June 26, 2009
Illinois Budget increases risk of children Failing in School
DCFS and ISBE Contracts with Riverbend Head Start & Family Services
Jeopardized
MADISON COUNTY, IL, June 26, 2009 . . . Over one million dollars worth of
social services would be lost to at-risk children in Riverbend Head Start &
Family Services programs if the legislature's "50 percent budget" is signed
by Governor Quinn.
The agency received a letter from the Illinois Department of Children and
Family Services this week that stated a contract was being cancelled. It
funds mental health counseling for more than 50 children and adults in the
local DCFS system. Many are children adjusting to foster care as a result of
abuse or neglect. Others are children and their parents dealing with trauma
that could lead removing a child from their home. Counseling enables them
to develop positive skills to cope and strengthen their family.
The budget jeopardizes 200 other infants, toddlers, preschoolers and
pregnant mothers in Madison County by forcing the Illinois State Board of
Education to make decisions about funding its Early Childhood Education
block grant. RHSFS receives grants to provide regular home visits and offer
free preschool to these families who enroll voluntarily because they want to
improve their lives.
"It completely changed my quality of life," said Tina Warmack, a mother of
four in Alton about the home visiting program. She befriended another parent
and shared babysitting and transportation resources. Tina was able to attend
a food sanitation class which led to her current job at Elder care in Alton.
Warmack said. "Now I have a reliable income and I can finally bring my kids
home where they belong."
Using the nationally acclaimed Parents as Teachers home visiting curriculum,
case managers provide positive child development and parent education, along
with early intervention, crisis intervention, and achieving parent goals
like a home, GED, job, or workforce training. The goal is to reduce the
effects of any risk factors such as poverty that may lead to poor
performance in school and life.
Pre-Kindergarten classrooms at the Granite City North Head Start center are
threatened. The budget may displace 34 children whose families may not have
another option for preschool. These families also receive physical, dental
and mental health care, social services, and other support to increase their
child's chance for success in life.
"We're planning for the best and worst case scenarios," said agency
president Chuck Parr. He said that on the flip side its federally funded
Head Start program has opportunities to expand which might make up for some
losses. He said it could be January before that happens and the lack of
positive social work in families' lives could lead to an increase in
poverty, abuse, crime and other havoc in the community.
"When that happens," Parr said, "kids aren't ready to learn in school. They
act out in class, underperform and make the classroom a difficult experience
for every single child in the class, including yours." He said the loss of
any social services in the community can have this impact on anybody's
children or neighborhood. "This is a community concern, not just a few
employers or legislators, it's everyone's."
Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is only one of dozens of health and
human service providers whose clients will be affected by the "50 percent
budget." Citizens who disagree with balancing the budget at the expense of
social services are encouraged to tell their legislators to find another
solution. Find out who they are at
www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/selectsearchtype.aspx.
For more information about the state budget, visit
www.il.gov.
Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is a non-profit organization that
provides child development and counseling services to families in Madison
County. Through its Head Start, Transitions Counseling, and Family
Foundations programs the agency enables children and families to develop
positive skills to meet life's challenges. 618/463-5946
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