Opinion: Children’s health program needs support, not cuts

Not more than six months ago, the federal government for the first time in decades failed to re-authorize the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides affordable health coverage for about 9 million children in the United States. Child advocates breathed a sigh of relief a few months ago when Congress finally reauthorized the program.

Now, CHIP is again the subject of efforts to curb federal spending. This week, President Trump announced an effort to cut $15.4 billion out of the $1.3 trillion spending bill Congress passed in March, using a process called “rescission”.

Budget rescission – used by Congress itself but rarely by presidents (Clinton was the last to do so) – is when money that has been appropriated but not spent is withdrawn. Read more “Opinion: Children’s health program needs support, not cuts” →

Tim Decker, Missouri Children’s Division Director, to retire

Tim Decker, director of the Missouri Children’s Division, will be retiring at the beginning of July, after serving as director for over four years.  Prior to leading the Children’s Division, he was director of Missouri’s Division of Youth Services for seven years.  He plans to “continue the movement” after he leaves, but adds he will first “spend some much needed time with my beautiful wife Laurie and Christopher, Jessica, Riley, and Cody (son, daughter-in-law, and our grandsons).”

Those of us at the Missouri Coalition of Children’s Agencies extend our deep appreciation for his commitment to children, families and communities, and for his relentless and courageous advocacy for Missouri’s most vulnerable.  We wish him well and look forward to working with him as he “continues the movement.”