Nursery notices Illinois is paying bills
Updated: October 9, 2012
URBANA -- As Illinois tries catching up on its bills, some agencies are finally seeing the state funding they've been waiting for.
Crisis Nursery is happy to see some progress, but it's not just about getting state funding on time. It's about dealing with fewer cuts.
Crisis Nursery's executive director says they've dealt with almost $90,000 in cuts over last four years. That forced them to cut a part-time worker.
But in the last year, they've only seen state funding get cut by about $5,000. Even though it seems like things are getting better for Crisis Nursery, they're not just sitting around waiting for more state funding.
The agency, which helps abused and neglected children, ramped up its fundraising efforts in the past years. They hold annual events like the "Christmas Shop for Kids" and participated in this summer's "Krazy K" Race.
Those events raise thousands of dollars and that's what's key to keeping the agency afloat.
"We really want to be self-sufficient about funding just because it is unpredictable. But currently we're paid to what they owe us, so that's great and we hope that continues. Whether that's a result of what they're doing or not, we hope that continues," said executive director Stephanie Record.
Record says there's another funding source helping out Crisis Nursery. More federal grant money is filtering down to the state level. She says that's helping ease cuts the state handed down.
Record says the state's attempt to fix its budget has also kept her agency busy. She says several services offered by DCFS were cut earlier this year, meaning more families are turning to Crisis Nursery.
Crisis Nursery's executive director says they've dealt with almost $90,000 in cuts over last four years. That forced them to cut a part-time worker.
But in the last year, they've only seen state funding get cut by about $5,000. Even though it seems like things are getting better for Crisis Nursery, they're not just sitting around waiting for more state funding.
The agency, which helps abused and neglected children, ramped up its fundraising efforts in the past years. They hold annual events like the "Christmas Shop for Kids" and participated in this summer's "Krazy K" Race.
Those events raise thousands of dollars and that's what's key to keeping the agency afloat.
"We really want to be self-sufficient about funding just because it is unpredictable. But currently we're paid to what they owe us, so that's great and we hope that continues. Whether that's a result of what they're doing or not, we hope that continues," said executive director Stephanie Record.
Record says there's another funding source helping out Crisis Nursery. More federal grant money is filtering down to the state level. She says that's helping ease cuts the state handed down.
Record says the state's attempt to fix its budget has also kept her agency busy. She says several services offered by DCFS were cut earlier this year, meaning more families are turning to Crisis Nursery.
