Funding Cuts to DCFS May Force Closure of CCAC

Current cuts proposed in the State of Illinois Budget will mean the elimination of Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout the State.  For the CCAC, this means a total loss of $1.7 million, nearly 50% of our budgeted revenue.  25 staff members will be eliminated and 2,500 sexually and severely physically abused children will go without our advocacy services.

If the proposed budget cuts are enacted there will be no place for child sexual abuse victims to go, and severe physical abuse cases will not be examined by medical child abuse experts.  This will lead to children dying, continuing to be abused, and developing into abusers, runaways, substance abusers, and potential suicide victims.

Templates:

Call Script to Legislators

My name is _____________ and I am calling as an alarmed citizen and a friend of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois.  I understand that unless a budget is passed that includes an increase to our income taxes, that all Advocacy Centers will virtually cease to exist due to the DCFS Funding cuts that they will incur.  This proposed cut in funding is not acceptable. 

It is also my understanding these cuts were made under the auspice of saving money for the state. However, the reality is that Children’s Advocacy Centers provide a savings of over $1,000 per case compared to non-CAC investigations.  Last year alone, CACs saved the State of Illinois over 11 million dollars.

I implore you today, on behalf of the over 11,000 sexually and severely physically abused children served last year alone by the statewide Advocacy Centers to vote for a budget that would increase our income taxes.  I am willing to pay more to ensure that children who have been traumatized by sexual and severe physical abuse can receive the services they desperately need to heal.

Sample Email/Fax to Legislators

I am writing today as an alarmed citizen and a friend of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois.  I understand that unless a budget is passed that includes an increase to our income taxes, that all Advocacy Centers will virtually cease to exist due to the DCFS Funding cuts that they will incur.  This proposed cut in funding is not acceptable. 

It is also my understanding these cuts were made under the auspice of saving money for the state. However, the reality is that Children’s Advocacy Centers provide a savings of over $1,000 per case compared to non-CAC investigations.  Last year alone, CACs saved the State of Illinois over 11 million dollars.

I implore you today, on behalf of the over 11,000 sexually and severely physically abused children served last year alone by the statewide Advocacy Centers to vote for a budget that would increase our income taxes.  I am willing to pay more to ensure that children who have been traumatized by sexual and severe physical abuse can receive the services they desperately need to heal.

Sincerely,