Action Alerts
July 25, 2007
Ensure Funding in State Budget
ACTION: Call Illinois reps TODAY to help more kids, families
YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED!
It will only take a minute or two.
It's beginning to look like the Illinois General Assembly may be finally wrapping up the budget this week.
The Illinois General Assembly is working on crafting a final budget for approval hopefully this week. We need to ensure that funding for autism and developmental disabilities services and supports are in the budget. We fought hard all year to get increases in enrollment for the Family Assistance, Home-Based Support Services Program, CILA services, and the new Children's Support Services Waiver in HB 2041. But our work isn't over yet.
HB 2041 calls for…
- $4 million to enroll approximately 535 children in the Family Assistance Program
- $8 million to enroll 444 adults in the Home-Based Support Services Program
- $10 million to enroll 250 adults in Community Integrated Living Arrangements (funding for group home services)
- $30 million to enroll over 2,000 children in the newly created Children’s Support Services Waiver
More information is available in our May Action Alert and Factsheet: There's No Place Like Home.
At the end of May, we had 70 House co-sponsors — almost 60% — to HB 2041. Incredible! We collected more than 20 pledge cards from our State Senators. We had a fabulous Rally. We've done our initial footwork but more is needed.
PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR'S SPRINGFIELD OFFICE TODAY
Identify the contact information for your STATE Representative and STATE Senator by clicking here.
Learn even more about them at the Illinois General Assembly web site.
The message is easy:
"Please ask Representative (or Senator) ____________ to remember people with developmental disabilities as the final budget is being crafted. Please support $52 million in new dollars for new enrollment in the DD budget as described in HB 2041. Thank you!"
Please call today or tomorrow!
Remember these are our kids and family members we're talking about. If you or your family members are not yet receiving services, you need to know how critical this is for you. Call! If you or your family members are already receiving services, you have an OBLIGATION to support those who are not.
LOOK UP YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
Call your state rep and state senator. Our success depends on you!
Sincerely,
Christopher M. Kennedy
Legislative Director, Autism Society of Illinois
Autism Society of Illinois
2200 S. Main Street, Suite 205
Lombard, IL 60148-5366
630-691-1270 Phone
888-691-1270 Toll-Free
630-932-5620 Fax
www.autismillinois.org
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