State, local officials see hope for CHDC

Local and state officials gathered before a group of about 250 Conway Human Development Center employees and parents of residents Monday to inform them that not everything on the center's horizon is doom and gloom.

In light of a floundering local economy and federal investigations, some have worried that CHDC would be closed and the hundreds of clients it serves would be sent home to parents or guardians incapable of giving them the care they need.

Center superintendent Calvin Price; Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway; Reps. Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville, and Betty Pickett, D-Conway; along with Dr. Charlie Green, director of the Developmental Disabilities Services division of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, met with the group for about an hour, giving their opinions of CHDC's future and answering questions.

"There's good care being provided up here at Conway," Green said to spark applause. "The folks that work here are known statewide for their ability to care for medically fragile individuals."

There are statewide budget concerns, but the county has a good group of legislators working hard for CHDC, he said.

The legislators at the meeting all agreed the economy is not favorable, but that even in the worst-case scenarios, CHDC will not be closed.

Baker said within the past few days he has had some "very eye-opening meetings" with legislators who have greater influence over budget matters than he does, and he is encouraged.

"The folks being taken care of here, need to be taken care of here," Baker said. State officials "have a total commitment to the HDCs, particularly Conway's HDC."

Pickett, who said at a Conway City Council meeting earlier in the month that it was possible CHDC would have to close, said Monday "everyone is feeling better than we were two or three weeks ago."

She is "very confident" funds will be found for the immediate future and hopes a plan for the long-term future can be worked out, too.

Steve Wilson, president of a parent's group in Arkadelphia, asked about a bill scheduled to be discussed this week, asking if it would do any good.

Baker explained DHS has asked for $75 million to $100 million in new money this year, and if that money can be found the human development centers in the state should be OK. If need be, "special language" can be incorporated into the bill to ensure money makes it to them, Baker added.

But the problem is the bill suggests getting the money from a 10 percent surcharge on income tax "and I'm not sure that's going to fly," he said.

Pickett added that while it will be hard to get the bill approved, one good point is that the tax would be in effect for only two years. "There aren't many areas in which you can get that kind of money."

Alan Fortney asked if there was some way to influence federal authorities since he has been a vocal proponent of CHDC, where his daughter lives, and since he is planning a trip to Washington, D.C.

Prater and Baker both said they have been in contact with representatives in Washington and the best thing Fortney, or any parent, can do is echo to them the concerns expressed to the state Legislature.

The final question of the morning came from June S. Glenn, who has had a son at CHDC for 38 years. She said she has worked with politicians before and has heard before that everything would be fine, only to find out later that wasn't the case. How, she asked, could people know that the things said Monday weren't more empty promises, especially since she knows not everyone at the state Capitol is as hopeful as the local delegates.

The legislators all said they are working on the problem and no one they have talked to has said CHDC would be closed and everyone knows how important the facility is.

(Staff writer Samantha Huseas can be reached by e-mail at sam@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1253.)