November 2019 e-Newsletter
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Tag: Advocacy
Best Way to Contact an Elected Official
The best way to have your voice heard is by voting for politicians that represent your views and keeping them informed by calling your elected officials directly. Legislative offices track phone calls and letters and will bring issues to the forefront if they are being addressed by large groups of constituents.
Here is a step by step guide on how to effectively reach your elected officials today:
- Call congressional offices directly or through the switchboard. If you do not have the direct number, you can click on the Find Your Elected Official link. You can also reach US representatives by calling 202-225-3121, and US senators by calling 202-224-3121. Ask the operator to connect you to the individual office.
- Ask to speak to the aide who handles the issue about which you are calling. Your call will be more influential if you speak to the correct aide. However, Congressional aides are very busy and this is not always possible. If you cannot speak directly with the aide, leave a message with the receptionist stating your views.
- Let them know that you are a constituent. Elected officials are most interested in your opinions if you are their constituent, so be sure to say the city and state you are from.
United Way Participates in Congressman Schneider’s E3 Summit
On April 14, Congressman Brad Schneider hosted a public symposium to discuss the future of our economy, environment, and education with thought leaders and experts from across Illinois’s Tenth District.
United Way of Lake County’s Vice President of Community Impact, Michelle Crombie, along with Round Lake Area B.E.S.T. Coalition and Steans Family Foundation participated in the E3 Summit’s education panel discussion on expanding access to Pre-K.
Congressman Schneider moderated the discussion on the challenges, uncertainties and need for access to quality early childhood programs in Illinois.
In Lake County, there are 46,400 children under the age of five. Currently, there are enough early care and education slots for a little over half of these children and those opportunities are even smaller for children living in Waukegan, Zion and North Chicago – high poverty communities in Lake County.
Quality early childhood programs produce lasting effects for a child – increasing their likelihood of graduating on time, obtaining a better paying job and boosting the regional economy as a contributing member of society. The great gains from investing in early childhood development led United Way of Lake County’s shift in focus to education.
Since 2006, United Way of Lake County has developed over a dozen key initiatives that promote early childhood development to ensure children enter school ready to succeed. United Way focuses its programs in North Chicago, Round Lake, Waukegan and Zion – where the need is greatest for young children and their families. In these communities, there are 7,200 children under the age of 5 and 70% of these children and their families live in poverty.
Access to quality early childcare programs is crucial for Lake County children and families. Michelle Crombie expressed the need for a better system,
“We need to place a higher value on educating and supporting our children. Research shows that children who have had a positive, high-quality early education experience enter kindergarten ready to read, eager to grow their scientific and analytical talents, and to continue to be healthy and integral members of a community. We are instilling in children, right from the beginning, academic and social skills necessary to achieve success. Therefore, not only are we preparing the next generation of workers, we are creating the next generation of leaders. Investing in early childhood education is the right thing to do.”
Since 2006, United Way’s Success By 6 Program has developed initiatives and funded agency programs to expand early childhood education services and resources to children and families in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities. To learn more about United Way’s early education work in Lake County, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/sb6.
Public Policy Agenda
United Way of Illinois’ public policy agenda reflects the work of United Ways across the state in the areas of education, income and health. Additionally, United Way advocates for sound policies affecting the non-profit sector’s capacity to advance the common good. United Way of Illinois has established engagement strategies within each of the following four areas:
To view and download United Way of Illinois’ 2018 Public Policy Agenda, click here.
Support for DACA Individuals
United Way of Lake County Announces Support for DACA Individuals
As an organization that serves many constituents and people impacted by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the United Way of Lake County supports a solution with a pathway to citizenship for DACA individuals.
There are an estimated 40,000 enrollees in the DACA program living in Illinois, and 8,000 of them live right here in Lake County. They are studying, working, living and contributing right next to us. Ninety-five percent of DACA youth are employed or in school. We also note the potential for economic disruption –The Center for American Progress (CAP) estimates that ending DACA, with the deportation of DACA youth, would mean a loss of $460.3 billion from the national GDP over the next decade.
United Way of Lake County, consistent with its mission to serve Lake County families, supports a pathway to citizenship for DACA individuals.
Join Us in Celebrating National Voter Registration Day!
United Way of Lake County is excited to participate in a national effort to engage and mobilize Americans in our political process by helping to register over a hundred thousand voters across the country on September 26, 2017, National Voter Registration Day.
First held in 2012 for that year’s presidential election, National Voter Registration Day has become a 50-state holiday where thousands of organizations and volunteers organize to ensure our family, friends, and neighbors are registered to vote.
