The Illinois Kids Count 2014 report is out, and it continues to show a gap in the availability of social services for children all over the state.
H Group CEO John Markley says the report, from Voices for Illinois Children, illustrates the struggles that low-income families face in this region every day. He says Illinois lawmakers need to understand that cutting programs is not the best way to fix budget problems:
"It always ends up costing the taxpayers more, it always ends up costing families more, it always ends up costing communities more when we cut these services."
Markley points to people like Whitney Stewart, who was homeless when she asked for help from the H Group, and later found herself pregnant. Stewart calls her case manager, Stacy Johns, her "guardian angel." She says Johns helped her learn basic skills - from opening a bank account to learning where to get supplies for her baby - that she wouldn't have otherwise had:
"It's so hard when you don't know who to call, or what to say. Just having Stacy, I'm just so happy that I met her and I don't think I could have made it without her."
The "Kids Count" report shows poverty rates in many southern Illinois communities higher than the state average. It also shows some improvement in access to health insurance and medical care.
Advocates say they use this information to better inform lawmakers and others about what is needed to help children thrive throughout Illinois.
