If you are not familiar with my daughter's story, here it is, By Special Request II - About My Daughter
This is the text of the letter I received before my daughter's appointment:
The Illinois General Assembly approved a "Doomsday" Budget on May 30th that severely cuts Human Services, Social Services and Health Care Services in Illinois beginning on July 1, 2009.If you could take a few moments of your time I would so much appreciate it. I cannot imagine what would happen if our county's Mental Health Department closed. There are virtually no other psychiatrist's that take public aid. This means that people like my daughter will go without treatment, without medications and what happens then? Hospitalizations. The legislators need to roll up their sleeves and get the job done and they need to do so without cutting vital services and programs.
Governor Quinn's Illinois Department of Human Services sent the Will County Mental Health Department a letter on June 12, 2009 notifying them that on July 1, 2009 our state funding is cut by as much as 50-100%.
The state budget crisis is real for the clients receiving Prevention, Care and Treatment Services. Many Services may end at day's end of June 30, 2009.
Regrettably,
Many Agencies have closed intake for clients seeking help to treat Mental
Illness/Substance Abuse.
Many Agencies have issued lay-off notices to employees in our community.
The shutdown of Services in our community is a sad and tragic day for us all. By July 1, 2009, that shutdown may include:
Social Services Programs being eliminated.
Many Programs reduced 50-100%.
Many Mental Health positions may be eliminated.
Psychiatry and Medication Services may be eliminated.
We need your help!
We are asking all legislators to reconsider their vote on this "Doomsday" Budget. July 1, 2009 is only a few days away.
Sincerely,
County Mental Health Department
Please contact Illinois legislators now to ask them to reconsider their vote on this "Doomsday" Budget. July 1st is only days away.
To find your legislators for your district, click here Search Illinois State Legislators.
Here is a link for a list of all Illinois State Senators Illinois State Senators.
Here is a link for a list of all members of the Illinois State House of Representatives Illinois State House Of Representatives.
Here are some email address:
Rep. Luis Arroyo (D) 3rd Dist. - RepDistrict3@gmail.com
Rep. Mark H. Beaubien Jr. (R) 52nd Dist. - strepmbeaubien@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios (D) 39th Dist. - repberrios39@gmail.com
Rep. William B. Black (R) 104th Dist. - wbblack@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Mike Boland (D) 71st Dist. - ilrepmikeboland@aol.com
Rep. Mike Bost (R) 115th Dist. - rep.bost@hotmail.com
Rep. John E. Bradley (D) 117th Dist. - repjohnbradley@mychoice.net
Rep. Dan Brady (R) 88th Dist. - dan@rep-danbrady.com
Rep. William D. Burns (D) 26th Dist. - repwillburns@att.net
Rep. Elizabeth Coulson (R) 17th Dist. - Coulson@ilga.gov
Rep. John D'Amico (D) 15th Dist. - johnd@ilga.gov
Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D) 80th Dist. - repdeluca@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Keith Farnham (D) 43rd Dist. - krfarnham@gmail.com
Rep. Jack D. Franks (D) 63rd Dist. - jack@jackfranks.org
Rep. Paul D. Froehlich (D) 56th Dist. - statereppaul@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Esther Golar (D) 6th Dist. - esthergolar@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Jehan A. Gordon (D) 92nd Dist. - repjehangordon@gmail.com
Rep. Deborah L. Graham (D) 78th Dist. - st.rep.graham@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D) 24th Dist. - repehernandez@yahoo.com
Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson (D) 103rd Dist. - naomi@naomijakobsson.com
Rep. Charles E. Jefferson (D) 67th Dist. - staterepchuck67@aol.com
Rep. Renée Kosel (R) 81st Dist. - rkosel@ilga.gov
Rep. David R. Leitch (R) 73rd Dist. - davidleitch@ameritech.net
Rep. Sidney H. Mathias (R) 53rd Dist. - repmathias@hotmail.com
Rep. Frank J. Mautino (D) 76th Dist. - patti76th@ivnet.com
Rep. Karen May (D) 58th Dist. - karen@repkarenmay.org
Rep. Jack McGuire (D) 86th Dist. - jmcguire86@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Susana A. Mendoza (D) 1st Dist. - staterepmendoza@gmail.com
Rep. Bill Mitchell (R) 87th Dist. - repmitchell@earthlink.net
Rep. Jerry L. Mitchell (R) 90th Dist. - repjmitchell@comcast.net
Rep. Donald L. Moffitt (R) 74th Dist. - moffitt@grics.net
Rep. Rosemary Mulligan (R) 65th Dist. - repmulligan@usa.net
Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D) 57th Dist. - enekritz@repnekritz.org
Rep. Harry Osterman (D) 14th Dist. - hjo17@aol.com
Rep. Robert W. Pritchard (R) 70th Dist. - bob@pritchardstaterep.com
