ACTION ALERT - Contact the Senate Finance
Committee to Support DD Services

  

 

Your Advocacy Works!   Today, the House passed the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2016 with an increase of $60 Million to unfreeze all waiver slots, a restoration of $170,000 to Families Helping Families, and an increase of $500,000 for EarlySteps.

The budget's next stop will be in the Senate Finance Committee. Legislators can add or cut funding throughout the legislative process. There is a good possibility the funding added for waiver slots on the House Floor will be removed in Senate Finance because it was taken from another program in the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). It is very important for Senate Finance Committee members to understand the need for waiver services so they will identify another funding source, if necessary. 

 

If you believe that waivers, Families Helping Families, and EarlySteps are vital services that should be a priority in our state budget, let Senate Finance Committee members know!  


Contact Committee Members
by Friday, May 29th

Contact information and tips for what to say are listed below.

Attend Yellow Shirt Day for Public Testimony 
Tentatively Scheduled for  Saturday, May 30th 
Date & time will be confirmed as soon as it is available
Louisiana State Capitol - Baton Rouge

Several LaCAN members have been selected to testify on behalf of our group.
Arrive early to ensure you get a seat.
Don't forget to wear your yellow LaCAN t-shirt.
Contact your LaCAN Leader for a shirt and/or to find out about carpooling options.

Contact the Chairman and Committee Members from Your Region

Not sure of your region?  Click here for a map.

 

All Regions Committee Chairman
Jack Donahue donahuej@legis.la.gov (985) 727-7949
Regions 1/10 New Orleans Area
Edwin R. Murray murraye@legis.la.gov (504) 945-0042
Region 2 Baton Rouge Area
Dan Claitor claitord@legis.la.gov (225) 765-0206
Mack "Bodi" White whitem@legis.la.gov (225) 272-1324
Region 3 Houma/Thibodaux Area
Bret Allain, II allainb@legis.la.gov (337) 828-9107
Norby Chabert chabertn@legis.la.gov (985) 858-2927
Region 4 Lafayette Area
Bret Allain, II allainb@legis.la.gov (337) 828-9107
Eric LaFleur lafleure@legis.la.gov (337) 363-5019
Fred H. Mills, Jr. millsf@legis.la.gov (337) 365-8484
Region 5 Lake Charles Area
Ronnie Johns johnsr@legis.la.gov (337) 491-2016
Eric LaFleur lafleure@legis.la.gov (337) 363-5019
Blade Morrish morrishd@legis.la.gov (337) 824-3979
Region 6 Alexandria Area
Eric LaFleur lafleure@legis.la.gov (337) 363-5019
Gerald Long longg@legis.la.gov (318) 628-5799
Region 7 Shreveport Area
Sherri Smith Buffington smithbuffington@legis.la.gov (318) 687-4820
Gregory Tarver tarverg@legis.la.gov (318) 227-1499
Regions 8 Monroe Area
Francis Thompson thompsof@legis.la.gov (318) 878-9408
Mike Walsworth walsworthm@legis.la.gov (318) 340-6453
Region 9 Hammond/Northshore Area
Mack "Bodi" White whitem@legis.la.gov (225) 272-1324
Jack Donahue donahuej@legis.la.gov (985) 727-7949
 

What to Say

Start by sharing your story:
  • Are you or a loved one waiting for waiver services? -- OR -- Are you or a loved one benefiting from waiver services?
  • Has your family benefited from the services provided by Families Helping Families?
  • Has your child or someone you know benefited from EarlySteps services? -- OR -- Was your child or someone you know recently denied EarlySteps services due to only having delays in one developmental area?
  • Or all of the above?

Finish by telling your Senator what he/she can do to help: 

  • Please keep the funding added in the House, or provide alternative funding, to unfreeze all waiver slots and fund new slots if possible.

  • Please keep the funding added in the Appropriations Committee for Families Helping Families and EarlySteps.

  • Please add an additional $2.2 Million for EarlySteps to return the program to its 2012 eligibility criteria.
If you need additional assistance on what to say, your LaCAN Leader will be glad to help.  
Click here for LaCAN Leader contact information.

Confirm Your Action

Don't forget to let us know that you took action!
Reply to this email or notify your LaCAN Leader to confirm your action.

 

Why confirm your action?  This helps us to know how effective we are in reaching you with this information and engaging members across our state in advocacy for systems change. 

Background Information

LaCAN members are advocating for the following issues:

Contact Us

If there are any questions about the information in this email, contact LaCAN by replying to this email, or calling the toll free number listed below. 

email: info@lacanadvocates.org

phone: 1-800-450-8108

web: www.lacanadvocates.org


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LaCAN is an initiative of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.