News
United Way of Illinois Calls On Springfield To Better Support Health And Human Services
(Springfield, Ill.)—On February 25 United Way of Illinois convened United Ways across the state in the capital of Springfield for United Way of Illinois Lobby Day, calling on state legislators to preserve funding for the health and human services sector and creating a public/private task force to review the condition of the sector—and address issues like timely reimbursement of state contracts.
United Way of Illinois Lobby Day brought to the forefront United Way of Illinois' 2009 Policy Agenda, giving United Way volunteers and staff time to meet with legislators about crafting the best possible governmental policies affecting the human services sector.
“We want to make sure that our elected representatives realize the critical role social services play in their constituents’ lives,” said Jack Kaplan, director, Public Policy and Advocacy, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and United Way of Illinois. “Without proper funding and timely reimbursements, many agencies will not be able to stay afloat, leaving a dangerous gap in our state’s safety net.”
Representing rural areas, towns and cities across Illinois, United Way staff, volunteers, agency partners, community stakeholders and corporate partners spent the day at Capitol. In the evening, they joined state legislators for a reception at the Sangamo Club, graciously hosted by Ameren.
The United Way of Illinois Public Policy Agenda advocates for:
- Wise, strategic investments to ensure that state government makes adequate appropriations to provide critical services that communities throughout Illinois depend upon.
- Responsible management honoring existing contracts and providing timely reimbursement payments for services provided to our most vulnerable citizens.
- Greater efficiency and accountability by creating a public/private task force charged with review and study of the public contracting process to develop contract and administrative reforms that increase transparency, utilize cost-saving technologies and engage community service providers as equal partners.
- Increased access to health & human services through a public-private partnership with state government so that residents in Illinois have access to 2-1-1, an easy-to-remember, toll-free, 24-hour information line that connects people in need with health and human services and people who wish to volunteer with opportunities.