Public health services are paid for through a patchwork of grants, fees and local taxes.  While the portions coming from these sources vary for each jurisdiction, all are subject to the same shrinking revenues while expenses increase.    Restrictive Funding   Available grant funding tends to be short-term and focused on the priorities of the funder.  This lack of flexibility can make it difficult to meet specific community needs.   Increasing Demands & Competing Priorities   New trends are pushing public health departments in many directions which places a strain on limited resources:   §   Emergency preparedness §   Emerging infectious diseases §   Growing burden of chronic disease §   Increase in number of people who are uninsured §   Growing caseloads §   Nursing shortage results in demands for higher pay   Our Challenge Chronic Under-funding

OUR CURRENT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES  October 2009 To preserve health protection services through prompt reliable payments.  To protect the public from threats, such as  and H1N1 (Swine Flu) with continued funding of the Emergency Public Health fund and Emergency Preparness dollars. To establish and Sustain Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs in order to promote child and adolescent health and insure Illinois' standing as a smoke free enviroment.