ELM CITY CENTER

1314 West Walnut, Jacksonville, Illinois 62650

Off: 217-245-9504 Fax: 217-245-2350

Email: ecc@elmcity.org Web page: www.elmcity.org

Work and Independence for people with disabilities.

THE “DO THE RIGHT THING” CAMPAIGN

The Do The Right Thing Coalition is made up of families, individuals, providers and all people who support quality community services for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health services in Illinois.

Current systems that support people with disabilities in Illinois are made up of a century of services that are:

• Fragmented

•  Inflexible

•  Underfunded

• Funded by convoluted methodologies based on what the State of Illinois has to spare instead of real cost of service, and

•  Often stretched so thin they do no one any good.

Individuals with disabilities and their families are forced to make decisions based on what is available instead of actual need, often being forced to choose inappropriate services or services that separate them from family and friends.

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS FACING A HISTORICALLY

UNPARALLELED BUDGET CRISIS.

• People with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness have always been underserved. Untold thousands of people receive no services. The 44,000 people currently served are often in programs stretched so thin their futures are in jeopardy. Local charities and donors cannot be stretched further to fill funding gaps. The State of Illinois has not provided a funding increase since July 1,2000. The state has failed to keep up with inflation, leaving agencies trying to function on budgets already ranked 47^th in the nation. The state often doesn't reimburse for services until months after they are provided.

CURRENT PROGRAM BUDGETS ARE STRETCHED BEYOND THE BREAKING POINT.

• The budget challenges of the State of Illinois almost certainly mean that Illinois will be turning to cuts in DD and Ml services to reduce the budget deficit.

THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN".

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD A PENNY'S REDUCTION IN SERVICES.

• If people with developmental disabilities and mental illness are to receive the services they need and deserve, we must act and act now. We must act together

.

PLEASE JOIN THE "DO THE RIGHT THING COALITION"

    Do The Right Thing     Who are We

An equal opportunity employer.

Revised - 1/15/08