Illinois' proposed FY11 Budget and UCAN 

UCAN is 91% government funded; 66% of this 91% is from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Other government sources include the Illinois Department of Human Services, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois State Board of Education, etc.

Illinois' Fiscal Year 2011 budget is again full of massive proposed cuts to human services throughout Illinois. At this time, the Departments of Education, Human Services, and Children and Family Services are facing proposed cuts ranging from 5% to 22%. Unfortunately for the 13,000 youth and families we serve and UCAN's 482 staff members, uncertainty around the budget raises questions about the extent, and type of services we will be able to continue to provide in the coming year.

UCAN continues its ardent support of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as Director Erwin McEwen faces the difficult challenge of figuring out how to best meet the needs of the children, youth and families in the child welfare system when faced with an uncertain budget.

UCAN is also proud to support the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) as Secretary Michelle S.B. Saddler makes the very difficult choices in funding for some of Illinois' most at-risk youth and families seeking mental health and family support services, as well as youth needing alternatives to incarceration.

UCAN supports the restoration of all funding cuts to the proposed DHS and DCFS budgets, and we hope you will stand with us. Please reach out to your Illinois State Representative and encourage him/her to support a responsible budget, including necessary revenue enhancements, to support Illinois' most at-risk youth and families.

Please click here to search for the Illinois State Representative for your district. Let them know about the important work that UCAN is doing for youth and families in Illinois. Your voice and your support are invaluable as we realize our vision that youth who have suffered trauma can become our future leaders.

While we do not yet know the depth of cuts or the impact they will have on UCAN in particular, we know that there will be cuts. Even in times of uncertainty, we will remain true to our mission of building strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment. This is only possible with the support of our generous funders, donors, and partners. We thank you for all you do! For more information about how you can speak out on behalf of UCAN, please contact Jodi Doane.

June 27th:  Illinois Governor Pat Quinn publicly signed into law Senate Bill 3266 (Prevent School Violence Act) which defines bullying for the first time in Illinois law and explicitly prohibits bullying based on actual or perceived sexual orientation
and gender identity/expression, as well as other personal characteristics. 
He also announced the creation of the Illinois School Bullying Prevention Task Force.  The groundbreaking legislation sets a national standard for how state
law can address and prevent bullying behaviors in schools. 
Over 1/3 of Illinois students report bullying is a serious problem. 
UCAN thanks Governor Quinn for passing this law to protect our state's youth!