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On Friday, the House Appropriations-Health & Human Services committee will meet to hear from the Illinois Department of Human Services about Governor Pritzker’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
Start Early supports the governor's proposals for a $5 million increase for Home Visiting (HV) and $158.5 million for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), but is very concerned about the $6 million proposed for the Early Intervention (EI) program. Record levels of service delays continue to plague the program, delays linked inextricably to a shrinking workforce. Without annual rate increases, we know providers will continue to leave the program, meaning more infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays will wait for months to receive the life-changing services they are entitled to by law. Start Early and other advocates have recommended a $40 million increase for EI to address these issues.
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Come along with us as we urge our state officials to invest $40 million for the EI program in Fiscal Year 2025!
Even if you’ve already contacted your lawmaker, please do so again! It will take all of us being in regular contact with our lawmakers to ensure that Early Intervention has the funding to alleviate the current crisis. Thank you in advance for helping make Illinois the best state in the nation in which to raise a child.
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