Contract funding reduction limits services to Quay

TUCUMCARI — A reduction in contract funding of more than $150,000 will limit the service range of the home visits for expecting, parents, guardians of children, while eliminating Curry County services from Presbyterian Medical Services.

The contract was cut from $259,000 a year to $105,000 a year, said Angie Coburn, PMS Central Region Director.

Coburn, acting administrator of the Quay County Family Health Center, said the four-year contract, that ended in June, was between PMS and the Children Youth and Families Department. She said CYFD was the primary source of the funding that has been cut drastically.

Coburn said with the cuts there will only be two home visitors available for 30 families in Quay County. She said the services focused on educating and recommending services to expecting parents for a healthy birth. For parents of children age 0-5 the visitors would work on creating a nurturing relationship for the family as well as referring the family to developmental services as needed, Coburn said.

“The age limit for this program has now been reduced to 0-3 years of age,” Coburn said. “This cut also prevents us from offering services to families in Curry County any further.”

Coburn said last year the program provided services to 23 families in Curry County. She said the families being served had children aged 3-5, many who now would be outside their service range.

“Those children are eligible for other services such as Headstart or pre-Kindergarten,” Coburn said.

Coburn said there is a possibility of families in Curry County with children who fall into PMS’ service range but due to funding they will have to seek another resource.

“It is unfortunate we can no longer provide the program in their area, however, there are other resources and program available in their county,” Coburn said.