Lack of state budget threatens cuts to East St. Louis Health District

A collective group of people that included Illinois State Sen. James Clayborne, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, staff from the East Side Health District, state employees and others came together as one voice to denounce state lawmakers for not coming to an agreement on a budget and affecting public health services as well as employees.

“We’re in one of the communities where the services provided here at East Side Health District are very important to day-to-day living,” Clayborne said. “People need their jobs to take care of their children and to provide for their families. I hope and pray the governor will move beyond where he is and understand that this affects real people. This is affecting people’s quality of life. People are being threatened with being laid off. It also affects goods and services and businesses here.”

Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside, public health administrator for East Side Health District, said the health department serves “four townships for a total of 65,000 individuals within St. Clair county.” She said the majority of these are indigent people.

Patton-Whiteside said the budget cuts have already forced her to lay off 65 percent of the staff. She said currently the district is operating with a skeleton crew and the needed services the organization provides such as Women Infants and Children, family case management and STD treatment are down to less than one-third.

Syphillis cases are way up, and HIV/AID cases are not being treated like they need to be, according to Patton-Whiteside.

The school-based health center is closed, she said, and the dental department is down to operating one day a week.

The state requires physicals and dental screenings prior to the beginning of the school year. Patton-Whiteside is wondering how that gets done. She put out a plea to Gov. Bruce Rauner: “Governor, I am begging. Everybody needs to get on board. I beg them to stop all of this political wrangling and to think about the people and services that are needed.”

Efforts to reach the governor’s office for comment were not successful.

Kern said, “It’s all about politics. The services provided here are absolutely necessary. These are everyday working people who are looking for health services that have been cut off.”

He said 91 people were employed at the district and now that has been reduced to a skeleton crew so the needed services can not be provided. He said STD cases will probably grow without the needed services.

“We need a budget. We have to get money to the district so we can get services to real people. All things will cease without the governor’s cooperation,” Kern said.

Health educator Linda Joiner said if there is no budget, “the entire health education department will be eliminated.” Joiner said the agency is within walking distance for the people to get the services they need.

“This is my second layoff. It’s a precarious situation to be in. We’ll be bleeding if these layoffs take effect. What we do for the community is a labor of love. You don’t get rich. We’re dedicated. We’re committed to the people in this community. I got my immunizations shots here. To see this district possibly closed is heart-breaking. Governor you have the power to make all of this go away. You’re the governor of the state of Illinois. You’re the governor of all of the people,” Joiner said.

She said she has received a letter that says as of this Friday, she will be laid off. And, she is 10 months from being vested.

A nurse at the facility, Myrtle Deloach, said she has not been notified yet.

“At least pass a one month budget while you work on passing the 2016 budget,” Deloach said. “You have have only been there a few months. Begin your work for the people of Illinois. We won’t be able to pay rent, or have insurance. Cobra is the most-expensive insurance around. We need a budget. Put your differences aside and do the work you said you came to do. Work for the people of the state of Illinois,” she said.

Kourtney Hicks, who works in the environmental health department, said it is her job to make sure the food in the restaurants and the water people are consuming is safe. I”m a health inspector. People call us for everything ... things like moles and bed bugs. They have nowhere else to turn. I can’t imagine what the community would do if these doors close,” she said.

Norman Miller, the Canteen Township supervisor, wants Rauner to visit East St. Louis and witness for himself what is happening to the people who are being denied services they need and to see all of the devastation and hardship that’s being caused for the people who are losing their jobs.

“Governor, come down here and see what goes on on a daily basis. You can’t just sit there and cut the programs off. There are no jobs here. All of the factories are gone. Everything they have depends on this health district. I don’t think that’s what the people elected you to do.”

Pastor Norma Patterson said she sees people walking and bringing their kids to the district. She also sees them getting off of the bus. She said the health district is close to where they live and it provides the services they need. Patterson said she is concerned about the people who won’t be able to get the services they need because of politics. ... Patterson said the state needs to reach up where the money is and not down on the backs of the poor.”

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Lack of state budget threatens cuts to East St. Louis Health District."