BLAGOJEVICH SLASHING MORE THAN 450 JOBS IN CHILD PROTECTION, HUMAN SERVICES, STATE PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES

An array of essential public services are under threat today as Governor Rod Blagojevich has announced plans to lay off more than 450 state employees in the departments of Children and Family Services, Human Services, Natural Resources and Historic Preservation. The governor's actions will harm efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect; provide nutrition and medical care for the neediest Illinois families; and operate state parks and historic sites.

According to information provided by the Blagojevich Administration to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)—the union that represents frontline state workers—the governor has moved to cut 304 positions in Children and Family Services, 73 in Human Services, 43 in Natural Resources and 34 in Historic Preservation. Compounding the pain for the public, nearly all of these 454 positions targeted for layoff are frontline employees, not upper management.

"The governor's actions will put abused and neglected children at greater risk, reduce access to Medicaid and food stamps, and further harm state parks and historic sites," AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer said. "These cuts are irresponsible and they are deep, slashing 12 percent of the frontline workforce in child protection and more than 20 percent from historic preservation."

According to the information received by AFSCME, the cuts will take effect over the coming months: Sept. 30 in HPA, Oct. 31 in DNR, and Nov. 30 in DHS and DCFS.

"There is time to reverse these cuts, but only if advocates, concerned citizens and lawmakers act quickly," Bayer said. "Our union will do everything possible to prevent layoffs, protect our members and restore public services, but we can't do it alone. The public needs to insist that child protection, human services, state parks and Illinois history are too important to fall victim to the governor's budget axe. Lawmakers should return to Springfield as soon as possible to take whatever action is necessary to fix the budget and stop these cuts."

Layoffs on such a massive scale are likely to result in unmanageable caseloads for child protection and human services workers, delays in obtaining essential benefits and supports for needy families, and shorter hours and fewer educational programs at state parks and historic sites. The impact is made even worse when considered in light of steep cuts the Blagojevich Administration has previously made to these same agencies: Since 2001, DCFS has lost 28 percent of its frontline workforce, DNR 21 percent and DHS field offices 20 percent.