CARTERVILLE - Illinois politicians gathered to give their promises to help children in Southern Illinois, and education and child welfare workers aired their concerns Tuesday at John A. Logan College.

One of the main issues on the minds of those in attendance at a community forum sponsored by Voices for Illinois Children was budget cuts that have caused 350 layoffs at the Department of Children and Family Services and 67 at the Department of Human Resources throughout the state.

Barbara Reardon, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees local 1048, said 44 of the 350 and 10 of the 67 layoffs were in Southern Illinois.

Reardon said the situation is dire because investigators and caseworkers who were already stretched thin are becoming overwhelmed.

"When a call comes in for a child in need, investigators are already out with other children and can't get to the child," Reardon said.

The politicians included State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, and his opponent in the upcoming election, Ken Burzynski, R-Benton. Both expressed concern for the children and said education and child welfare are their top priorities.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said it's a dangerous time for the budget because of a power struggle in Springfield.

"It's not going to get better because people in charge don't like each other and they want to destroy each other," Luechtefeld said.

Reardon said with all the arguing and campaign promises, she worries that children in need and the people who serve them are not being taken into account.

"(Children) should not be pawns in a political game," Reardon said.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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