Quinn Contract Cuts Bite: 17,000 Kids Lose 24-Hour Crisis Intervention for Runaways, Mental Health Care, Homeless Shelters,

(Springfield, IL) – An initial survey of Illinois child welfare agencies reveals that local providers have already absorbed more than $50 million in direct program cuts from the Illinois Department of Human Services, affecting more than 17,000 children.

“Governor Pat Quinn’s contract cuts have already hit all parts of the state from Chicago to Putnam County, slashing care to more than 17,000 children,” said Marge Berglind, President of the Child Care Association of Illinois.

Click Here: CCA Podcast: CCA News Interview with Child Care Association President Marge Berglind

“Even with no state budget, agencies have acted on Governor Quinn’s cuts to children’s services contracts and have already eliminated approximately 1,075 jobs and many children and youth programs.”

According to Berglind, the discontinued or drastically reduced services include:

• 24-Hour Crisis Intervention for runaways to prevent DCFS entry or law enforcement detention
• Outpatient counseling for youth with serious mental illness
• Supportive Shelter Care for runaways
• Parents Too Soon programs to help teen parents avoid child abuse/neglect
• After school programs for youth to avoid gangs and remain in school
• Home Visiting Programs to ensure new moms properly care for their at-risk babies
• Mental health services in early childhood programs
• Respite Support for Parents of DD or Mentally Ill Children

“Even in the absence of an actual budget—Governor Quinn has put drastically reduced contracts on the streets and children’s agencies have—drastically reduced jobs and services,” said Berglind. “Doomsday is already here.”

“We urge the General Assembly to quickly develop a budget for FY’10 that immediately stops the massive cuts and contains sufficient money to restore desperately needed services for children and youth,” Berglind added.