SR0380 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0380 LRB095 13927 JAM 39712 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The vast majority of the employees of Heartland Human Services have been on strike since July 2 because of the employer's refusal to accept the democratic election of a union; and

WHEREAS, These employees normally deliver crucial mental health and substance abuse services that are necessary for the health, welfare, safety, and quality of life of Heartland clients and all residents of Effingham County; and

WHEREAS, Because of the strike, almost no services are currently being delivered; and

WHEREAS, Heartland clients are going without services, traveling long distances to obtain services, and relying on family and friends for temporary help; and

WHEREAS, This lack of services is placing an unsustainable burden on Heartland clients and their families, to the point that one client has committed suicide; and

WHEREAS, Over 30 behavioral health professionals formerly employed at Heartland attended a public meeting to support the strikers, saying Heartland places financial considerations before client and community needs and creates a hostile environment through demeaning and abusive treatment that is not conducive to quality care; and

WHEREAS, Because of the lack of service delivery due to the strike, the Department of Human Services Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse has discontinued grant payments to Heartland; and

WHEREAS, The money the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse has not paid to Heartland may be available to fund increased service delivery by other providers in the area who are attempting to serve the former Heartland clients; and

WHEREAS, The Division of Mental Health pays Heartland approximately $200,000 monthly, even though virtually no services are being delivered; and

WHEREAS, The Division of Mental Health has not been able to guarantee other mental health providers who are treating Heartland clients that they will be reimbursed for their expanded service delivery this year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that State agencies should steward State funding to ensure the maximum amount of services is delivered to the most clients possible; and be it further

RESOLVED, That immediately upon passage of this resolution the Senate urges the Division of Mental Health to discontinue payments to Heartland Human Services until the agency has resolved its dispute with its workers and is once again delivering its full array of services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General is directed to conduct a performance audit of the State moneys provided by or through State agencies to Heartland Human Services under contracts or grant agreements in Fiscal Year 2007 and year-to-date 2008; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this performance audit include, but not be limited to, the following determinations:

(1) the purposes for which State moneys were provided to Heartland Human Services, for each State agency and for each amount transferred;

(2) the nature and extent of monitoring by State agencies of how Heartland Human Services used the State-provided moneys;

(3) the actual use of State moneys by Heartland Human Services;

(4) whether, through a review of available documentation, Heartland Human Services has met or is meeting the purposes for which the State moneys were provided, with specific information concerning Heartland Human Services' staffing levels and its compensation of management employees; and

(5) whether Heartland Human Services is in compliance with the applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements pertaining to Heartland Human Services' receipt of State moneys; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Heartland Human Services and any State or local agency that may have information relevant to this audit cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General's office in its audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and report his findings and recommendations upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.