Sertoma Centre Blog

CALL TO ACTION!

2011-10-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Preserve Community-Based Services and Supports During Veto Session

The Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield on Tuesday for the first week of the Fall Veto Session. During the two week Session, our Senators and Representatives have the opportunity to restore critical funding for community-based services and supports for kids and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance use dependencies, and solve the state’s inability to pay its backlog of bills to community providers.

As advocates, we must do our part to ensure these funding restorations are front-and-center on the minds of all of our legislators. The General Assembly can’t expect the community-based system to support the needs of the kids and adults that are currently being served, as well as provide quality care to additional individuals that may transition from state facilities and receive services through court ordered consent decrees without additional resources.

Let’s all do our part by calling our legislators at their Springfield offices this week. Please take the link below for next steps and specific talking points you can share with your Senators and Representatives.

Click the link below to log in and make your call:

http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/iarf/8gz49N7N.aspx

Charity Briefs for Aug. 16, 2011 - The SouthtownStar

2011-08-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

Charity Briefs for Aug. 16, 2011 - The SouthtownStar

New Dual Diagnosis Program Information and an announcement about the Ladies Card Party in September - see all the details!

Senate Approved Higher Spending for Community Services - Tell Your Representative to Support HB 2189

2011-05-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

Please call your state representatives and urge them to vote yes on Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 2189 as indicated below.

Last night the Illinois Senate passed all of the appropriations bills that outline the House proposed budget to the Governor. The House budget is based on an artificially low revenue projection for next year, which has lead to unnecessary and unneeded cuts to programs such as community services.

However, in addition to passing the House budget, the Senate also approved a bill that would include an additional $110 million in spending to prevent damaging cuts to community mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, and early intervention programs. The bill is HB 2189, and it must now be approved by the House before it can go to the Governor for his consideration.

We need to back our champions in the Senate that stood up for community services by calling our Representatives immediately to urge them to vote 'yes' on Senate Amendment #1 to HB 2189.

Please take the link below and lets get this bill passed before the General Assembly adjourns.
Click the link below to log in and make your call:

http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/iarf/Kfbz7RyF.aspx

Last Two Days of Session! Call your Legislators to Support Preserving Community Services!

2011-05-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last Two Days of Session! Call your Legislators to Support Preserving Community Services!

Today and tomorrow are the last two days of session for the Illinois General Assembly and there is no agreement yet on the budget! Our advocates in the Illinois Senate have HEARD YOUR MESSSAGE and are working hard to build a budget that preserves funding for community services!

We need to help our advocates in BOTH CHAMBERS during these last few hours of session by calling our legislators today and tomorrow to urge them to only support an FY12 budget that preserves community-based services and supports for kids and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental illness.

Please take the link below and let's make a strong push!

Click the link below to log in and make your call:http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/iarf/QPPBiWQF.aspx

Individuals with Disabilities Will Speak Out to Members of the State Legislator in Panel Discussion

2011-04-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

DATE: April 13, 2011
TO: Local Media
FROM: Melanie Jones, Sertoma Centre

RE: Alert Notice - Media Conference

Individuals with Disabilities Will Speak Out to Members of the State Legislator in Panel Discussion

As a member of the media, you are invited to attend a 30 minute panel discussion to be held on Tuesday, April 19th at 10 a.m. at Sertoma Centre’s facility at 4100 West 127th Street, in Alsip, IL. Sertoma Centre has invited all state legislators who represent the areas of the city and south/southwest suburbs to participate in a panel discussion with the Self Advocacy Committee members. The Self Advocates who represent individuals with disabilities have planned a series of questions and comments related to their programs at Sertoma Centre and the role that the legislators have in keeping these programs in place.

Recently, two of the newest State Representatives Bill Cunningham and Kelly Burke paid a visit to Sertoma Centre. They each spent time with the individuals with disabilities that participate in the Self Advocacy group, where they had an opportunity to speak directly with the representatives and ask many poignant questions.

It is imperative to show the community how important being heard is to individuals with disabilities. We encourage you to speak with the Self Advocates immediately following the presentation.

Please RSVP to Melanie Jones, Director of Advancement/Communications if you would like to attend. Call 708-730-6206 or email Jones at mjones@sertomacentre.org

Firehouse cooks to help Sertoma - The SouthtownStar

2011-04-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Firehouse cooks to help Sertoma - The SouthtownStar

Important Illinois Budget Votes Coming Soon - Call Your Legislators Today!

