Disability News Service, Resources, Diversity, Americans with Disabilities Act; Local and National.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Garden Center Protests State Medicaid Cuts : Burbank, Illinois : May 6 2011

Southwest Suburban News-Herald: Garden Center Protests State Medicaid Cuts
By MICHELE BEATTIE

A rally in protest of the proposed State of Illinois cuts in Medicaid funding was held last Friday at Garden Center Services, 8333 S. Austin Ave., Burbank.

Many of the consumers, parents and caregivers served by the Center were out carrying sign and chanting “No more cuts” and “Make some noise.” Passing cars were honking horns in support of the Center’s plight.

The Garden Center provides residential and vocational services to more than 150 people with developmental disabilities. The facility is a non- profit organization begun in 1956 by a group of parents who joined together because the needs of their children were not being addressed in the local school system.

The budget cuts proposed by Gov. Pat Quinn for the next fiscal year beginning July 1 will mean a 6 percent cut in Medicaid payments for services provided by The Garden Center and other agencies of this kind.

These cuts will translate to a loss of more than $300,000 for the Center in the coming year and ultimately would force the layoff of a large part of their 150-employee workforce.

According to Executive Director Gerry Beagles, the layoffs would amount to “probably 25-30 people from the Day Program and up to 30-40 people from the residential care program.”

Garden Center currently operates two Day Programs and about 13 residential facilities in the Chicago area.

A Garden Center enterprise, “Second Chance Thrift Shoppe” in Lemont, is run by paid staff. Proceeds from the business help provide supplies for many of the Center’s programs.

Michele Hula, director of marketing, said that budget cuts would not only impact their employees, but would affect their special funding projects such as the Wish List and transportation needs.

“Every single thing we depend on would be affected,” Hula said. “It would be devastating for our consumers.”

Kim O’Brien, director of Day Programs, explained that the facility contracts with local businesses for work projects. The projects are small collating jobs or assembly work.

The residents get paid for the work that they do, but the residents work here only if they choose to work.

Some of the residents require 1-to-1 assistance with projects and this, according to O’Brien, “puts a crunch on our budget. But we always put the consumer first.”

Hula says the Center also relies heavily on volunteers to assist with outings and special projects. Many parents of the people served are volunteers, but more volunteers are always needed.

A planned project for the future is the Garden Gallery & Studio, in which participants in the art program may work together, display and sell their art work. Beagle has set a goal of establishing an art instruction program and music appreciation program.

Hopefully, Beagle said, funding will be available for these and other projects.

For further information, contact Hula at The Garden Center, (708) 398-6506.

No comments: