Every Child Matters - Kids and Families Cut Off at the Knees

Kids and Families Cut Off at the Knees

Why do states, in their desperate attempts to balance their budgets, make what appear to be inordinate cuts to health and human services? Do other line items bleed as freely? Why are children and families so vulnerable? Is it because their voices simply aren’t strong enough? Do those items with the moneyed lobbies behind them fare any better? Are all programs scrutinized for their short- and long-term benefits?

The children and families of Illinois can be added to the list of state budget cut victims. In a June 22, Chicago Tribune article, columnist Dawn Turner Trice writes, “…with the proposed state budget cuts,…nearly 16,000 children in state care stand to lose so much. Kendall Marlowe, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, said that under the proposed state budget, DCFS has to slash $460 million from its bottom line.”

“Marlowe said the department will have to eliminate all counseling services and psychological assessments; all Child Advocacy Centers, which work with 10,000 children annually; all after-school tutoring, job preparation and mentoring for youths and much more. Many of the cuts would take place as early as July 1. Eventually, the child-to-caseworker ratio also would increase from 15:1 to a whopping 50:1. And the payments that foster parents receive to care for the children, on average, would be cut in half.”