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HRC hit hard by state cut
By GARY HENRY
Staff Writer
Doomsday has arrived for the staff at the Human Resources Center.
Tuesday was the last day of the state’s fiscal year and once again the leadership in Springfield permitted a new year to start without a budget in place. Before adjourning, the legislature did send Governor Pat Quinn a provisional budget that would result in drastic cuts if followed and Quinn has attempted to rally public support for a tax increase to forestall what was called a ‘doomsday budget.’
Uncertainty over the budget caused state agencies to plan for the worst and as a result, the Department of Human Services slashed more than $660,000 of funding for the Human Resources Center.
“It means that hundreds of people in Clark and Edgar Counties will be without services,” said Ken Polky, HRC executive director.
Service providers were not allowed a wait-and-see opportunity to discover if the governor and leadership can reach a spending compromise. Polky said the new DHS contracts came with a threat to either sign by June 30 or not receive any payment for services rendered after July 1.
Among the cuts: the Department of Children and Family Services eliminated its Medicaid contract with HRC; the Division of Developmental Disabilities dropped funding to zero in several categories, including respite care that provided long-term caregivers with a break and the support and employment program that provided work opportunity for those with developmental disabilities.
“They are cutting programs that are cutting the tax base and increasing the welfare costs,” Polky insisted. “Also some people may need to go into residential services, which may not be available.
“HRC has two group homes for those with developmental disabilities. It’s pretty sad to think we may not be able to provide for them and they will have to leave the community.”
Other cuts include a 50 percent drop in funding for prevention services and a two-thirds reduction in funds for substance abuse treatment.
Previous funding cuts resulted in a long list of people waiting for treatment, especially among those ordered to do counseling as part of a sentence in a criminal conviction.
According to Polky, the waiting list was largely eliminated about the time the newest funding levels were announced.
“With a two-thirds cut, we can’t maintain staff and see all of the people we need to see in a timely fashion,” he said.
The lost funding has forced Polky to make some difficult decisions. He imposed an indefinite 10 percent pay cut for the administrative and supervisory staff.
“These are 19 people who are already working much longer hours than people think normal,” said Polky. “Those taking pay cuts will now have to work even longer, at less money, to pick up the slack through a reduction in force.”
At the time of the interview, Polky was working on different plans to minimize the number of people actually loosing their jobs, but he acknowledged some lay offs appear inevitable.
Polky stressed a rumor circulating among HRC clients that the facility will close is false.
“There are no plans to close the Paris and Marshall outpatient treatment offices,” said Polky. “We might reduce our hours somewhat.”
It is not just the threat of less money for the next fiscal year that is creating hardship as the state payments budgeted for the 2009 fiscal year have been slow in arriving.
“We are already borrowing against our line of credit,” Polky said.
According to Polky, these cuts, if allowed to stand, will cost the state much more money than is being saved. He said several studies have shown that every dollar spent on prevention and treatment precludes the need to spend approximately $7 in other programs.
The elimination of paying jobs for the developmentally disabled is personally disturbing for Polky.
“These draconian cuts were done without regard to the merit of the people receiving it,” said Polky. “Among the developmentally disabled, most were born with a lifelong chronic condition they had no control over. There was no way to prevent their condition.”
Polky emphasized the loss of jobs for developmentally disabled clients means hard working people, who were largely paying their own way, will now require much more public assistance.
He said the cuts were made in such a way that it seems there is a lack of compassion for those who have difficulty coping and are among the weakest members of society.
“I’m concerned about how our clients were treated,” said Polky. “It is almost as if they are being used as a political football by both parties.”
Tuesday was the last day of the state’s fiscal year and once again the leadership in Springfield permitted a new year to start without a budget in place. Before adjourning, the legislature did send Governor Pat Quinn a provisional budget that would result in drastic cuts if followed and Quinn has attempted to rally public support for a tax increase to forestall what was called a ‘doomsday budget.’
Uncertainty over the budget caused state agencies to plan for the worst and as a result, the Department of Human Services slashed more than $660,000 of funding for the Human Resources Center.
