(TRENTON) – Assembly Human Services Committee Chairwoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) on Tuesday released the following statement after her committee held a Monday hearing on the Christie administration’s plan to end at-home behavioral health therapy for thousands of New Jersey children:
“We all know that finding ways to cut costs is always important, but in-home therapy for children works and costs far less than long-term residential care.
“It’s also clear that this decision will have long-term negative ramifications on children and families, and that we have too many unanswered questions and concerns about how this will work.
“I’m especially worried after learning that this decision could impact as many as 10,000 children, as opposed to the 3,000 initially discussed.
“Caring for children is a nonpartisan issue, so I will be asking all my fellow committee members to sign onto a letter asking the administration to delay its plans to end this invaluable treatment.
“We must always put the care of children first, and I fear that’s not being done in this case.”