Children merit same concern as parks

Like many Illinois state parks and historic sites slated for closure, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services programs for abused and neglected children have their own budget cut-driven doomsday date: Sept. 30.

Unlike state parks and historic sites, however, if Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget cuts are implemented, those children programs' physical presence will shrink 40 percent after Sept. 30.

After Sept. 30, most specialized care programs for traumatized state wards run by private child welfare agencies, whose budgets were cut more than 40 percent, will wither.

Care to nearly 1,200 children will be lost. Employees will be fired. Office space shuttered. Programs closed. Period.

If a child welfare program arm is amputated, it will not grow back. The limb is lost.

If the state Senate waits until Nov. 12 to vote to restore money already approved by the Illinois House, we will be unable to reinflate the care programs. After Sept. 30, they're deflated.

Recognizing the importance of state parks and historic sites, Gov. Blagojevich recently extended the deadline for their closure to await the Senate's return to Springfield on Nov. 12.

We hope the governor will extend the same consideration to care for abused and neglected children - before Sept. 30.

Margaret Berglind

President and CEO

Child Care Association of Illinois

Springfield