[marigold]

TO all my fellow Illinois foster parents, I hope you have all been informed and are all as outraged as I am about the proposed budget cuts. With the half funded budget the cuts include cutting all DCFS daycare, cutting all subsidies foster and adoption in half and taking away money for services such as therapy, psychiatry, respit. and mentors. Not to mention a dramatic loss of workers since the cuts will leave the average worker with a 50 child case load. We cannot stand by and let this happen to our children! Contact your local representitive (just go to Illinois.gov - The Official Website for the State of Illinois and go to the contact your legislators button. Also many agencies are holding rallies try to attend just to get our faces out ther we can not be silent we need to let people know! Thank you!

[blueflower]

It is always hard to cut budgets, even if it does need to be done. I didn't know about the proposed cuts, so thanks for bringing them to our attention.

[mrstkg1]

Yes, I got the letter today. I will tell you though, I have seen our agency waste so much money with their inefficiency and decisions. I know the kids have to have the services, but I believe that this state has been spending like there was no tomorrow and it was bound to catch up at some point. I won't even go into all the waste that I have seen first hand.

[jayzable]

The links on that website say damaged file when trying to read about the Children's Services. Is anyone else having this problem?

Also, are they talking about cutting f/c and adoption subsidies that are already in place? Or new subsidies?

Just curious how it will affect those who have adoption subsidies already approved.

[mrstkg1]

I'm not sure. We have an adoption subsidy in place as well.

[jillned]

Originally Posted by mrstkg1

Yes, I got the letter today. I will tell you though, I have seen our agency waste so much money with their inefficiency and decisions. I know the kids have to have the services, but I believe that this state has been spending like there was no tomorrow and it was bound to catch up at some point. I won't even go into all the waste that I have seen first hand.

What letter? I did not get any letter.....

The whole thing is a mess.....threats to cut early childhood education.......what happens to our kids that need this resource???

[marigold]

Yes, the budget will cut all existing and future adoption and foster subsidies. I do know that local legislators are trying to work that if the half funded budget takes effect that the blow for foster care will be softened. Beside the subsidies the real threat is the fact that all SOC, therapy, mental health services, daycare, and most other services will be eliminated. SO will all biological parent support. The results could be catastrophic. Yes budget cuts can be neccesary and I am sure that we have all seen ways our agencies waste money but this is dangerous and hurtful. I know there are a lot of agencies holding rallies and passing out petitions. If yours hasn't contacted you then maybe you should ask them.

[blueflower]

Originally Posted by marigold

Yes, the budget will cut all existing and future adoption and foster subsidies.

So are you saying, that not only will the funding for therepy, etc be cut, but also the clothing allowance, board, allowances, etc that foster parents get? Is there a copy of this letter somewhere we can read it?

[BZmom7]

I haven't gotten any such letter either. I too would be interested in a copy.

[lilkidteach]

We also got this letter. My husband and I were talking that if they take daycare subsidy away we will not be able to keep the two boys we have. We are not able to pay $350 a week for their daycare and we need to go to work. The cut of the board allowance will hurt but we would be able to still keep the boys. This is really sad for us, the boys just started to get adjusted here and now because the government does not understand the impact they are making these boys may have to go to a different home and we will not be able to foster anymore children.

[mrstkg1]

Probably the daycare subsidy will be what impacts people the most. I know a lot of foster parents who just couldn't afford the daycare especially if there is a sibling group. I don't really see how the foster care system can even stay in tact, that is have any children in foster care if the proposed changes go through. We are between placements right now and we can work around this for the most part by just taking one child, but it sounds as if the children will all have to be sent home, or to biological families who can financially afford it. The cuts they are talking about would essentially shut down foster care. I assume they would quit bringing children into care, I don't know really what else they can do if this budget goes through.

[marigold]

That is excactly what scares me! Children will be left to suffer in severe abuse and neglect situations and children will be sent home to parents who are not ready. What the state plans to do with the children already in the system that will have to distrupt placement I have no clue. Esp. since they are cutting out residential centers also! It is a scary thought for all who are impacted in the foster adopt system! Please call and email your legislators!!!

[marigold]

I tried to find a link for this letter or a way to attach it but couldn't so I will just try to type it up, this is the one I recieved from DCFS:
"Dear Cargivers,

The General Assembly recently approved a "50% budget" for fiscal year 2010 that cuts a long list of vital services and programs. This budget falls far short of meating the statutory obligations and needs of the state, and fails to fulfill our basic commitments to the people of Illinois.

The legislature's "50% budget" cuts $460,451,675 from $1,337,750,700 from the Illinois Department of Children and Family services, severly impacting our ability to provide services. Because caregivers stand to be significantly impacted should these cuts remain in place, I believe it is important that I summerize the most significant cuts.
~Foster care board rate and adoption subsidy payments will be reduced by 50% on average and would cover only basic maintenence costs.
~Systems of Care services that currently support youth in foster care would be eliminated.
~Inegrated assesment to children entering care would be eliminated.
~Training for caregivers would be eliminated.
~Day care services for all 5,257 children who currently recieve services would be eliminated.
~Respite, counseling, psycological assesments, after-school tutoring, pregnant and parenting teen services, and most othe foster care support services would be eliminated.
~Adoption preservation services would be eliminated, as would post-adoption thereputic daycare services.
~Caseloads are set to increase from 15/1 to 50/1.
~Approximately 1,171 staff which is 38% of the DCFS workforce, would be laid off by Oct. 1, 2009.
~Some DCFS offices would be closed and consolidated with offices in other locations.

As caregivers and citizens of the state of Illinois, you should be concerned about these budget cuts. Please know that the situation is not hopeless. In fact, every citizen can have a part in addressing this situation. Citizens should make sure that their representitives in the Illinois General Assembly understand the seriousness of these cuts and how they will affect the caregivers and other citizens in their district.

While it is clear we will be able to do very little to minimize the impacts of these cuts, we are working on a transition plan to handle the loss of servicesshould they occure. In the meantime, I continue to work with Govoner Quinn to help the general public and members of the General Assembly understand how devestating these reductions would be to some of the most valuable citizens of this great state. We will continue to work tirelessly to address the situation on behalf of you and the children and families that we serve.
Sincerly,
Erwin McEwen "

[blueflower]

Thanks so much for typing that up. My DH and I are just starting the process to become FP. Actually, we just got back from giving our finger prints. I currently stay at home, so the day care portion wouldn't affect us, though I can see how the loss of some of the other services (especially therepy and psycological stuff) would. Part of me says, "I'll offer to babysit if that would mean a FF gets to keep the kids." But I can't do that for 15,000 or whatever the number is.

Here is an article from the Chicago Tribune from today: 2 foster kids finally flourish, but budget cuts threaten foster services -- chicagotribune.com

And some more from elsewhere:
Social service providers warn of dire effects of budget cuts - Carmi, IL - The Carmi Times

I'm not sure what the answer is (though I do have an opinion), but I'm pretty sure it isn't taking away daycare and such for the children who really need it. I'll leave my politics at that.

[kbabel77]

i got my letter today. i can't believe this is happening. what will happen to all these kids?