I spoke with Rhonda Brady –Director of KCAP – on June 12, 2009. She received a disturbing letter from the Illinois Department of Human Services.
· Because of the dire economic state we are in here in Illinois, the General Assembly recently approved a “50-percent budget” for fiscal year 2010. This “50% budget” makes drastic cuts to vital services and programs.
· Because of these cuts, it is seriously in doubt as to whether KCAP will even be in existence as of September 1, 2009, as DHS funding is the majority of their revenue. Other partner agencies may follow suit.
· Other predictions from this doomsday budget include:
Elimination of services to an estimated 998,000 people
Community Health & Prevention will be cut by $140.8 million
The majority of youth services will be eliminated
75% reduction in family case management and domestic violence
80,000 families would lose childcare subsidies
Rehab services: $335.3 million eliminated
Mental health: $258.9 million eliminated
· These predictions do not include cuts to our elderly services (Gordon Behrents), etc. but I fear the news will not bode well for them either.
· Now is our time to ADVOCATE for our partner agencies. If you could, please pick up the phone, or write a letter to our State Representatives. (Information Below) The nonexistence of these vital services here in Knox County could have devastating effects. People who need these services will now have no place to go. Then what??
· This is extremely disturbing to me – and hopefully to you as well. I pray that our agencies will be able to go on, but only time will tell.
· This is a HUGE motivation for our campaign to do well this year. Obviously, we cannot make up for every dollar that is lost through the State, but we certainly can give it our all! We hope you will join us!
Ann Tucker
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| Representative Donald L. Moffitt |
Springfield Office: |
| 223-N Stratton Office Building |
| Springfield, IL 62706 |
| (217) 782-8032 |
| (217) 557-0179 FAX |
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| District Office: |
| #5 Weinberg Arcade |
| Galesburg, IL 61401 |
| (309) 343-8000 |
| (309) 343-2683 FAX |
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Senator Dale E. Risinger
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Springfield Office: |
| Senator 37th District |
| M103F Capitol Building |
| Springfield, IL 62706 |
| (217) 782-1942 |
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| District Office: |
| 5415 N. University |
| Suite 105 |
| Peoria, IL 61614 |
| (309) 693-4921 |
| (309) 693-4923 FAX |
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