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Advocacy Resources
When you advocate you are lending your voice to create change in your community, city, state and even your country. One of the best ways to advocate is by communicating to the people you have put in office, who create the public policies that have the best interest of you and your community at heart. Our government officials are responsible for supporting and moving forward the agendas that not only benefit you as an individual, but that promote the common good.
United Way encourages you to reach out to your lawmakers to make your voice heard. Please contact your Senator and/or State Representative and advocate for what you believe in.
Find your State Representative
Contact your legislators on Twitter and Facebook
Current Issues You Can Affect:
The State of Illinois has passed a budget that cuts by half funding to health and human services across the state. However, it is not too late to reverse the dire consequences that are sure to result if this vote stands. Governor Quinn has the option to recall law makers for a re-vote on the budget. United Way is calling on its supporters to help the hundreds of thousands of people who will be affected by this budget which goes into effect on July 1, 2009. Already, the Illinois Department of Human Services is looking to close four mental health facilities, eliminate substance abuse treatment and prevention programs and slash all human service agency budgets by 50-75%. The negative effects of this will impact people for years to come.
Materials for your use include: a sample phone script to call your legislators, a sample letter (Word doc) to send to your State Senator or Representative, a fact sheet that outlines the likely consequences of the current budget and a handout for you to pass out to friends and family or at public events.