Human service providers from throughout Illinois spoke to the media Tuesday in Springfield about the impact of the state budget stalemate.
Centerstone CEO John Markley says one of his biggest concerns is that psychiatric services have not been approved in the budget. He says that's the number one reason why people with mental illness, substance abuse issues and intellectual disabilities visit his offices in Carterville and Alton. Markley says they're fighting to keep their psychiatrists in place.
"We have across Centerstone right now we have about eight psychiatrists that we're using. If we were to lose those psychiatrists, it is very, very difficult for us to recruit psychiatrists in southern Illinois, and I suspect that's true all around Illinois. But, what we're seeing is if we were now to dismantle that service, it would take years to rebuild literally."
Markley says the budget impasse has forced Centerstone to reduce its 24-hour crisis center down to eight hours a day.
Illinois Public Health Association executive director Tom Hughes says a survey of local health departments last week found some disturbing information.
"East Side Health District in East St. Louis has laid off 65% of their staff and they serve a population of 65,000. Franklin-Williamson, our bi-county health department in deep southern Illinois, has laid off 17% of their staff. Effingham County is now going to a shortened work week with reduced hours. Cumberland County Health Department is now going to a four day work week."
Hughes says every Friday; the Illinois Public Health Association is talking with local health departments to document their diminished services due to the budget stalemate.
He says lawmakers need to take a closer look at how public health is funded in Illinois, because even a new budget would not include enough funding to run a statewide health system.
