Every day now we see new headlines describing the unprecedented cuts that will be made in education and mental health services that will effect at risk children and families. Recent announcements by the Virginia Education Association complain that the education cuts proposed by Governor McDonnell include nearly $731 million from the public schools and this will contribute to a loss of about 28,429 jobs. Such numbers should shock everyone interested in the education and welfare of our children. Once the axe falls we all know that recovering this funding almost never happens. Virginia appears poised to enter a “race to the bottom” for options available to the most vulnerable of our citizens.
Lobbying our legislators is important and should continue, but now is the time to focus on supporting fellow advocates that deal directly and daily with the people who need help. Lawyers, physicians, mental health providers and educators need to find new and creative ways to talk to each other easily. They need sustainable mechanisms to share ideas and information needed to solve real case problems. This is more than attending occasional seminars. The use of interdisciplinary computer list serves dedicated to sharing information and advice is just one way to keep advocates connected.
So, in addition to the fight to slow the “race to the bottom”, let’s take time to talk to each other about the basics of tactical problem solving for the people who are being left behind.
