More and more readers are sending in tips regarding social service agencies that are laying off workers and cutting programs as a result of the state budget impasse in Springfield.  Here are the latest additions to our list and map:

- Springfield Arc Inc., which provides respite services to families with developmentally disabled children, discontinued its summer program, which had enrolled 69 Springfield area kids. The agency has laid off 55 employees since mid-June. (State Journal-Register, 7/7/09)

- Sojourn Shelter & Services in Springfield has laid off eight of its 17 full-time staff members and reduced the number of available shelter beds by half, from 32 to 16. (State Journal-Register, 7/7/09)

- The alcohol and drug detoxification program administered in Bloomington by Chestnut Health Systems was discontinued July 1 due to uncertainty regarding state funding.  In the past year, more than 400 people from 43 counties were served by the program. (Pantagraph, 6/24/09)

- Mujeres, an agency that provides support services to Latinas in Chicago, has chosen to close its doors on Fridays and asked employees to take furlough days over the next two months. (Verified by PI, 7/7/09)

- The Human Service Center of Southern Metro-East, a community mental health agency in Red Bud, laid off six employees and reduced working hours for eighteen other employees. Approximately 500 people will not receive services as result. (Verified by PI, 7/7/09)

- Esperanza Community Services, a Chicago school for developmentally disabled children and adults, has eliminated four positions.  Due to the possibility of a 100% grant cut, their Client and Family Support Program (which serves more than 150 families a year) is also in jeopardy of closing. (Verified by PI, 7/7/09)

- The Ecker Center for Mental Health, which serves the northern two/thirds of Kane County and Hanover and Barrington Townships, has laid off 17 employees.  They still face another $500,000 in cuts to reach a balanced budget for FY 2010. (Verified by PI, 7/7/09)

- Community Support Services in Brookfield has discontinued 75 percent of its respite care services for developmentally disabled children.  Under the bare-bones budget, the agency will have to terminate 100 percent of its group home services and 80 percent of its family support case management.  This will require the organization to turn away half of the 600 families they currently serve.  (Verified by PI, 7/7/09)

- Stopping Woman Abuse Now, located in Olney and serving a nine-county area, has laid off 13 staff and closed both its homeless shelter and residential shelter for domestic violence victims.  (Verified by PI, 7/7/09)

With readers' help, we have so far identified and verified 36 affected agencies from all corners of the state.  Once again, if you learn of futher cuts or see relevant news reports, please send them to contact@progressillinois.com.