Rep. Randy Ramey Jr. (R) 55th Dist. - staterepramey55@aol.com
Rep. Dennis M. Reboletti (R) 46th Dist. - dennisreboletti@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Dan Reitz (D) 116th Dist. - repreitz@egyptian.net
Rep. Al Riley (D) 38th Dist. - rep.riley38@sbcglobal.net
Rep. Kathleen A. Ryg (D) 59th Dist. - kathy@kathyryg.org
Rep. Jim Sacia (R) 89th Dist. - JimSacia@aeroinc.net
Rep. Timothy L. Schmitz (R) 49th Dist. - info@timschmitz.org
Rep. Darlene J. Senger (R) 96th Dist. - sengerstaterep@gmail.com
Rep. Michael K. Smith (D) 91st Dist. - repmikesmith@gmail.com
Rep. Keith P. Sommer (R) 106th Dist. - sommer@mtco.com
Rep. Ron Stephens (R) 102nd Dist. - ron@repstephens.com
Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. (R) 51st Dist. - ILhouse51@sbcglobal.net
Rep. André M. Thapedi (D) 32nd Dist. - rep32district@gmail.com
Rep. Michael W. Tryon (R) 64th Dist. - Mike@miketryon.com
Rep. Ronald A. Wait (R) 69th Dist. - repwait777@aol.com
Rep. Mark L. Walker (D) 66th Dist. - repmarkwalker@gmail.com
Rep. Eddie Washington (D) 60th Dist. - washington60th@aol.com
No doubt Governor Pat Quinn's 50% Doomsday Budget is a tactic he is using to get people's attention to try to shake up the legislature to get a budget passed. We all need to let these legislators know that the people Illinois cannot deal with these kinds of cuts to very much needed Services and Programs.
If you are able to contact Illinois legislators, please comment and also come back and comment again to let us all know what response you got.
Thank you for your help.
Lola's Diner
©2008-2009
16 comments:
I wish you luck with your pursuit. I'm sorry you have to go through this.
Have a nice VGNO!
That is just not right.
Hope everything turns out okay!
I've linked to this post, I hope it raises some awareness. It's a long haul, this life and gaining services for the future for your daughter is of utmost importance now. Good luck, Stephany
Before I became a SAHM I would for Human Services in Tennessee for the Appeals Division. There should be some appeal rights for lose of the benefits if that happens. I pray that does not happen but just want to let you know if it did. If you have any questions about the appeal process I will be glad to help. I know it is two different states but a lot the process is the same.
Hope you have a good VGNO
This is just horrible. I feel so badly for you.
My sister lives in Chicago--and I still was pretty unaware of how bad things had gotten. We in California are facing a similar crisis. It is sooooo sad. I am concerned about the cutting of social services, especially those that deal with mental illness. I think it will cost the state a lot more in the long run if people in need do not receive the necessary care. I will definitely write letters and I will encourage my sister to do the same (the one that lives in Chicago!).
I know things are difficult--but...happy virtual girls' night out. I hope it gives you at least a small break from your troubles.
I am so sorry about your daughter. I am glad that she has loving people to support her. The budget is getting out of control. I don't get their rational at all. The case worker for my mom's Alzheimers isbeing cut as early as July 1st. As in the entire dept. I really hope we {as a whole} quicly dig ourselves out of this hole.
Wonderful post. And I just finished reading the back story about your daughter. Here in Ohio we have a painfully similar crisis. As someone that suffers severe panic and anxiety attacks I echo your fears.
I would love to get a hold of that Dude's budget and make some freaking sense out of it. There's NO PLACE for cuts in jobs for cronies or benefits??? They still get pensions--can we not ditch it like every other job in the state?? The waste is unbelievable and these are the cuts they're gonna make. Ridiculous.
I will be glad to try to help and will let you know what happens.
Anne
I sent an e-mail to the first 5 names on your list, I will let you know of any response.
God bless you
Anne
My brother-in-law (who just got laid off) and his wife (who has been seriously ill for the last 3 months) AND their four special-needs adopted kids are going to be very much affected by this as well.
I will be contacting a LOT of people about this. Makes my blood boil.
Consider it done as soon as I figure out which one is my rep.
It's sad to see the sorry state of our economy, I hope you can get Illinois to get it's act together, we're trying here in Oregon, not too much good is happening yet though...
Stopping by late from VGNO.
Funny, isn't it, how there's money in these state budgets to pay for politician's affairs in Argentina though huh?
I will keep you and your family in my thoughts.
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