“It means that hundreds of people in Clark and Edgar Counties will be without services,” said Ken Polky, HRC executive director.
Service providers were not allowed a wait-and-see opportunity to discover if the governor and leadership can reach a spending compromise. Polky said the new DHS contracts came with a threat to either sign by June 30 or not receive any payment for services rendered after July 1.
Among the cuts: the Department of Children and Family Services eliminated its Medicaid contract with HRC; the Division of Developmental Disabilities dropped funding to zero in several categories, including respite care that provided long-term caregivers with a break and the support and employment program that provided work opportunity for those with developmental disabilities.
“They are cutting programs that are cutting the tax base and increasing the welfare costs,” Polky insisted. “Also some people may need to go into residential services, which may not be available.
“HRC has two group homes for those with developmental disabilities. It’s pretty sad to think we may not be able to provide for them and they will have to leave the community.”
Other cuts include a 50 percent drop in funding for prevention services and a two-thirds reduction in funds for substance abuse treatment.
Previous funding cuts resulted in a long list of people waiting for treatment, especially among those ordered to do counseling as part of a sentence in a criminal conviction.
According to Polky, the waiting list was largely eliminated about the time the newest funding levels were announced.
“With a two-thirds cut, we can’t maintain staff and see all of the people we need to see in a timely fashion,” he said.
The lost funding has forced Polky to make some difficult decisions. He imposed an indefinite 10 percent pay cut for the administrative and supervisory staff.
“These are 19 people who are already working much longer hours than people think normal,” said Polky. “Those taking pay cuts will now have to work even longer, at less money, to pick up the slack through a reduction in force.”
At the time of the interview, Polky was working on different plans to minimize the number of people actually loosing their jobs, but he acknowledged some lay offs appear inevitable.
Polky stressed a rumor circulating among HRC clients that the facility will close is false.
“There are no plans to close the Paris and Marshall outpatient treatment offices,” said Polky. “We might reduce our hours somewhat.”
It is not just the threat of less money for the next fiscal year that is creating hardship as the state payments budgeted for the 2009 fiscal year have been slow in arriving.
“We are already borrowing against our line of credit,” Polky said.
According to Polky, these cuts, if allowed to stand, will cost the state much more money than is being saved. He said several studies have shown that every dollar spent on prevention and treatment precludes the need to spend approximately $7 in other programs.
The elimination of paying jobs for the developmentally disabled is personally disturbing for Polky.
“These draconian cuts were done without regard to the merit of the people receiving it,” said Polky. “Among the developmentally disabled, most were born with a lifelong chronic condition they had no control over. There was no way to prevent their condition.”
Polky emphasized the loss of jobs for developmentally disabled clients means hard working people, who were largely paying their own way, will now require much more public assistance.
He said the cuts were made in such a way that it seems there is a lack of compassion for those who have difficulty coping and are among the weakest members of society.
“I’m concerned about how our clients were treated,” said Polky. “It is almost as if they are being used as a political football by both parties.”
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| Report from the Statehouse |
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of parisbeacon.com.
LM wrote on Jul 4, 2009 1:00 PM:
" Gee the above comments seem to have been made by someone who attended counseling at HRC!!! It's always easier to be on the outside looking in and judging those who have been convicted of crimes. The society we live in today has changed little form days gone by. People still like to sit in judgement of others and put labels on them. Some of the quacky things that go on in these programs is ludicrous!!! Who know isf this will make it any better. "
support HRC wrote on Jul 6, 2009 8:24 AM:
" It's so sad that this Paris resident feels HRC should be shut down. HRC has done a lot of good and yes, Rod is a great therapist. But believe me when I say, he is not the only one. If HRC is shut down, then 100+ people including Rod will lose their jobs and will not be able to support their families. Not only that but the 100s of people who receive services at HRC will have no where to go and that includes folks with developmental disabilities. Where are they to go? Can they stay with you? Do you want to help them? What about people with severe mental health issues that rely on HRC for vital services and meds? What about people with drug and alcohol problems? What about sex offenders? Do you seriously want all these people out on the streets with no where to go? Seems to me that you are the one with no common sense. Grow up. "
DMerritt wrote on Jul 6, 2009 8:48 AM:
" HRC is a sham agency. You do not get professional help their, you have to travel out town to get the help you really need. They work with the corrupt court system and the police department. Read Michale Callahan"s book Too Politically Seensitive a past lieutenantwith the Illinois State Police. The HRC WAS A PART OF THIS CORRUPTNESS. People in Paris pray for us. "
paris person wrote on Jul 6, 2009 1:17 PM:
" i don't know that HRC should be shut down...that seems a bit harsh. i also have never been thru their counselling programs, but I have friends who have done it & I don't think it has impacted their lives for the positive. however, HRC does provide alot of work opportunities for many people so to that I applaud them. This agency as with all government agencies have picked up fatty programs over the years, I'm sure they will figure out a way to become more efficent with what ever resoucres they are given. "
Whatever wrote on Jul 6, 2009 6:38 PM:
" The comment from "Paris Resident" is ridiculous. This person either a) had therapy/substance abuse services and FLUNKED OUT or has a personal beef with the staff.
