Stand Up Against Funding Cuts for Mental Health Services and Other Critical Social Services

Hello, everyone!

On behalf of Transitions Mental Health Services, our clients, and all citizens concerned about cuts to mental health services in the State of Illinois, I am appealing to you for help. Agencies across the State of Illinois received notice on Friday, June 12, 2009, that the legislature had not yet passed the proposed income tax increase that would allow continued funding to them through the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), and that by July 1st, 2009, massive funding cuts will occur.

These funding cuts will be devastating across the board, slashing mental health services by 50-90%, which will ultimately result in agencies closing their doors and citizens left with no services. The naturally occurring consequences will be a significant increase in mental health hospitalizations, homelessness, unemployment, crime rates, and suicide attempts. We must not let this happen.

Although it can be difficult to support a tax increase, please keep in mind that Illinois has one of the lowest tax rates in the nation. Even with the proposed tax increase, Illinois would continue to enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the nation. Furthermore, the cost will be much greater if we don’t pay for prevention and have to pay later for the negative results of removing needed social services.

Our legislators need to hear from us. Please appeal to your state representatives and senators. Tell them you support continued funding for mental health services, as well as all social services; and, if you feel you can do it, tell the legislators that you support a tax increase to avoid mental health service funding cuts.

For those who live in the Illinois Quad Cities, here are the legislators names/numbers:

State Senator 36th District: Mike Jacobs, 309-797-0001

State Representative: Pat Verschoore, 309-793-4716

State Representative: Michael Boland, 309-736-3360

For those living elsewhere in the state, follow these directions if you need contact information for your state legislators:

Click on the following link, choose the “By Address” tab, and input your address. A list of your state senators and representatives will come up. Click on each name to see his/her office address and phone number.

http://www.elections.illinois.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1


Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Joan Holgate
Director of Training and Education
Transitions Mental Health Services
805 19th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201
Office: 309-283-1211
Fax: 309-793-9053
Website: www.transrehab.org