Federally Funded Family Fun

[Jim Westrich]

I was reading the small paper from my hometown in Wisconsin and I saw that 
5 new "family centers" have opened.  The article mentions that mostly they 
have been planning parties and pot lucks for area "families" to 
attend.  The article mentions these centers are in part federally funded, 
part United Way (private charity) funded, and part big corporation sponsor 
funded ("Eat Drink and Be Scary" is a little party that Pepsi/Frito-Lay 
have put together for the kids).  The article mentions a Family 
Preservation and Support Council that seems to be the agency drawing down 
federal money and then partnering with the local centers but I am not sure.

Does anyone know what federal funding this is?  Its history and application 
elsewhere?

I recognize that these programs are small potatoes in terms of 
appropriations and undoubtedly of cynical pro-family pedigree--but it still 
seems odd given the austerity forced on families by TANF. In theory I am 
against means testing but this public spending on the relatively affluent 
to have teen dances and fish fries is kinda creepy.

Just last week the CPS Health Insurance figures came out and Wisconsin had 
a fairly high percentage gain in the amount of uninsured in the state--most 
coming because of the loss of Medicaid coverage.  So two months after the 
Pepsi party who pays for the dental bills?

Peace,

Jim

"The world won't end in a bang,

   It'll end in family fun--

   With a Coca-Cola cloud

   and a Big Mac sun."

	

	--Paul Heaton