Cuts in services will ultimately cost more

Governor Quinn has proposed $7.5 billion in steep cuts, including to a wide range of community-based programs, such as child abuse prevention, youth services and child care. These cuts are shortsighted because community-based programs have a proven track record of preventing bigger and more expensive problems.

A couple of key figures illustrate this point One in six children is at risk for abuse or neglect and one in 11 teens uses illegal drugs every month, These problems affect every county in our state, and they come not just with terrible human costs, but a huge price tag for taxpayers. If we make smart investments in community-based programs to prevent these public problems, we can avoid higher costs for special education, courts and prisons, and make our economy stronger.

Several studies demonstrate that every dollar invested in community-based programs saves taxpayers $6 to $8 down the road on everything from special education and health care to prison and welfare costs. Many of the deepest proposed cuts directly target programs that protect children.

Of course, this is a time when we all need to tighten our belts and find new efficiencies, which we have increasingly done. Children's Home + Aid has reduced and closed programs that provide family support and help troubled teens. Staff layoffs and reductions in health care and other benefits have been implemented in an effort to deal with the erosion of state funding.

Additional cuts will reduce child abuse prevention, early childhood, and counseling programs that help youth and families coping with violence, trauma, poverty, homelessness and joblessness. Thousands of children and families will be impacted in communities across the state. Short term "savings" the state might produce through the cuts will have significant increased cost to individuals, communities and the state in the future.

Children's Home + Aid is urging ordinary people to contact lawmakers and the Governor and express their opposition to the cuts.

Nancy Ronquillo

President and CEO

Children's Home + Aid