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Federal budget cuts are causing changes among Retired Senior Volunteer Programs across the country, including right here in Cascade County.

Aging Services Director Rob Rung said many RSVP programs across the country are shutting down due to a lack of funding.

Locally, he said the aging services office has decided to combine two programs under one new department to help make the program more efficient.

Now RSVP and the Foster Grandparent program will be under one director in the new Volunteer Services office.

Rung remains optimistic about the changes.

"I think it's going to be much more efficient." Rung said, "We will have programs that will be working together. We will have volunteers that cross over and help each other's programs."

The combination will also mean a reduction in staff.

Rung said with the loss of the Medicaid waiver program as well, the total number of staff will go from 47 positions to 38.