Advocacy at MFS
Metropolitan Family Services provides and mobilizes for programming that strengthens families and communities. Our legislative agenda has been formulated with the input of community partners, staff, and program participants, with intent of advocating for solutions to build upon a strong human services sector and a comprehensive strategy to empower families to earn, learn, heal, and thrive.
Education
Children and their guardians should have access to a strong early foundation, quality equitable educational supports, and other economic assistance needed to set children up for academic achievement and future success.
Economic Stability
Individuals should be provided with the tools and training to earn a living wage that will support themselves and their families. Communities should have equitable access to stable housing, financial resources, and quality and nutritious food.
Emotional Wellness
All people should have access to wrap around mental health care and should be equipped with the tools needed to cope more effectively with stressors. Cost should not be a barrier to healing and achieving true mental and physical wellness.
Empowerment
Families and communities thrive when individuals are assured their basic rights, understand how to navigate systems, and have access to equal justice. Communities are made whole when systemic issues that influence violence are addressed and injustices are remedied.
How you can advocate:
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2024 Legislative Wins
Behavioral Health Administrative Reduction Taskforce
Behavioral Health Staff face repetitive administrative burdens that result in less time being spent on care and more time on administrative tasks. This law will create a task force to assess policies and regulations to improve the Behavioral Health industry, drafting an administrative burden reduction plan to improve BH outcomes and practices.
Behavioral Health Staff Background Checks
Behavioral Health professionals providing services at a community level often are subjected to a strenuous background check process. Amendments to the Health Care Background Check Act will address the need for timely background check clearance, chipping away at the Behavioral Health workforce shortage.
Child Tax Credit for Families with Children under 12 years old.
Child tax credits have historically reduced poverty, created an economic stimulus for local communities, and improved health and education outcomes. This Earned Income Tax Credit based tax credit for eligible families with children under the age of 12, will offer financial relief to families who most need it.
$50 Million for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLCs)
Child care needs remain substantial, and children significantly build confidence and skills through after-school programs. This funding will save hundreds of these programs from being cut, ensuring children will continue to have a place for academic and social development year-round.
Crime Victims Compensation Act Improvements
Historically, the Crime Victims Compensation Act has not met the needs of survivors of gender-based and community violence. Changes to the Act have been secured so that applicants of crime victim compensation are not discriminated against for previous justice involvement.
School Workplace Readiness Week
Newly- graduated students often enter the workforce without knowledge of their rights as workers. This new law would provide that public high schools observe “Workplace Readiness Week,” to give students in grades 11 and 12 information about their rights as workers.
$5M for Illinois Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program
The Illinois Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Loan Program would provide student loan relief up to $25,000 for human service professionals, depending on the degree or certification received. Securing $5M for the Loan Repayment Program is a start to relieving the financial burden facing human service professionals and will address human service workforce shortages.