Legislature is in Session

The need for early intervention services in Utah is growing, but state funding for programs remains flat.  We need your help!  Without increased funding to serve the growing number of infants and toddlers referred to Early Intervention, the quality and frequency of services will decrease and children will not receive the support they need.  The number of infants and toddlers referred to Utah's Early Intervention Programs increased by 12% from 2013 to 2015.  And, in the past 6 months, referrals for Early Intervention services have increased by 38%!  Our parent organization, Utah Baby Watch Early Intervention Program, submitted a request for additional funding for our program be on the Governor's budget.  Unfortunately, the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program's request for funding was excluded from the Governor's budget recommendations for SFY2017.  Programs cannot continue to serve more and more children without additional resources.

Final budget decisions will be made during the legislative session which began January 25.  Please contact legislators and ask them to support funding for the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program (BWEIP).  Davis County Legislators sitting on the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee and Executive Appropriations Committee are listed below or you can find your legislator at http://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp.

Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee:

• Paul Ray, House Chair
• Clinton, Sunset area
• pray@le.utah.gov
• Ray Ward
• Bountiful area
• rayward@le.utah.gov
• Todd Weiler
• North Salt Lake, Bountiful, Centerville area
• tweiler@le.utah.gov

Executive Appropriations Committee:

• Jerry Stevenson, Senate Vice Chair
• Layton, Clinton, Sunset, West Point area
• jwstevenson@le.utah.gov
• Brad Dee, House Vice Chair
• HAFB area
• bdee@le.utah.gov
• Stuart Adams, Majority Whip
• Layton, HAFB, Kaysville, Fruit Heights area
• jsadams@le.utah.gov
• Brad Wilson, Majority Assistant Whip
• Kaysville, Layton area
• bradwilson@le.utah.gov

When contacting your legislator by phone or email, be sure to include the following information.

• Your name, identify yourself as a constituent
• Where you live by city or area of the state
• Explain that your child has received early intervention services and thank your Representative or Senator for their support of the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program. Be sure to reference the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program.  If you mention Davis Early Intervention, legislators won't know which program you are referencing.  
• Briefly tell your story.  Explain how Early Intervention has benefited your child and your family and why funding for the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program is critical.  Tell them how Early Intervention services have been an investment in your child's future.  A sample letter template is included below to help you get started writing.

Be brief and clear in your correspondence and thank them for their time and consideration!

Dear Representative (Name), or Dear Senator (Name),

My name is ________.  I am one of your constituents, and since you are my local legislator, I want you to hear the story of my child/family's experience with the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program.  This services has positively affected us by . . . . (Explain how Early Intervention helped your child and your family, any positive outcomes and what you learned.  Explain how your family would have been impacted if Early Intervention services weren't accessible).

We are grateful for these services in our community and wanted you to hear about our success.  Please contact me if you would like to learn more about the positive impact this program has had on my family and its services in our community.  My phone number is _____________.

Thank you and may you have a pleasant and successful legislative session.  

Your voice really can make a difference!!!  Thank you in advance for your time and support.