Upon the announcement that the Democratic majority unveiled a plan to restore $3.5 million to youth board programs over the next two years, Yours Ours Mine Community Center in Levittown began to consider which of the programs, cut when the county slashed their funding by $172,437, could be restored.

Prior to a meeting this past Wednesday with County Executive Thomas Gulotta, YOM began thinking about returning the Leisure Time Program, run out of Levittown Memorial last year on Wednesday and Friday evenings, which in one year served 316 youths before being cut this summer because of funding restraints. With the thought of a 33.5 percent restoration in mind, Erica Heyward, associate director at YOM, stated, "Hopefully it will allow us to bring in a part-time counselor, a part-time outreach worker, and a part-time leisure time worker [for the Leisure Time Program]. With 316 youth attending you need sufficient staffing for that." This restoration of this program would also be contingent upon the agreement of the Levittown School District.

In addition to cutting the Leisure Time Program, YOM also had to minimize offering nondrug or alcohol related counseling services. Those services are fee services, while youth programs do not bring any funding into the center. "Of course we're happy to get what we are getting back but it's still a large portion that we haven't and the youth are the ones who suffer because of the cuts in services that we had to make," said Heyward.

Wednesday morning, James Edmondson, CEO of YOM met with Gulotta to discuss what funding would be restored to YOM. "He's giving some money back but its nowhere near enough money. In my judgment I'd be able to hire one person back if that person was full time." The funding being restored to YOM is approximately $10,000 less than what was proposed by the Democratic majority last week.

Had Edmondson received the additional $10,000, he said he probably could hire the three part-time workers for the Leisure Time Program two nights a week but now, at most he could afford two part-time workers. He explained that he is now considering hiring the three workers and having the program only one night a week. "The fact of the matter is I had 316 children registered there in that program and two people can't handle 316 kids. You can do it but you'd have supervision issues to deal with, safety issues to deal with," said Edmondson. He explained that he could not run the program both days with the limited number of staff. "That would be risky. I wouldn't put the kids in harm's way at all. I am here to help them and make sure they're safe while they are in our care."

Edmondson noted that he is still looking for any additional funding sources and would appreciate any help he can get. "I've got to find some way to stay here. I'm working as hard as I know how," said the CEO.

Of the restored funding, Edmondson stated, "I thank him for what he did give me but it's not going to be enough for us to keep running that program unless I find some more funding."