Kathy Brown McHale Addresses the 2011-2012 Budget
2011-08-03T00:00:00
Submit
your Question or Concern>>
Question:
8/11/11
As of summer 2012, children services will be a 10-month program.
Does that include our early intervention program?
Response:
The Children's Services Department has programs that use different
schedules.
- Childcare at both the Northeast and Frankford site
will operate 52 weeks per year. There are scheduled days off for
training and that calendar is shared with families in the family
handbook.
- Infant/Toddler Early Intervention - this is a year
round program.
- Preschool Early Intervention - This program operates
all year. There is programming from September to June and then
there is six weeks of summer programming.
- Head Start and PreK Counts - Both programs are 10
month programs and will operate from September to June.
Here is an easy to read chart that clarifies this further:
| |
Year Round
Program |
September
to June and six weeks of summer programming |
10 Month
Program - September to June |
| Childcare |
X |
|
|
| Infant/Toddler Early
Intervention |
X |
|
|
| Preschool Early
Intervention |
|
X |
|
| Head Start and Pre-K
Counts |
|
|
X |
Kathleen Dougherty
Corporate Officer, Children's Services
Comment:
8/5/11
Thank you for this open line of communication that you have
created. As difficult as things are, I think they are a little
easier to manage when everyone knows exactly what is happening and
why.
Response:
Dear SPIN Employee,
We knew this information and the cuts we had to make would be
very difficult for people. We hoped and believed it would be better
for everyone to share the information quickly and in many ways. We
are very glad that you feel this approach has helped. We have
learned a lot from this experience and will always strive to keep
the lines of communication open at SPIN.
Thank you for all you do for SPIN.
Take care,
Kathy
Kathleen Brown McHale
CEO
Question:
8/5/11
Is SPIN planning on expanding to off-set current economic
status? Is there any thing I can do as an employee to help?
Are there any contacts for government legislation where an employee
could petition to let them know why funding is
critical?
Answer:
Dear SPIN Employee,
You show tremendous insight with your question. Growth
is one of the best ways to strengthen our organization
financially, provided we do it well. SPIN has an excellent track
record and history of positive growth that helps people, employees
and the organization. We do intend to grow this year in many ways.
It must be stated however that due to government cutbacks, there is
less money available for the expansion of social programs. However,
our plan for growth includes preparing program proposals at the
request of funders and we have recently submitted a proposal to
expand services to children with autism that we are waiting to hear
about. Another important aspect of growth is to provide the highest
quality services. This way both people and funders will choose SPIN
when there is expansion money available. SPIN is also providing
contractual services to other organizations which provides us with
additional revenue.
There are a lot of ways an employee can effect positive change
with our legislators. Spreading the message that funding for people
with intellectual and developmental disabilities is critical is a
great way to begin. We have provided through SPIN's portal a page
titled "Giving
Back" and within that there is a section on "Advocacy" with a link
to SPIN's Pennsylvania Association of Resources (PAR). This will
connect you with the latest information on legislative concerns and
suggestions on how you can get involved.
You can also contact Bernice McHale at 215-612-7507 and she will
help guide you through this process.
One of the most important ways you can help is to do your job at
the highest level. SPIN's good reputation is at the heart of our
success with people and our ability to be a strong, growing
organization.
Thank you for all you do for SPIN.
Warmest Regards,
Kathleen Brown McHale
CEO
Response:
Thank you or answering my question.
Question:
8/4/11
If an employee has a one or more children in childcare and
during the months of July and August they take their children out,
are they required to pay the childcare cost and is their "spot"
still available in the fall?
Answer:
Dear SPIN Employee,
Supporting the needs of our employees is a top priority for
SPIN. At the same time each department of SPIN is expected to
function using good business practices. Running 10 month programs
and supporting the childcare needs of the employees who work in the
10 month programs is something new we are going to have to address.
The management team of Children's Services will be working with the
finance department to determine if there is a way we can build
flexibility into the Childcare Program of SPIN to accommodate the
needs of the 10 month employees.
Thank you for your service to SPIN.
Kathleen Dougherty
Corporate Officer, Children's Services
Question:
8/4/11
Is SPIN still going to hire DSP's even though we are in
hard times?
