The real victims of state budget crisis

On behalf of human service agencies statewide, I am writing to express my distress over the public safety and health crisis caused by State budget cuts made by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Half of the funding for substance abuse treatment and prevention programming in the state of Illinois has been eliminated, and $11 million of these cuts are targeted at youth and special populations in need of assistance.

We are now facing a serious public health crisis that will have a devastating impact on our most vulnerable citizens - kids.

Statewide, agencies are being forced to reduce programs or cut them all together, and kids are once again getting the short end of the stick.

At Youth Outreach Services, we will now have to turn away more than 1,200 kids and families throughout Cook County in need of substance abuse treatment each year.

And we are not alone. Thousands of kids impacted by dozens of agencies statewide will face the same problem.

These kids will have nowhere to turn and will be at greater risk of illness, gangs and violence.

Many will end up in more costly treatment systems, such as hospitals and jails. Illinois already spends approximately $3 billion on the consequences of untreated addiction, but investing $1 for treatment saves $7.

It is illogical to make funding cuts that will cost the state and taxpayers more in the long run.

Most importantly, it is detrimental to make funding cuts that put the safety of kids and families in jeopardy.

Political feuding in Illinois gets nastier each year, and the consequences are becoming more and more destructive to Illinois' citizens.

The real victims of this budget crisis need elected officials to get back to work and do everything necessary to avoid this public health tragedy in our communities.

Rick Velasquez

Executive Director

Youth Outreach Services

Chicago