Whiteside County Healthier Communities Partnership
Save Our Services
Whiteside County Healthier Communities Partnership wants to Save Our Services which are being threatened by state budget cuts. A Save Our Services Rally took place June 18, 2009, at the YWCA of the Sauk Valle. The rally attacted more than 300 people, some who held signs along First Avenue and Fifth Street in front of, and a majority who attended the rally inside the Y's auditorium.

Below are excerpts of what occured at the rally:

YMCA Director Carol Fitzgerald was very instrumental in leading the crowd of more than 300 to chants of “NO” after questioning them if they favored cuts in services.

		“You are using the power of your person, the power of your voice to make a difference, Fitzgerald said. The rally was sponsored by Whiteside County Healthier Communities Partnership.

Both CEO’s of Self Help Enterprises, Sterling, and Kreider Services, Dixon, spoke of hardships their clients will face if the state cuts their budgets in dramatic fashion.

As of July 1, Self Help’s 169 workshop workers will be out of a job, with no funding available to provide them any services, said John Stern, of Self Help. No funding will be provided for its family support program.
Kreider is looking at a $4 million cut, which will not only impact its 600 clients, but their secondary families, too, said Arlan McClain.

“Other programs are funded at 100 percent. Why us? Why the people of the state of Illinois,” McClain said.
“If we stay together, we will win this fight and they will learn they shouldn't pick on us,” he said.

Lyn Stoeker, 38, of Rock Falls, who had her little daughter near her side, has benefited from services she received from Whiteside County Health Department.

“I have been extremely thankful for all the services I have received since I have gotten my bachelors degree,” Lyn said.
However, if the state decides to cut the grant it provides us by 50 percent, Lyn and many others could be hurt.
“I have not found a job yet. So without the services, we may be homeless,” Lyn said.

Also of note is the potential loss of services at Sinnissippi Centers, Inc. , where as many as 1,800 people in Sinnissippi’s four-county service area will be without counseling services

Jaccilyn Beard, 40, takes part in Sinnissippi’s independent adult residential program, which helped her control her emotions and anger issues. In an emotional speech which had the crowd listening to her every word, Beard said Sinnissippi helped her recover and go on to earn an associate degree in medical coding and transcription. Beard said she plans to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health care services.

“My life was black and white and hopeless. Sinnissippi gave me back the color in my life, and hope. To cut this or any other service is a detriment,” said Beard, adding that cutting human services funding will worsen alcoholism and drug abuse problems.

“All this ends up costing the health care system more money, raising costs in health care are causing this rippling effect,” she said. “Cutting our programs will make this worse.”

NICIL is looking at losing $121,000, almost half of its total annual budget. Joanie Sims, 60, of Rochelle, receives help from NICIL to live on her own. Confined to a wheelchair for more than 8 years, Sims told the packed crowd she was able to move out of a nursing home and into her own home with NICIL’s help. The agency brought her furniture, food and basic appliances.

“If NICIL gets cut, what am I to do? I’ll lose the freedom that I have. I won’t be able to eat when I want to or what I want to. I won’t be able to go to the fairs. I hope and pray the budget cuts don’t happen,” Sims said. The YWCA could potentially have to turn victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse away if their funding is cut.  “We have power,” Fitzgerald said. “Let’s use our power to ‘Save Our Services.’”

A few weeks later, Carol Fitzgerald wrote a letter to the editor of Sauk Valley Newspapers. Here is an excerpt:
The YWCA could be turning away at least one domestic violence victim every day, if the state slashes human services funding drastically. Will they be forced to return to a violent home? Will they survive?

Every night, three children will remain in a violent home, rather than finding shelter. Every week, the YWCA could have to turn away at least one victim of sexual assault. Without help, they are likely to turn to drugs, alcohol, self-mutilation or violence.

The YWCA could help only one-third of area schools with sexual abuse prevention programs. Whose children won’t learn how to stay safe, and what will happen to them? The YW will be able to meet only one-third of the need for bullying prevention. Will a child you care about be bullied because we weren’t there?

Budget cuts will cause devastating job losses across the Sauk Valley area, further worsening our economy and lengthening the recession.

The YWCA urges everyone to join us in taking action to let our state leaders know that these scenarios are not acceptable. We need a state budget that supports human services, now, before more of our friends and neighbors are affected!

If you would like to know more about how to help, contact YWCA at the Sauk Valley at 815-625-0333.