Call to Action

About a month ago I posted a blog about the need for parent input to encourage Governor Herbert to approve an increase in the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program's budget.  We are still working to make that happen.  So if you haven't written to the Governor or the Office of Management and Budget or the State Budget Director yet, there is still time - but not much.  The Governor will approve the new budget by December 8th and at that point it goes to the legislature for approval.  Before we can worry about that, we need to get the budget increase onto the Governor's budget.  (For more information, see the October 20th post).

Here at Davis Early Intervention we are hoping to send 100 emails to the Budget Trio by November 30th.  Please join us in trying to meet this challenge. 

We recommend that parents include the following types of things in a phone call or email:

1.  Your Name

2.  Where you live by city or county

3. Thank the Governor for his current and past support of this program and explain that your child is or was in the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program.

4. Tell your story.  Explain how Early Intervention has benefitted your child and your family and why the services are important.  Let them know that families like yours might not get the services they need without the funding for the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program.  Explain that Early Intervention services are an investment in your child's future.

5.  Ask them to support the full amount of the funding request for the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program.

Remember to be brief and clear in your request and thank them for their consideration!

Contact information for the Governor, the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and the State Budget Director are:

Gov. Gary Herbert
801 538-1000
E220 State Capitol Complex
gherbert@utah.gov

Clifford Strachan
Gov. Office of Management and Budget
801 538-1861
cstrachan@utah.gov

Ron Bigelow, State Budget Director
150 State Capitol Complex
801 538-1555
ronbigelow@utah.gov

We are also continuing to collect stories of how Davis Early Intervention has influenced your family and helped your child.  Please email those to me at mzeschke@dsdmail.net.

Once the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program budget request has been sent to the legislators for approval, we will be inviting local legislators to talk to our families and possibly attend a Parent Panel discussion and home visits to see what we do.  If you are interested in participating, please let your service provider know.

We appreciate our families and their dedication to helping their children.  We love working with you and enjoy the time we are able to spend watching your children progress and your families succeed in reaching the next step in your child's development.

Thank you for all your help and support in keeping the Davis Early Intervention Program going.