Answer:
Dear SPIN Employee,
Thank you for your question regarding the hiring of DSPs. Yes,
SPIN will continue to hire DSPs as we have close to 675 positions
that must remain filled in order to meet the ISP requirements of
each individual. When a DSP position becomes vacant, SPIN has to
replace it or our overtime rate will increase. When this occurs
SPIN incurs more cost. That is why the Human Resources Department
is always recruiting and training for job position we have
available. The DSP position is extremely critical in carrying out
SPIN's mission to support the lives of individuals.
We have encouraged those employees who have been impacted upon
to become trained in Residential Services so they can be scheduled
for additional hours. Several employee are in the process of
becoming trained to work in Residential Services. This is a
wonderful cross training experience for them.
Thank you for this question and all you do for SPIN.
Donna M. Hyde
Corporate Officer, Human Resources
Question:
8/3/11
Are we able to reduce overhead expenses ex-(gas,
electricity,supplies and shopping at Wholesale
Warehouses?
Answer:
All non-personnel expense categories were reviewed and
significant reductions were achieved where savings could be
applied. Some of these areas included transportation,
communications, office and housekeeping supplies, furniture,
utilities and insurance.
We need to continually examine overhead costs for savings due to
reduced government funding and we need overall agency participation
in this regard. At this time, we are considering options regarding
wholesale purchasing.
Patti Parisi
CFO
Comment:
8/3/11
Thank you for this helpful information.
Response:
You are very welcome!
Question:
8/3/11
Will this budget affect our pay rate? Will we still get a raise for
this year or not?
Answer:
Dear SPIN Employee,
This is certainly a very important question and one I'm sure
everyone would like the answer to now. SPIN is the only human
service provider I know who has provided a raise every year for the
past twenty or more years to employees.
SPIN has a wage and benefit reopener with AFSCME scheduled for
this fall. Any change in pay rate and amount employees pay
for their health benefits will be determined through the
negotiation process. I would hope and expect that process
will be completed sometime this fall.
Thank you for this question and for all you do for SPIN every
day.
Kathleen Brown McHale
CEO
Question:
8/3/11
What departments are being cut? Can you get your position
back? Why now are people getting laid-off at this rough
time?
Answer:
Dear SPIN Employee
Thank you for these excellent questions.
The following departments have been reduced and the reason for
the reductions follow:
- Children's Services: Our Head Start and
Pre K programs will be reduced to 10 month programs effective the
summer of 2012 because a) this is all we are funded for and b) only
about ½ of the children have been attending during the summer, so
operating in July and August is not a good use of the resources. We
also received a 10% reduction in our early intervention funding.
Staff will have the opportunity to work in Residential
Services if they become trained or to work as a substitute in one
of our full year children's programs.
- Norcom Services: Our day service rates
have been cut and as a result, one full-time receptionist and one
part-time trainer had to be laid off. Direct Service staff
who work at Norcom are being reduced from working 5 (8) hour days a
week to 5 (7) hour days a week because the program day for
individuals is only 6 hours and we can no longer pay staff 8 hours
for a 6 hour program day.
- Health Services: Most nurses and support staff
were reduced to working a 4 day (9) hour a day schedule due to
reduced rates in residential. One manager was laid off
because our Triage had to be closed due to lack of funding.
- Real Property: Due to rate cuts we had to
reduce the cost of real property. Children's Services cannot
afford these costs and Residential cannot pick up the cost anymore
either. Three staff were laid off (1 FT and 2 PT)
As SPIN's business grows we will continually evaluate whether we
can add hours back to some staff's schedules and whether we can
bring back anyone who was laid off.
We understand that it is a tough time to be laid off.
Unfortunately, SPIN is facing the same economic issues faced by
other for profit and nonprofit businesses. When our funding
gets reduced, we need to reduce our expenses. Pennsylvania's
budget was reduced by $4 billion for fiscal year 2012 and this has
affected SPIN. Our employees make up over 70% of SPIN's
costs. We reduced all non personnel costs we could, but we
still had to cut some personnel costs.
Again thank you for your question and for what you do for SPIN
each day.
Kathleen Brown McHale
CEO
Form could not be loaded, form is either missing or damaged