SOUTH DAKOTA
The Budget
In his budget message to the 78th Legislative Session, Governor M. Michael Rounds said his budget reflected his commitment to key segments of the population, which included the "very young and the very old." He called for increased funding for the state's share of federal health care programs, pointing out that the number of disabled citizens, elderly and children enrolled in the Medicaid program "continues to grow."
The governor also proposed to increase funding to address expansion of services for people with developmental disabilities, including slight increases in funding to reduce waiting lists for services. However, Governor Rounds recommended a $13.6 million decrease in funds for the Adult Services and Aging Division, the largest portion of which was a reduction of intergovernmental transfer funds of $19 million (offset by increases in several other programs). The governor's budget proposals included a $1.1 million decrease in clients for personal care, homemaker services, and in-home nursing services under the Adult Services and Aging Division.
Grant Initiative
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $100,000 grant to the South Dakota Division on Developmental Disabilities of the Department of Human Services. The award was to be used to expand family support services in the state to individuals with developmental disabilities, living in rural and reservation areas, who want to remain in their home communities. The program had been providing services and supports to people caring for a family member with a developmental disability under age 22 and living in the home. The grant will enable the state to expand the availability of these services to include individuals over age 21 with a developmental disability who live in the home in rural areas of the state.
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