Client: Chicago Alliance for Collective Effort
Source: Chicago Tribune
Strengthen safety net
Illinois’ human service workers are the backbone of our communities — providing essential care, support and stability to those who need it most. Yet, for too long, these dedicated professionals have been underpaid and undervalued.
The op-ed “Here’s why human service workers deserve better pay” (April 17) in support of our counterparts at the Illinois Partners for Human Service highlights the urgent need for legislative action to ensure fair reimbursement rates for human service organizations. Without adequate funding, these organizations struggle to offer competitive wages, leading to high turnover and service disruptions that ultimately harm our most vulnerable neighbors.
At the Chicago Alliance for Collective Effort (CACE), a coalition of more than 50 of the most highly effective, mission-driven human service organizations in Chicago, we stand in full support of this call to action. We urge Illinois lawmakers to prioritize legislation that uplifts human service workers and strengthens the vital safety nets our communities rely on.
It’s time to invest in the people who invest in us every day.
— Kara Teeple, chairwoman, Chicago Alliance for Collective Effort (CACE)