The Department of the Family of Puerto Rico and its four administrations has presented this Monday through its Secretary, Glorimar Andújar, the recommended budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020 amounting to $ 2,509.2 million before the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives.
The four administrations are the Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF), the Child Support Center (ASUME), the Families and Children (ADFAN) and the Child Care and Development (ACUDEN).
The recommended budget is broken down by origin of resources as follows: 321 million of the Joint Resolution of the General Budget; 2.7 million Special Assignments; 8 million Special State Funds and 2,185.5 million Federal Funds.
The resources allocated to the Secretariat and the four administrations are broken down as follows: Secretariat has an allocation of 57.3 million; the ADAFN is allocated 220 million; ACUDEN has an allocation of 93 million; ADSEF has an allocation of 2,110 million; while ASUME has an allocation of 28.5 million.
The recommended consolidated budget for fiscal year 2019-2020 of 2,509 million has an additional allocation of 12.6 million in federal funds and a decrease of 20.4 million in state funds.
This represents a difference of 7.8 million when compared to the current fiscal year.
“For the fiscal year that is about to begin, we will continue working to fulfill the vision of transformation, with sensitivity to our most vulnerable, with opportunities for the development and empowerment of the most needy, and making better use of technology to provide greater access to services, “said the Secretary of the Family at the hearing held today.
“This vision is part of the life cycles that the human being goes through, directing services to our children, our youth, our citizens of productive age, our families and our elderly people.” The individual is the center of development social and family the axis where the individual germinates and forms, “said the official.
The official stressed that the Department committed to the public policy of the Governor of Puerto Rico made some modifications in the eligibility criteria to increase the reach of beneficiaries to the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN), which assists people below the poverty level in Puerto Rich following the allocation of 1.2 billion in disaster assistance received.
Similarly, he noted the triumph of the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, before the request of 600 million additional assistance for families who still need it for their food.
“From March 2018 to February 2019, we were able to match the benefits to the continental states, in an exercise of equity and equality for our people.” By March 2019, the PAN provided assistance to an average of 1,348,811 participants, “he revealed.
50 percent of these participants are protected categories based on age (children and the elderly).
Likewise, the Secretary pointed out in her paper that “it is necessary to provide the appropriate tools to our vulnerable population, to develop self-management and entrepreneurial skills, recognizing that every person of productive age should have the opportunity to participate in the economic and social life of our Island. “
Therefore, he revealed, starting in October 2019, the implementation of the employment, training or volunteering requirement will begin for people who are able to work and who benefit from the NAP that are eligible and do not belong to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children and people with disabilities or homeless. “
The Secretary explained that 225 new employees were recruited this fiscal year, including social workers and social work supervisors, to strengthen services to minors and adults, and thus have specialized personnel that is essential to provide the services.
On the other hand, for the current fiscal year, the 100 adoptions have surpassed by over 36 adoptions compared to the same date of the previous year.
In this month of June, the first voluntary delivery was carried out under the new adoption law. (EFEUSA) .-
