Governors Challenge

To Whom It May Concern: Paul Green a Pro-Life Candidate for State Rep. Dist. 95 has offered a challenge to Governor Matt Blunt to become a foster parent for the state of Missouri. I have contacted foster parents across the state and they support the challenge that has been put before our Governor. Since his swearing in Mr. Blunt has been cutting needed programs for the children and disabled as if they had big targets on their backs. Since, cutting these programs Mr. Blunt has been trying to make himself look as if he cares about the children of our state, but he has no real idea of what it takes to care for children that are within the state foster care system. I hope that you will read the challenge and offer a story for your respective media outlet. Thank you, Paul Green Democratic Candidate for State Rep Dist. 95 [font="] [/font] [font="]PRESS RELEASE[/font] [font="] [/font] [font="]Paul Green a Pro-Life Democrat, announces that he has challenged the Governor of Missouri to become a foster parent and be truly kid friendly. [/font] [font=Garamond] [/font] July 24, 2006 Governor Matt Blunt Office of the Governor Room 216, State Capitol Building Jefferson City, MO 65101 Phone (573) 751-3222 Dear Governor Matt Blunt, I am a candidate for State Representative of District 95. I am also a foster parent, which is one of the reasons I decided to run for State Rep. I have been following very closely your time in office, especially since your first months when you were instrumental in trying to end the valuable First Steps Program. The cuts that have been made to this program have caused not only foster parents, but also any parent of children with special needs not to receive the services they need in speech, occupational or developmental therapies. Not to mention the fact that statistically speaking Missouri is one of the lowest paid foster care systems in the U.S., foster parents receive only $227 a month for children under age seven. Plus, these children come to foster parents without any clothes or toys, so the $150 to $200 a year stipend for clothing barely meets their basic needs of a coat, shoes and socks. Add special needs to this basic equation and the costs are out-of-reach. As a new parent you would now realize that $227 a month for your child is not enough to keep your baby in diapers and formula and all the inconsequential, but essential, baby items that add up. One child came to its foster parents needing dental care, seven teeth had completely rotted; that foster parent had to fight with Medicaid to cover those expenses. That same foster parent has experienced the joy of aiding a child in need only to have her gone in a heartbeat, as all foster parents have experienced at one time or another, including myself. Another child, only a few weeks old, unable to stop incessant crying was transferred from foster home to foster home, before a suitable placement could be found. That child now has not only speech and occupational therapy, but also needs developmental therapy. The foster parents, because of the cuts to First Steps had to have the child reassessed and found to have a 50% delay in development, even though the quick phone questionnaire found her to be less than 50% delayed, so that she could receive needed services. If not for the foster parentsҒ diligence that child would have fallen through our states educational cracks; directly due to the cutbacks brought by your administration. So, my challenge to you, since you now seem to be portraying yourself as a Christian man that holds the children of our state in the highest regard is that you go through the training it takes in Missouri to become a foster parent and let some of our poorest and neediest children come to live in the GovernorҒs mansion with you and your family. Sincerely, Paul E. Green Jr. Democratic Candidate for State Rep Dist. 95 11246 Fawnhaven Drive St. Louis, MO 63126-3508 PEGJ