Preamble:
Illinois ranks behind all other states and the District of Columbia in funding for community residential alternatives of 6 or fewer beds, and is 47th in the nation in funding for community based waiver programs. Illinois has also failed to provide adequate funding for services that support persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental illness. Thousands of individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness are in need of services and supports, but aren't receiving them because Illinois hasn't properly funded the community system to support them. And thousands more who currently receive services wonder whether their goals of independence, self-sufficiency, or recovery will be realized.
Now, in response to a "50% budget" (SB 1197) passed by the General Assembly, Governor Quinn has directed state agencies - such as the Department of Human Services - to notify community provider organizations and families that funding for services and supports will be drastically cut in the FY10 budget. This will mean:
- 200,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness receiving services and supports in community services all over Illinois are in jeopardy of losing those services and supports beginning July 1st;
- Thousands of staff would either be permanently laid off, face workload reductions, mandatory furloughs, or reduced hours; and
- Community agencies will be at risk of closing.
The "50% budget" passed by the General Assembly and the corresponding cuts outlined by Governor Quinn cannot be allowed to stand or they will devastate the community safety net and nearly all social service providers in Illinois. Hundreds of individuals with developmental disabilities will lose their only forms of employment and job training, thousands of individuals with mental illness in residential settings will lose their homes.
As individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness, family members, caregivers, friends, employees of community agencies, and concerned citizens, we respectfully ask our elected officials to work together to pass a budget and the new revenue to support it by July 1st. Furthermore, this budget must prevent draconian cuts to community services and provide the revenue necessary to sustain services.
Petition:
We, the undersigned individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness, family members, caregivers, friends, employees of community agencies, and concerned citizens call upon the Governor of Illinois and the Illinois General Assembly to pass a balanced budget and the new revenue to support it by July 1st. This budget must prevent draconian cuts to community services for persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness, and provides revenue necessary to sustain community services.
