Proposed clinic cuts meet with opposition

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001 | 11:13 a.m.

Relatives of developmentally disabled children have scheduled demonstrations to protest proposed budget cuts affecting the state-run Special Children's Clinics in Las Vegas and Reno.

The popular clinics, which have existed since 1957, offer diagnostic and treatment services for children up to age 3 whose births were complicated by drug or alcohol abuse or who suffer from such maladies as cerebral palsy or autism.

Gov. Kenny Guinn has proposed that paid college interns who assist the medical staff at the clinics be eliminated from the state budget beginning July 1. That has irked the children's relatives, who fear such cuts would make it difficult for the clinics to continue group sessions that teach youngsters how to interact with one another. Interns assist staff in those group settings.

"I'm absolutely shocked as a parent and as a citizen," said Terry Phelps of Las Vegas. "If Gov. Guinn wants to help kids, why does he want to cut services?"

But Guinn spokesman Jack Finn and Las Vegas clinic manager Karen Cummings both said Monday that services would be affected minimally.

"These positions do not provide direct support," Finn said. "The priority is to provide support more directly to people who need it."

Like many other state agencies, the Health Division that includes the clinics was asked to produce a budget for the next biennium similar to the fiscal year that ended June 30. The clinics have a proposed combined budget of $6.28 million for fiscal 2002 and $6.47 million for fiscal 2003. But they are being asked to eliminate 10.5 full-time-equivalent intern positions, saving $424,212 next fiscal year and $428,577 in fiscal 2003.

"We do support the governor's recommended budget," Cummings said. "There won't be a significant impact on families."

But the relatives are so upset they plan to demonstrate in front of the Sawyer State Office Building at 555 E. Washington Ave. from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday's demonstration will coincide with a joint session in Carson City of the state Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means committees to discuss Guinn's proposed state Health Division budget for the next biennium. The budget hearing will be simulcast at the Sawyer building.

Las Vegas resident Denise Clark, mother of two autistic boys who graduated from the clinic, said her 3-year-old son has been able to adjust to a classroom setting with other special-needs children because of his experience in the clinic's group settings.

"The clinic got him all ready for school by dealing with the structure of the classroom and being away from me," Clark said. "It has done miracles. But without those interns there won't be group sessions. The staff will have to take the kids one on one, and they will not be ready for the school system."

Clinic interns typically are students who are working toward bachelor's or post-graduate degrees in fields such as early childhood education and psychology. Cummings conceded that professional staff at her clinic at 1161 S. Valley View Blvd. would have to pick up the slack if the interns are eliminated.

"We're trying to find other ways to serve these families," Cummings said.

Mary Cronin of Las Vegas, whose grandson attends the clinic, said elimination of the interns would be a hit on a program that already does not have enough funds to meet demand.

"If the interns are cut, that would be a cut in services," Cronin said. "There would be fewer group sessions. When it comes to children with special needs having at least two children at once is more than one staff person can handle."

The Las Vegas clinic serves about 1,600 children at any given time. But Cummings said there are also about 200 children on a waiting list to enter the clinic and more than 100 others who have already passed intake but are awaiting treatment.

Cronin charged that the waiting lists violate the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which mandates government services for developmentally disabled children. But Finn said the governor plans to eliminate waiting lists for those and other mental health services by promoting increased efficiency within the various state agencies. Finn said the proposed budget cuts are designed with efficiency in mind.

But Phelps, whose adopted 20-month-old daughter attends the clinic, said she fears families who cannot afford comprehensive health care insurance will not be able to obtain alternative hospital or physician services if clinic programs are reduced.

"We have good insurance with Clark County because my husband is a firefighter," Phelps said. "But what about the families that cannot afford it?"