Illinois Residents’ Trust in State Government Whithers, New Poll Says

(Chicago, IL) — The 2008 Midwest Political Reform Survey reveals that Illinois residents’ distrust in state government has risen since 2006.

At the same time, many continue to hold an abiding faith in the ability to change state government to be less influenced by moneyed interests and more responsive and accountable to constituents.

A large majority (80%) expresses personal interest in an organization that works toward making state government work better by being more honest and accountable and over half of Illinois residents (57%) are extremely interested.

The 2008 Belden Russonello & Stewart telephone survey for the Midwest Democracy Network randomly sampled adults in five Midwestern states (Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) on attitudes toward government and political reform.

The survey was funded by the Joyce Foundation.

Overview:

1. Distrust in the Illinois state government has risen sharply over the last two years. A large majority (77%) says they only trust the state government “some of the time” or “almost never.” Concerns about corruption in state government and the influence of money in state politics are second only to gas prices as concerns in the minds of Illinois residents.

2. Although they have little faith in state government, Illinoisans still believe reform efforts are worthwhile. Majorities believe it is “worth getting money out of politics” and reject the idea that corruption will always be present in state government.

3. Strong support exists for a range of reform efforts. Over three-quarters of Illinoisans believe each of the reforms tested in the survey will make a difference in helping state government work better.

4. Personal interest in government reform issues is high among residents of Illinois. Illinois residents are the most likely of all the Midwestern residents surveyed to be “extremely interested” in an organization working to create “a more honest, accountable, and responsive government” (80%). Over six in ten (62%) are more interested in a political candidate who believes it may not be possible to improve education, create jobs, and cut taxes without first reducing the role of money in politics and the influence of lobbyists, than in a candidate who focuses solely on the issues (34%).

5. As we found in 2006, the top goals that Illinoisans would like to see the state government achieve are honesty and accountability to voters.

In Illinois 402 interviews were conducted by telephone April 21 through May 4, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the Illinois survey is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

What’s your opinion?

How much do you trust Illinois state government to work honestly?
( polls)

U.S. Grants Grants $50 Million to 20 States to Ease Access to Primary Medical Care; Illinois Gets $2 Million, Mental Health Providers to be Partners

(Washington, D.C.) — Grants of $50 million to 20 states to help improve access to primary medical care so that Medicaid beneficiaries could avoid improper use of costly hospital emergency rooms was announced on April 18 by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Illinois will receive a two-year $2,006,000 grant for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for an Emergency Room Diversion program that will locate new Community Health Center sites on or near hospital campuses and partners with Illinois mental health providers.

“These grants provide new programs and services to help people get the non-emergency care they need in the most appropriate setting,” CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems said.

These grants will help Medicaid programs fund local and rural initiatives to provide alternative health care settings for individuals with non-emergency medical needs

The first award of $26 million will fund 29 programs in 20 states, including Illinois. The remaining $24 million will be available to grantees in 2009.

Grantees will use the funds to:

• Establish new community health centers;

• Extend the hours of operation at existing clinics;

• Educate beneficiaries about new services; and

• Provide for electronic health information exchange between facilities for better coordination of care.

New State Campaign Encourges Good Mental Health

(Chicago, IL) — With data suggesting that one in five Illinois residents is experiencing a mental health challenge at any one time, a new public education campaign has been launched to promote good mental health.

The new statewide “Say it Out Loud” campaign is jointly sponsored by the State of Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, and the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership, a network of more than 30 organizations across the state.

The campaign was unveiled on May 1 at a rally on Chicago’s Navy Pier as the state began its annual observance of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Data shows 70-90 percent of mental health diagnoses are treatable, but that fewer than half of the people actually seek treatment.

The campaign is using the stories of real people in advertisements being distributed to newspapers and radio stations in the state, and through videos featured on the campaign’s new Web site, http://www.mentalhealthillinois.org.

New Study Ranks Illinois 51st in U.S. for Developmental Disabilities Funding; NAMI Grades Illinois “F” for Mental Health Service Access

(Springfield, IL) — A new report–2008 State of the States in Developmental Disabilities–ranks Illinois 51st in the United States in funding for community residential DD services.

Illinois ranked behind the District of Columbia.

In addition, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) has once again given Illinois an ‘F’ for its lack of funding to ensure access to community MH services.

At a Springfield press conference on April 30, Janet Stover, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities said, “An investment of $300-$400 million is projected for community DD and MH services to begin to address the needs in the community system and to help Illinois move away from its 51st and failing status nationally.”

According to the University of Illinois Rate Study, commissioned by the General Assembly, the community services system is underfunded by as much as 25%. Meanwhile. a report commissioned by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, suggests the DD system needs at least $200 - $250 million to bring Illinois to mid-point among resource investment made by states nationally.