For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2002

Contact: YOUR CONTACT AND PHONE NUMBER

INCREASING REVENUE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO: Proposed budget cuts will irreversibly damage services to people with mental retardation and mental illness

YOUR AGENCY NAME supports the paper recently released by The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. The Association’s anticipated white paper supports increasing revenue to the Illinois budget rather than cut services to services for people with disabilities.

Janet Stover, Executive Director, Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities said, "Illinois has a revenue problem. The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities will not accept that the best way to resolve the state’s temporary budget crisis is to take money and services away from Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens. Human services were essential in Illinois yesterday and should be an essential priority for Illinois tomorrow."

Proposing that increasing revenues is "the right thing to do," IARF has three solutions for increasing revenues to the state of Illinois. Increasing the cigarette tax by $.75 would bring approximately $537 million to the general revenue fund (GRF). Increasing tax on riverboats would add approximately $9.5 million to the GRF. IARF is supporting an increase the Illinois Medicaid match bringing new revenue to the GRF. If realized, these solutions would bring a more than $750 million in new revenues to Illinois.

IARF claims these solutions are more responsible and preferable to cutting community human services. Already, community services agencies are struggling in the current economic climate. To reduce their funding further will create a break in the system that will be impossible to repair.

YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AGENCY NAME stated, "The people who provide the services and who receive the services at YOUR AGENCY NAME are invaluable. I do not know how agencies will survive if the proposed cuts are realized."

The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities is a nonprofit trade association representing community human service agencies across Illinois.

Memorandum

TO: IARF Member Agencies

FROM: Susan McKinney, Director of Communications

DATE: January 31, 2002

RE: PRESS RELEASE FOR MEMBER AGENCY USE

IARF has completed the finishing touches on the white paper addressing the need for increased revenue in Illinois rather than cuts to community human services. As a part of that we are sending out a press release in hope of attracting media attention to our issues.

At the request of the IARF Board of Directors, I am sending members a sample press release for your use with local press. As you may already know, press responds to a local agency better than a statewide trade association. In it you will see portions that will need to be filled in by the contact at your agency. You have our permission to use the release verbatim on your own letterhead or use it as a guide to write your own. I hope you will take a moment to send out this very important announcement. Call IARF if you have questions: 217-753-1190.

Here is your to do list:

· Use this press release to send something out to your local media. Read through the white paper and be prepared to address the issues generally with the media.

MESSAGE: Additional Revenues instead of cuts!

· Make calls to your US Senators and Congressmen asking for their help in increasing Illinois Medicaid match to 5%. You should familiarize yourself and staff with the points made in the white paper.