March 27, 2010
About 70,000 adults and children in Illinois would lose access to state-funded mental health services and another 4,000 would be displaced from community-based housing under Gov. Quinn's proposed budget, advocates for the mentally ill warned Friday.
More than $90 million in proposed cuts to the Department of Human Services would also leave the state without the infrastructure needed to start moving psychiatric patients from nursing homes to community housing, as agreed to in a recent legal settlement, mental health advocates say.
For more, see http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/2125775,CST-NWS-mental27x.article.
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The State of Illinois budget crisis and ensuing Social Service cuts are VERY REAL PROBLEMS that the general public does not seem to be taking seriously or has accepted that “THEY” will not be affected so why should “THEY” be concerned? The fact is that, unless a RESPONSIBLE BUDGET is enacted that addresses the VERY REAL Social Services needs that thousands upon thousands of their neighbors rely on each and every day, “THEY” will also be affected.
ReplyDeleteThere are numerous examples of how cuts to Social Services have ALREADY begun to have an effect upon citizens of our state. Illinois has ALREADY reduced funding for early childhood education by 10 percent, which could cause as many as 10,000 children to lose eligibility. Illinois has ALREADY cut higher education operating funding and financial aid. Illinois has ALREADY reduced funding for child welfare, mental health, youth services, and other programs. Illinois has ALREADY announced plans to lay off state employees. Illinois has ALREADY announced more than $90 million in proposed cuts to the Department of Human Services that would leave the state without the infrastructure needed to start moving psychiatric patients from nursing homes to community housing. The list goes on and on and on!
In addition to having ALREADY made cuts in Social Services, many Social Service providers say they are considering making cuts in employee’s hours, implementing layoffs, and closing many neighborhood locations. “THEY” and YOU and ME and ALL CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS WILL BE AFFECTED!
To quote Illinois’ most famous citizen:
“The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do for themselves, in their separate and individual capacities.” - Abraham Lincoln
The solution?
ENACT A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET NOW!