I just returned from a trip down south and hit the road running today.
Our Annual QIDP Conference is sold out!
Wednesday, Governor Rauner’s State of the State Address
Thursday the Statewide Associations meet on Staff Recruitment & Retention Crisis
Also, I was shocked to read this story from Crain’s. Lutheran Social Services is a valued partner in our advocacy work. Unacceptable!
Tony
Big Lutheran social agency cuts 750 jobs amid budget impasse
By SHIA KAPOS
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois said today that it would cut more than 750 jobs and more than 30 programs because of the state budget deadlock.
The budget impasse “has severely challenged LSSI’s ability to provide services to those in need,” Mark Stutrud, the organization’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Over the past months, LSSI has relied on a bank line of credit and available resources from our foundation to compensate for the state’s inability to pay its bills. Currently, we are owed more than $6 million by the state for services delivered. After seven months, we can no longer provide services for which we aren’t being paid.”
A spokeswoman said the organization’s annual budget will be cut by more than $20 million, taking it from $96 million to $75 million. More than 90 percent of the program cuts announced today are a direct result of not being paid by the state, she added.
The state budget deadlock, which has gone on for seven months, is forcing the Des Plaines nonprofit to close more than 30 programs and eliminate more than 750 positions, or 43 percent of its work force, it said. As a result, some 4,700 people will no longer receive services, according to the organization.
Some of the programs address housing opportunities, residential rehab and a detox center.
Programs that help senior citizens experienced the biggest cuts, the group said.
“We are eliminating spending that is most linked to non-payment of services and redesigning our administrative support around a newly restructured organization,” Stutrud said in the statement. “Our plans respond to this year’s budget impasse and an anticipated lingering state financial crisis over the next several years.”
A spokesman for the governor’s office did not immediately return a call to comment.
Here is a list provided by Lutheran Social Services of the affected programs:
Residential rehabilitation for alcohol and drug treatment
Behavioral Health Housing Opportunities, Chicago
Elgin Residential Rehab, Elgin
Men’s Residence North, Chicago
Men’s Residence West, Elgin
Social Detox, Chicago
Women’s Residence, Chicago
Mental Health Counseling for children, youth, adults and families
Community-based Counseling, Berwyn
Community-based Counseling, Des Plaines
Community-based Counseling, Downers Grove
Community-based Counseling, Elmhurst
Community-based Counseling, Mendota
Community-based Counseling, Prospect Heights
Community-based Counseling, Wheaton
Dixon General Counseling, Dixon
West/Northwest Suburban Counseling, Villa Park
Youth services
School-Based Counseling Services, Sterling
Youth Emergency Shelter, Nachusa
Re-entry services for ex-prisoners, their families
Connections, Chicago
Employment Skills School, East St. Louis
Homeward Bound Supportive Housing, East St. Louis
River Bend Re-entry, Alton
In-home support services for seniors
Intouch Home Care, Canton (serving Fulton County)
Intouch Home Care, Chicago (serving Chicago South and Southern Cook County)
Intouch Home Care, DeKalb (serving DeKalb, Kendall, La Salle counties)
Intouch Home Care, Freeport (serving Stephenson, Jo Daviess counties)
Intouch Home Care, Moline (serving Rock Island, Henry, Mercer counties)
Intouch Home Care, Peoria (serving Peoria, Marshall, Stark, Tazewell, Woodford counties)
Intouch Home Care, Rockford (serving Winnebago, Boone, Ogle counties)
Respite Services supporting veterans and their families
Legacy Corps, Rockford
Legacy Corps, Streamwood
Adult Day Care for seniors and adults 18 and older with disabilities
Intouch Adult Day, Moline
Comprehensive Case Management and Protective Services for seniors
Case Coordination, Sterling
Adult Protective Services, Sterling
Three bishops on Lutheran’s board of directors have released a letter in response to the cuts.
Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org