2011-01-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

You know that recent Illinois budgets have hit community services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness hard – many of us can see the results in our daily activities, read about them in the papers, and hear about them on the news. Over the course of the next several days, your legislators in the General Assembly could take important votes to pave the way for a responsible budget that prevents further cuts to community services and pays bills on time!
Protecting services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness need to be prominent on the minds of your legislators as they consider proposals over the next several days.

Click the link below to tell your legislators what they need to do to fix this situation!
Take Action!

Click the link below to log in and make your call:

http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/iarf/NMRPWRgG.aspx

No Final FY11 Budget in Place - Continue Pressuring Legislators to Pass a Sustainable Budget

2010-05-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

Please continue to keep our needs in front of your legislators. Even if they say they already support us and make statements like you should not be bothering to contact them, remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease and legislators keep count of the number of calls/contacts they get on various issue.

As always thanks for taking the time to support community services for individuals with disabilities.

Gus van den Brink
Executive Director
Sertoma Center, Inc.
708 371-9700 Ext. 216

The General Assembly missed its self imposed May 7th deadline for adjournment without final approval of an FY11 budget. Legislators are back in their District Offices while budgeteers continue working towards a final agreement for an FY11 budget.

Starting today for as long as legislators are away from Springfield, we need to call our legislators at their District Offices and tell them they must approve an FY11 budget that:

- preserves funding for community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness at FY10 levels; and
- provides for a timely and consistent payment cycle for services provided!

You have received this message because you have subscribed to a mailing list of Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. If you do not wish to receive periodic emails from this source, please click below to unsubscribe.

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION!

2010-04-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Subject: FW: CATASTROPHIC CUTS TO HUMAN SERVICES!

Hi Everyone,

As you are probably aware the Governor’s introduced budget has big cuts for human services and education. Sertoma Centre alone is estimated to see a funding reduction of $215,000.

We are now a member of a broader human services coalition, Illinois Partners for Human Services. This is a Call to Action from them to contact your legislators to tell them this is unacceptable.

Please click the “Take Action’ icon and send a message to your legislators.

Thanks for taking the time to support human service and in particular community services to individuals with disabilities.

Gus van den Brink
Executive Director
Sertoma Centre, Inc.

Take Action!

CATASTROPHIC CUTS TO HUMAN SERVICES!

Dear Illinois Partners Member

The latest news out of Springfield keeps getting worse... Illinois is facing catastrophic cuts to human services and even bankruptcy.

We need you to contact your legislator immediately and tell them we need them to BE A LEADER and VOTE NO ON ANY BUDGET WITH CATASTROPHIC CUTS TO HUMAN SERVICES.

• Proposed cuts to human services are now expected to exceed last years' cuts and could be permanent.
• Providers could be put in the position where they are asked to sign year long contracts but with only 6 months pay guaranteed, at best a 50% cut.
• Tax increases won't likely be considered until Jan 2011, so there is no guarantee the funding will be there when you need it

Contact your legislator via Capwiz (Take Action link) immediately and let him/her know how the catastrophe will unfold in your district if services are cut more and how many jobs will be impacted.

BIG Event 2010

2010-04-12T10:13:00.001-07:00

BIG Event – Saturday, May 15th 2010
115 Bourbon Street
3359 West 115th Street
Merrionette Park, IL 60803-4556
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The BIG Event Firefighter Cook-off is our biggest fund raiser of the year, and features firehouse recipes of ribs, chicken, chili and ethnic dishes from all around the Chicagoland area. Celebrity judges include;Chet Coppock, Dan Roan, Peggy Kusinski, Chicago Bears; Brian Baschnagle, Jim Thornton, Glen Kozlowski and Chicago White Sox Ron Kittle .Entertainment will be provided by the Island Dream Trio and Dave Fleming, Magician/Juggler. Attendees can enter to win our annual BIG Event raffle with a GRAND PRIZE of $5000. Kids’ activities include face painting and arts and crafts, along with an appearance by Boomer the mascot for the Windy City Thunderbolts. Attendees will also have the opportunity to by arts and crafts handmade by the individuals served at Sertoma Centre in Alsip. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. For more information on the BIG Event or Sertoma Centre, Inc is a community service agency that provides services to individuals with developmental, physical, emotional disabilities and/or mental illness. Sertoma Centre, call (708) 371-9700 or visit us on the web at www.sertomacentre.org.