Protecting our most vulnerable citizens

Recently, the Illinois House restored more than $218 million in cuts to vital human services made by the governor, including more than $27 million to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

As a private human service organization dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families, Kids Hope United is greatly appreciative.

This is a step in the right direction, but funding needs to be fully restored and as soon as possible.

To date, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has experienced a total of more than $45 million in cuts that will affect a variety of programs, including residential, independent living, foster care, counseling and adoption support programs. These are all programs that support the security and well-being of children and families in the face of their difficult personal obstacles now and in the future.

Kids Hope United alone faces a 42 percent cut to System of Care funding that will cost us $800,000 in fiscal year 2009. System of Care works to stabilize children in their foster homes to prevent unnecessary changes in placement-keeping children from "bouncing around" from foster home to foster home. Such a cut will force us to cut in half our staff serving 25 counties and, consequently, serve fewer vulnerable children and families.

Though legislators are increasingly faced with making hard decisions during this tough economic time, it is imperative that we protect our most vulnerable citizens, our children.

Mark McHugh

Executive Director

Kids Hope United

Chicago