Have you moved — even just across town — since the last election? Have you changed your name? Will you turn 18 by Election Day? Are you a newly naturalized citizen? Have you not voted in a while?
In all of these cases you may need to register or update your voter registration in order to make your voice heard at the ballot box this November. Click here or visit the participating locals below to register to vote.
- Lake County Clerk’s Office | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Lake County Administrative Building • 18 N. County St., Waukegan, IL 60085
- Round Lake Public Library | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- 906 Hart Rd, Round Lake, IL 60073
- Shields Township Office | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- 906 Muir Ave, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
- Lake Bluff Public Library | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- 123 E. Scranton Ave., Lake Bluff, IL 60044
- Lake Forest City Hall | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- 220 E. Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL 60045
- Lake Forest Library | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- 360 E. Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Click here to find additional Lake County participating locations or to register to vote online, use this link: https://ova.elections.il.gov/
Why register in 2017? States, cities, counties and towns across the country have big elections this fall. Primaries for next year’s state and national elections are just a few months away. National Voter Registration Day is the perfect opportunity to get involved no matter what party you support or which issues matter most to you.
UWI Budget Survey Results
Seven Months into State Budget Impasse, United Way of Illinois Survey Shows Extensive Cuts to Human Service Programs and Harm to Sector
23% of agencies report they will struggle to operate at existing levels if budget impasse continues through March
CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2016 (via PRNewswire-USNewswire) — A new survey conducted by United Way of Illinois, the statewide association of 52 local United Ways and the largest non-governmental funder of health and human services in the state, shows the deepening impact of the budget impasse on the most vulnerable citizens across Illinois and on the human service sector overall.
Results from the third state-wide survey indicate that human service agencies are reaching a tipping point in trying to deliver services and maintain operations amidst continued uncertainty due to the budget impasse. Agencies reported shuttering programs, significantly reducing the number of clients they can serve, draining cash reserves and going further into debt by utilizing lines of credit. Twenty-three percent of agencies reported they will struggle to operate at existing levels if the budget impasse continues through March.
“It is our seventh month without a budget and there is real damage being done to our neediest children and families, and to our human services infrastructure,” said Kristi Long, Chairman of United Way of Illinois, “Disabled children need critical support, adults who want and need employment need job training, and people who require mental health care and medication need those services.”
Key findings from the third survey reinforce the impact of the budget impasse on programs and services for people across Illinois. As of January 2016:
- 85% of survey respondents reported cutting the number of clients they serve, up from 34% in July 2015
- 84% of survey respondents reported cutting programs; since July 2015:
- Cuts to programs supporting the mentally ill have risen from 3% to 25%
- Cuts to programs supporting the disabled have risen from 3% to 29%
- Cuts to programming supporting seniors, children and adults seeking education or jobs have more than tripled
“We receive funding from the state of Illinois for home delivered meals,” said Carole Creason, Executive Director of Seniors Assistance Center in Norridge, Illinois, “If the impasse continues, we will have to reduce the number of meals served by half, requiring us to decide who eats and who doesn’t.”
Survey findings also highlight the financial strain the impasse is having on the state’s human service infrastructure:
- 49% of respondents have tapped into their cash reserves
- 26% of respondents have utilized lines of credit
- Respondents have taken on a combined $35 million in debt
- The average credit extension taken on by respondents was $300,000
- 27% of respondents have been forced to lay off staff and 5% reported having to skip payroll
United Way organizations around the state and their partner agencies are gathering in Springfield today to discuss the findings of the survey and share with government leaders the current and long-term implications of the budget impasse.
This is the third survey conducted by United Way of Illinois on the state budget stalemate. The survey was conducted January 6-January 13, 2016, and responses were received from 444 human services agencies across every county in Illinois. Survey respondents represented a range of service categories including youth development, early childhood education, mental health, emergency housing, senior services and employment training and varied in budget size from less than $500,000 to more than $15 million.
For more information about the survey or to schedule interviews, please contact Jarid Brown at 217-836-2656 or jbrown@uwcil.org, or Karyn Ruhl at 847-431-7068 or karyn.ruhl@uw-mc.org.
PDF: 3rd State Budget Survey Results
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF ILLINOIS
United Way of Illinois is a statewide association of 52 local United Way organizations focused on long-term community change through resources in education, income, health and basic needs. United Way advocates for sound policies affecting the non-profit sector’s capability to serve vulnerable populations.
