Maintaining Public-Private Partnerships in the Delivery of Health and Human Services
Summary
For decades, not-for-profit providers have worked with State and local government to deliver services in a cost-effective manner. However, contracts and payments have failed to keep pace with inflation, placing the partnership at risk.
Conference Position
The Catholic Conference advocates for sufficient funding by State and local governments to ensure the development and delivery of essential human services. We oppose the privatization, or the “profitization,” of services.
Rationale
There is a long history in New York State of government and not-for-profit providers collaborating to deliver essential health and human services. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, these community-based services are most likely to be delivered in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner. Providers have been placed at risk, however, due to reduced funding by State and local governments. This cost-shifting results in reduced choices for those in need and, in some cases, the absence of any community based services.
Catholic Charities agencies in New York State provided social services to 742,700 clients in 2009 [Catholic Charities USA 2009 Annual Survey], including counseling, out of home care, housing, and adoption. In addition, 466,400 individuals received emergency food services, and 245,600 individuals received other emergency material and financial assistance. Overall, in 2009, Catholic Charities in New York State served more than 1.3 million individuals and families, at an cost of more than 1.7 billion dollars.
A significant portion of the services delivered by Catholic Charities agencies are financed by the donations of money and time from thousands of Catholics throughout the State. However, Catholic Charities programs also receive payment from federal, state and local governments to provide services that government does not deliver.
When government payments fail to keep pace with inflation and the cost of delivering services, the individuals and families in need are the ones who suffer. Increasingly agencies are encountering great difficulty in recruiting, training, and retaining qualified staff. Vacancies and high-turnover rates make it difficult to provide appropriate services that meet the needs of individuals and families.
The Catholic Conference encourages a renewed commitment between government and essential not-for-profit providers in all parts of the State. Such a review should address not only payment rates and methodologies, but also develop new paradigms and programs that provide quality services with appropriate accountability measures.
You can download this document, Maintaining Public-Private Partnerships in the Delivery of Health and Human Services, in PDF form.
