In the last two years. Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, along with other Kansas service providers for people with developmental disabilities, have had to make significant reductions to its workforce, as well as dramatic cuts to the services they provide. In 2008, DSNWK restructured services for people with developmental disabilities across northwest Kansas due to a funding shortfall and rising costs that eliminated 14 positions, affecting 20 staff. In July 2009, a cut of $496,000 was handed down to DSNWK, which meant additional erosion, including closures, consolidation, service terminations and job loss. An additional 25 DSNWK staff positions were affected. In the most recent round of cuts, Gov. Mark Parkinson's announced budget allotments equaled to yet another $665,000 loss in revenue for DSNWK for this fiscal year, the period January to June 2010.

DSNWK was required to scramble once again to balance an already depleted budget.

DSNWK has worked hard to remain fiscally responsible and to be good stewards of the system making changes that minimize the negative impact on the individuals we serve and on our staff. With the latest round of cuts, we are dangerously close to compromising the services that we are called to carry out. Repercussions from this most recent round of funding reductions includes the elimination of 16 additional positions, reduction in hours for several other positions throughout our northwest Kansas region, and once again increases in caseloads for its service coordinators. Staff of DSNWK are being stretched further and further to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in northwest Kansas.

Unfortunately, even after DSNWK has implemented these latest cuts, the organization remains short of reconciling the $665,000 budget reduction. We know our work is not finished and we will need to continue our planning efforts. We will continue to consider our limited options, those internal as well as external, to respond to the chronic funding shortfalls in our system. These are distressing times for everyone, especially for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

We sincerely hope that our state legislators will take the necessary measures to reverse the damage cast upon the community service system: a system that relies heavily on the financial commitment of our great state to its citizens with disabilities. Mission-driven, nonprofit providers such as DSNWK were established to meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

Jerry Michaud,

DSNWK president