July 26, 2009 The Honorable Patrick Quinn Governor State of Illinois James R. Thompson Center, Suite 16-100 100 West Randolph, IL 60601-3220 RE: Funding for the Dear Governor Quinn: Thank you for everything you are doing to highlight the tremendous challenges that lowincome and vulnerable Illinoisans will face as a result of the state budget that was recently passed by the legislature. The legislature gave you unprecedented authority to allocate funding this year, including $2.23 billion for services to vulnerable populations. We are joining together to urge you to allocate at least $46 million of the $2.23 billion to the Department of Public Health. The addition of this funding would restore grant lines and lump sum programs to the funding levels proposed in your introduced FY 10 budget. The additional $46 million would reap tremendous dividends in protecting the health and well-being of people in Illinois. As you know, community-based agencies and local health departments funded by IDPH performs vital functions, including preventing and treating communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS; raising awareness about preventable diseases; promoting testing and treatment for deadly illnesses such as breast and prostate cancer; immunizing children; screening children for lead; and countless other functions. These programs, taken as a whole, prevent billions of dollars of future costs to state programs and society. We, representing 68 organization and 35 individuals, are asking that just 2% of the $2.23 billion be set aside for public health programs. We urge this small investment to safeguard the future of the state s most at-risk citizens. Sincerely, AARP Illinois, achurch4me? Metropolitan Community Church, AIDS Foundation of, AIDS Legal Council of, American Cancer Society, Illinois Division, American Lung Association in Illinois and Greater, Asian Human Services,
Association of Community Mental Health Authorities of Illinois, Urbana Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV), Beyond Care Inc. NFP, Bonaventure House, Bond County Health Department, Greenville Carroll County Health Department, Mt. Carroll Cass County Health Department, Virginia CAVDA--Citizens AIDS Project, Mt. Prospect Center on Halsted, Central Illinois FRIENDS of People with AIDS, Peoria Recovery Alliance, Clinton County Health Department, Carlyle Community Health Partnership of Illinois, Community Outreach Intervention Projects, UIC School of Public Health, Cumberland County Health Department, Toledo DeKalb County Health Department, DeKalb DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department, Clinton/Monticello FCAN (the Families' and Children's AIDS Network), Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department, Benton/Marion Greene County Health Department, Carrollton Illinois Association of Public Health Administrators, Springfield Illinois HomeCare Council, Springfield Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition, Illinois Public Health Association, Springfield Jackson County Health Department, Murphreysboro Jefferson Co. Health Department, Mt. Vernon Kane County Health Dept, Aurora Kankakee County Health Department, Kankakee Lee County Health Department, Dixon Macoupin Counth Health Department, Director Madison County Health Department, Wood River McLean County Health Department, Bloomington
Mercer County Health Department., Aledo Morgan County Health Department, Jacksonville New Age Services Corporation, New Vision of Hope Foundation, CHicago Open Door Clinic, Elgin Pediatric AIDS Prevention Initiative, Perry County Health Department, Pinckneyville Prentice Place Transitional Living, Project VIDA, Recovery 2000, Inc., Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan, Salud Latina-Latino Health, Sangamon County Department of Public Health, Springfield Saraniecki Institute for Nutrition & Environmental Health, Inc, LaGrange Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, Sisters and Brothers Helping Each Other, Gardner Stephenson County Health Department, Freeport Stickney Public Health District, Stickney Susan G. Komen for the Cure, land Affiliate, Tazewell County Health Department, Tremont Test Positive Aware Network, The Harbor, Waukegan The Latino Organization of the Southwest, Village of Skokie, Skokie Wabash County Health Department, Mt.Carmel Washington County Health Department, Nashville Whiteside County Health Department, Morrison Individuals (organizations are listed for identification purposes only) Erika Bergsrud House & Social Services Agency Tom Hunter Senior Heartland Human Care Services Lucy Rios
Perinatal AIDS Prevention Initiative Lorrae Hicks Carole Schwenker RN IDPH-Long Term Care-FO Michelle Bissell Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Kyle A. Thompson Assistant Administrator Cumberland County Health Department Charmaine Latimore Margie Harris, RN, MPH Director of Nursing Logan County Health Department Amy Tippey Administrator Tazewell County Health Department Jack A. Swanson Carol A. Jahn, RDH, MS Brandy J. Hansen WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor McLean County Health Dept. Tammy Peterson, BS Champaign Urbana Public Health Sarla Desai Ruth Johnson Jeffrey N. Maurus Rock Island County Health Department Connie J. Brooks,MPH,BSN Sandra Sommer Henry/Stark Public Health Joan Bestudik Margit Altstadt Champaign Urbana Public Health Lauren B. Muskovitz, MPH Manager, Health Promotion Erie Family Health Center Barbara Taylor RN BSN Clinic Director Perry County Health Department Cindy Anders RN Morgan County Health Dept Jacquelyn Perry Medical/DRS South Suburban HIV/AIDS Regional Coalition (SSHARC) Kathy Veihl Supportive Services Adams County Health Department Misti Fahler Health Educator Coles County Health Department Sarah Buller Fenton, MS, RN, BC Director of Nursing Tazewell County Health Department Sally Bice Open Door Clinic
Ltonia Ruffin Rosa Ramirez IDPH Laboratory Debra Morrissette, DDS Director of Oral Health Community Health Partnership of Illinois Sonji Miller HIV/AIDS & Substance Abuse Division Lawndale Christian Health Center Ram Yogev, MD Director, Pediatric, Adolescent and Maternal HIV Infection, CMH Children's Memorial Hospital