Last month Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled his first budget proposal, which called for millions in cuts from social and human services agencies. As the State Journal Register reports today, Quinn and his budgeteers face the following catch-22: just as demand for government aid is rising, state revenues to pay for such programs are shrinking:

More people need food stamps, yet the agency that oversees the program is closing 17 offices around the state. While increased child abuse is a concern, money for guardianship and adoption is being cut at the state’s child-welfare agency. People are turning to community organizations for help just as the state is cutting support for those groups.

While the stimulus funds are "reducing the harm" (PDF) in Illinois, budget cuts to social programs remain on the table. For instance, the Department of Human Services has planned a questionable consolidation of offices across the state and the governor has proposed reductions in both home care and child care spending.

While Quinn faces the unenviable task of trying to bolster services for the needy and close a $12.6 billion budget gap, anti-poverty activists continue to point out that a lack of revenue -- not the cost of these programs -- accounts for the shortfall. Worse still, Illinois' regressive income tax structure has only exacerbated the problem by putting a much greater burden on low- and middle-income families than other states. 

For the second time in a week, the Campaign for Illinois' Future (CIF) is rallying tonight -- this time with State Rep. Will Burns (D-Chicago) -- to keep the focus on a more sustainable solution.

This coalition of community groups, labor unions, and child welfare advocates is highlighting specific programs it would like to see taken off the chopping block. For instance, a proposed 2.4 percent cut to the Department of Children and Family Service's support budget and 9.5 percent cut in guardianship and adoption programs.  Indeed, there is evidence that these services are more important than ever: 

The Department of Children and Family Services has been seeing more reports of abuse, said spokesman Kendall Marlowe, and the number of child deaths last year was the highest in nearly a decade.

“Anecdotally, it’s our strong impression that the economic crisis has rained down pressure on families and that children suffer from that stress,” Marlowe said. “We have seen an increase in more severe cases of abuse and neglect, which tell us that the stresses imposed on families are having a direct effect on children.”

These cuts even caught the attention of the New York Times, which reported yesterday that "a large majority of states are slicing into their social safety nets":

The Illinois governor’s budget proposal would scale back home visits to ill-equipped first-time mothers, who are given advice over 18 months that experts say is repaid many times over in reduced child abuse and better school preparation.

“We spend $1.2 billion a year on child welfare,” said Diana M. Rauner, director of the Ounce of Prevention Fund in Chicago, which channels government money to private agencies. “You’d think we’d spend a lot of money to keep people out of that system.”

Tomorrow we'll have a report from the CIF rally.

Full Disclosure: SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana is a member of the Campaign for Illinois' Future.  The SEIU Illinois State Council sponsors this website.