Emergency child-care group looks for taxpayer help

A coalition of child-care centers that provide short-term shelter during family emergencies said it's already had to turn away children because of budget cuts and is asking taxpayers for help.

The Crisis Nursery Coalition of Illinois, a group of six emergency nurseries around that state, has one of 10 funds -- ranging from wildlife and medical research to help for the homeless, abused children or military families -- that can take donations on state tax returns this year.

It's the first time the coalition has had a line on the state return. Coalition officials decided to ask lawmakers to be added after realizing state funding was drying up and centers' services to help families were being reduced as they tried to absorb the cuts.

Groups must receive at least $100,000 in donations in order to remain on the list next year.

"We need to feed kids and keep them warm and dry and safe and if we don't (raise more money) we would have to look at reduced hours of operation and that puts kids at risk," said Lisa Pieper, regional vice president at the Crisis Nursery in Bloomington.

The coalition's nurseries will care for children as old as 6 for free for up to 72 hours to give parents time to deal with a host of problems -- from domestic abuse and evictions to medical emergencies -- any time of the day or night.

Pieper said her center was forced to turn away 158 kids last fiscal year after its state funding dropped from $123,000 to $110,000. State funding is expected to be reduced by another 10 percent in the fiscal year that begins in July.

Last summer, the 24-hour center had to temporarily close overnight and on weekends.

Crittenton Centers in Peoria, which lost $20,000 in state funding, hasn't had to turn away any children but has cut back its services such as home visits, counseling and offering help to get restraining orders or permanent housing.

Follow-up care is especially crucial, since the same children are often brought to the center because the problems that forced their parents to bring them, such as domestic violence, are not resolved, said Tracy Graham, the center's executive director.

"These are critical services that help the long term outcome of the family," Graham said.

Crisis Nursery in Urbana lost nearly $26,000 in state funding and another $50,000 from local sources, said executive director Stephanie Record. Although it hasn't had to turn away children, more families -- many of them under financial pressure -- are bringing their children to the nursery.

"We are seeing more stress on families," said Record, whose center has seen a 6 percent increase in the number of children in recent months. "Everybody has their breaking point and we want families to use us before they get there because we don't want children to be in danger."

Funds to which taxpayers can donate are listed on Schedule G of the state tax returns. They are: wildlife preservation; child abuse prevention; Alzheimer's disease research; assistance to the homeless; Penny Severns breast, cervical and ovarian cancer research; military family relief; Illinois Veterans' Home; diabetes research; hunger relief; and the Crisis Nursery Fund.