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Aging program lays off eight because of late state payments

BY JOHN HOMAN, The Southern

Monday, November 17, 2008 6:09 PM CST

HERRIN — Delinquent state payments have forced the hand of the Herrin-based Williamson County Programs on Aging.

Executive Director Bob Childers laid off eight nurses last week from the agency’s home health service.

“It’s not what I want to do, but what I have to do,” Childers said. “We did everything we could to keep the program going. There’s simply no money.”

Childers said his nursing staff made arrangements with other health care providers to transfer cases so that no senior would face a disruption in care.

In nearly 20 years on the job, Childers said he can’t recall a worse financial dilemma than the one he faces now. He has used up all of the agency’s $500,000 cash reserve and has had to borrow an additional $300,000 from The Bank of Herrin with the new building put up as collateral so that the agency can continue to provide basic services to senior citizens of the county.

“That loan has probably bought us three months,” Childers said. “We’ve received one cash payment from the state over the last six months and that was $111,000 in August for a June payment.

Childers said his outreach workers, who inform seniors of various programs offered by the agency and help them get lined up for energy assistance and Medicare insurance, have volunteered to have their travel reimbursement deferred until the crisis subsides. Childers said he will offer to the board that his own personal salary be deferred until the state payments come through.

State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, is well aware of WCPA’s difficulties.

“What’s happening is simply unacceptable,” Bradley said. “We (legislature) appropriate the money and it doesn’t get released where it’s supposed to go. Where’s all the money going?”

Bradley said he has fought hard to get the agency some of the money it was due and will continue to press for additional funds.

“It just breaks my heart to see what’s happening to our senior citizens and the subsequent layoffs,” he said.