Greetings, I hope all is well with each of you.  The Legislative Session is winding down and we have received our first look at the 2010 Bureau of Substance Use Disorders appropriation.  The good news for prevention is that the amount allocated for community-based prevention services is the same as last year.  The bad news is that the appropriation, established by the Legislature, directed the Bureau to spend a portion of the prevention funds, budgeted for community-based services, on a media campaign.  The result of this set-aside is a $50,000 cut in the funds available for community-based prevention services.  Rather than arbitrarily cut regional budgets, I have asked Benchmark to review applications for areas where small savings can be made that will not impact the level or quality of services offered. If insufficient savings are identified, limited reductions in services may have to be made.  This will be done by reviewing the needs assessment priorities as well as looking at the resources available within each community.  I will keep you updated as we move through the funding process. 

Idaho is fortunate to have providers and staff willing to work so hard to help Idaho’s children, families and communities.

Terry