JUL/AUG
2019
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
your stories, our website, witness slips, countless legislator meetings and other vehicles put our issue squarely in front of decision-makers.
Lynn & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT Page 2 ADOPT-A-HOME UPDATE Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
I want to thank those of you that followed through with our requests to support our efforts to increase critically needed funding to support persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Those of you who took action can really be proud of the numbers that were generated by advocates throughout the state – in the final days of the legislative session, nearly 1,000 calls were made and more than 18,000 emails were sent to legislators that were involved in finalizing the state budget. Media stories, compelling videos sharing
The good news: for the third year in a row, those who work with people with disabilities saw a small increase, and for the first year in more than a decade, that increase came in the form of a rate increase. The 3.5% rate increase for our agency’s day and residential programs will buttress our efforts to pay our staff what they deserve. On the downside it is still just a small gain compared to the double-digit cost of living escalation we’ve incurred over the last 10 years! The agency’s fund development events and activities continue to be very important and necessary as we strive to generate revenue in addition to
our state funding that allows us to provide the services and experiences our participants need and deserve. I ask that you continue your generous response to our requests for your assistance. I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to Representative Fran Hurley who ensured that some of Garden Center’s sizable capital needs can be addressed this fiscal year by including an award for our agency in the “Rebuild Illinois” Capital Bill. The grant that we will be receiving will go a long way in covering some of the costs related to the larger repairs at the group homes and day programs! Take care, and have a safe and healthy summer!
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