Margaret Morrison said the administration office at the A Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Service has been quiet these days.

The executive director of ADV & SAS, which serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in La Salle and Livingston counties, said she and the assistant director are only working three days a week, since Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a portion of the state budget July 1.

The agency provides a 24-hour hotline for victims and friends and family members. In addition, it provides emergency shelter, supportive counseling, medical and legal advocacy for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

The staff of 23 is now at 13 since funding has been cut. ADV & SAS cut two part-time positions and seven full-time jobs. For those who remain on the payroll, hours were cut —which led to another resignation.

"We took steps to maintain services," Morrison said. "It's hard to absorb a 75 percent cut without reducing the number of staff."

Morrison said despite the lack of staff, the center will work to the best of its ability to maintain the same standard of service.

"If we're full, we're full," she said. "We hope things turn around and we can bring staff back."

Other human service providers in La Salle County are enduring similar obstacles, while some are holding their breath until Tuesday, July 14, the day lawmakers are expected to meet again to discuss the budget.

Youth Service Bureau

The Youth Service Bureau in Ottawa cut eight staff members last week.

"My action today, cutting eight staff, wipes out a three-year effort of developing a quality after school program in one of our area's neediest junior high schools attended by kids who loved the program," said Dave McClure, executive director of the Youth Service Bureau in Ottawa.

The move reduces the staff by 40 percent and the capacity of YSB's Outreach program, which provides 24-hour response and follow-up counseling for troubled youth of all kinds in a five-county area, McClure said in a news release.

Unfortunately, the cuts didn't stop there. Effective Wednesday, July 15, staff support is cut from youth programs — the Streator Community Youth Program, Youth Outreach Unlimited in Mendota, Marseilles Community Youth Program, Ottawa Community Youth program and the La Salle Community Youth Program.

Widely known for its annual easter egg hunt in Streator City Park, the Streator program has provided youth and family recreation, trips, educational programs and community projects for more than 22 years.

The following summer activities are canceled: American Indian Culture Night, Monday, July 13; Bake sale and more at Kroger, Saturday, July 18; Disney in the Park — Family PJ Party and Movie, Friday, July 24; and "Camp Rock" Back to School event, Saturday, Aug. 8. The Lotto Tree Raffle will be drawn early and the winner will be contacted.

The Marseilles Youth Program was developed in 1988 and provided activities for the youth and their families.

"I do not know the future of the youth program. With my termination, YSB will no longer be able to offer liability insurance to volunteers for activities," said Sue Trost, who ran the Marseilles youth program as well as the YSB restitution programs. "It is a sad situation."

Easter Seals of La Salle and Bureau counties

Easter Seals Lekotek program, designed to teach families how to interact with a special needs family member and providing a toy lending library to families, has closed. Deb Woods brought the program to Ottawa more than 20 years ago.

"Unless we receive funding through the budget, we will not be reopening the Lekotek program," said Paula Williamson, director of program services at Easter Seals.

In addition, the Illinois Valley Autism Center's hours have been reduced from the four days to two. The center is now open Mondays and Wednesdays.

The center, which opened in February 2008 and is at Ottawa Friendship House, 1718 N. 2525th Road, provides information and resource and referral services about autism spectrum disorders. Since its opening, the center has been heavily accessed, originally calling for about 700 individuals to access the center, but more than 3,500 contacts have been made.

A portion of the center's funding — $42,000 — comes from The Autism Program of Illinois. Last month, TAP announced the potential closure of the Ottawa center and its 21 other partners across the state depending on the state budget adopted for the upcoming fiscal year.

La Salle County Children's Advocacy Center

The La Salle County Children's Advocacy Center was perhaps the only local human service provider to receive good news.

The center learned July 1 that thanks to a court settlement, it will continue to receive funding from the Department of Children and Family Services and will continue to provide all programs and services without reductions or cancellations. The ruling is related to the B.H. Decree, which mandates child protective investigators should handle no more than 12 investigations per month on average.

"(DCFS) has been court ordered to continue all funding for counseling centers," said Laurie McLaughlin, director of the La Salle County Children's Advocacy Center. "I have no idea how they're going to do it, but they've been court ordered to do it."

The CAC, open in Ottawa since 2003, provides a multidisciplinary approach and services to sexually abused children and their families. In 2008, the center helped more than 100 children. The Ottawa center, which operates on a budget of about $100,000, get about 80 percent of its funding from the state.

Ottawa Friendship House

Ottawa Friendship House learned it would lose $383,000 in state funding.

At this time, three part-time positions have been eliminated and the center is under a hiring freeze, said Beth Mangold, Ottawa Friendship House executive director.

The budget cuts may force the center to downsize or possibly eliminate client and family support, supported employment and regular work program.

Lawmakers are expected to go back into session July 14, and further budget cuts may be immediate depending on the outcome of the session.

"Basically, the biggest loss is going to be the layoffs to the staff," Mangold said. "We have a great concern what will happen to our consumers. They may lose housing, medical and mental health support without case management available."

Friendship House, open since 1966, serves 120 consumers with a staff of 30 people.



Streator Unlimited

Streator Unlimited is holding onto its staff in hopes a budget in its favor will be approved.

"We're trying to be optimistic," said John Mallaney, Streator Unlimited executive director.

Mallaney has heard grim rumors about the results of continuing without a state budget.

"I was told last week that if the House overrides the governor's veto, then the state will cut all funding or everything but residential services," he said. "That would leave us with just residential. It would be like gutting developmental disability services."

For now, he's going to wait it out.

"If you tear everything down, you can't really build it back up again."

Mallaney previously told The Times the organization could lose 80 percent of its funding.

Streator Unlimited programs and services include adult vocational, day habilitation, residential services, family support services, supported and competitive employment services.