25 to $0.50 an hour but when they get the $60 bimonthly check they are proud of what they earned and do. I worked for Group Homes/ISL and can remember having a bad day going into work by the time I left work I forgot that I was having a bad day because those individuals were telling me what they did that day for a job and that they got to work in this area of the workshop vs that area that maybe their piece rate is higher.
I'm a firm believer in PAT too. I participate in PAT with my son and have since I was expecting because I know how PAT works with the funding source to the school district. You only see your PAT coordinator once a month for an hour from Aug to Mar. One time a month for an hour does not equal Quality Preparation for Kindergarden. PAT can seek out lack of developmental abilities and make referrals to get the help parents may not know about otherwise that can help get the child on the right track for school. Parents work with their children if they can and want to which leads to better success in school but it's not PAT responsibility to raise and educate the child. They are a stepping stone to the path of education and educational resources.
I am writing or emailing my local representative to put his support behind Gov. Nixon's proposal for sheltered workshops and any other legislative individuals. Go to http://www.mo.gov website and search for your representatives contact information and do the same. Tell them your experiences with PAT and/or Sheltered Workshops. I'd make it 2 separate emails so that is addressing each issue vs 1 so it gives them valid reason to vote for the issue. Its better than Banking Industry and Ins Co giving the stimulus money as bonuses to their "OVERPAID" executives.