HRC is a fabulous place, full of hardworking people who truly care about this community. Even those people who bad-mouth the very ones trying to help them.
Shame on you! "
HRC is a fabulous place, full of hardworking people who truly care about this community. Even those people who bad-mouth the very ones trying to help them.
Shame on you! "
Frogman wrote on Jul 6, 2009 10:34 PM:
" Um Paris Resident if youre gonna submit a comment please take some time and take some "spellin lessuns" and maybe just maybe if you appear somewhat educated I will buy part of your comment. If we get rid of HRC and go to private practices then guess who will be paying for everyones counceling who cannot afford it? Yup the taxpayers will just like we pay for their health coverage so they can sit in the AC and take trips to the ER in an ambulance on our dollar while were out breaking our backs to barely survive! If you do the crime you need to do the time and pay for it! And if we get rid of HRC in this community look how many jobs were going to lose. "
Proud HRC Employee wrote on Jul 7, 2009 3:26 PM:
" I have been employed by HRC for the past 2 1/2 years and I must say those who want help and are here because they want to be, get the help they need; those who are not vested in their treatment most likely don't get much out of it. But that would be the case anywhere they received services. As for the comment made by Dmerritt-I am reading the "Book" and as far as I can see HRC was not part of the corruptness-sorry can't pin that one on us! HRC is a great place to work, we do care about not only the clients we serve but the community as well.
And yes 100+ people would lose their jobs if HRC closed-but what is more alarming is the number of people who won’t be able to get the treatment/services they need. Believe it or not we actually have clients who come here voluntarily, who seek services because they want to. Not to mention the consumers who we service through our Developmentally Disabled programs-tell them that HRC is a sham.
And yes we do have clients who are court ordered. So it is either receive treatment services or go to prison, so if HRC would close then our already overcrowded prison system will begin to release prisoners early, some of which will be violent criminals and drug dealers and then they will have no where to go for treatment and what do you suppose will happen-they will re-offend and be back in prison. Unless of course you believe that all prisoners are innocent, and then they can come live at your house.
So Paris Resident and Dmerritt when you come out of your miss guided worlds, give us a call we would love to share with you the GREAT work we do here. "
And yes 100+ people would lose their jobs if HRC closed-but what is more alarming is the number of people who won’t be able to get the treatment/services they need. Believe it or not we actually have clients who come here voluntarily, who seek services because they want to. Not to mention the consumers who we service through our Developmentally Disabled programs-tell them that HRC is a sham.
And yes we do have clients who are court ordered. So it is either receive treatment services or go to prison, so if HRC would close then our already overcrowded prison system will begin to release prisoners early, some of which will be violent criminals and drug dealers and then they will have no where to go for treatment and what do you suppose will happen-they will re-offend and be back in prison. Unless of course you believe that all prisoners are innocent, and then they can come live at your house.
So Paris Resident and Dmerritt when you come out of your miss guided worlds, give us a call we would love to share with you the GREAT work we do here. "
Paris Resident wrote on Jul 3, 2009 7:15 PM: