Good News Regarding Safer's Crossroads ATC

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Public Policy and External Relations June 1, 2012 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOOD NEWS!      THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED THE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR SAFER FOUNDATION'S CROSSROADS ADULT TRANSITION CENTER              Over the last few months, Safer Foundation has continuously asked for everyone's help to save the Crossroads ATC, by having it reinstated in the FY13 budget.  During the past few days, the Illinois House of Representatives voted on the Public Safety Appropriations bill and the bill passed with 71 votes.  The vote number of 71 is significant because it makes it less likely that there will be a veto.  Crossroads is in the budget and likely at full funding.  Late Thursday, the Illinois Senate passed the bill as well and it was posted.  What a great feeling to know we have come this far.  We are not yet done.  However, we are in as good a position as one can be at this stage of the process.   While a celebration would be premature, this represents a major step in the full restoration of funding for Crossroads.  The budget will not be official, of course, until the Governor approves it.  Our work to seek final approval for Crossroads will continue until all steps have been completed for FY13.      All your efforts to influence policymakers about the many benefits, not only for the residents of Crossroads, but also for their families and the community, are being heard.  All of the good work that Crossroads' staff continues to do makes a difference in the support we are able to get.  We are individually and collectively thankful for Safer's staff, clients, stakeholders, and supporters during this legislative effort.  We remain optimistic and will keep you informed as we learn more.  Please continue to keep those prayers going for Safer's Crossroads ATC.   Again, thank you for your support.     B. Diane Williams President and CEO afer Foundation                Follow Us on Twitter! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Follow @SaferFoundation on Twitter for more updates on criminal justice news and more information about the organization. We appreciate your support!  Public Policy and External Relations Contacts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ B. Diane Williams, President / CEO Veronica Cunningham, Vice President, Public Policy and External Relations Jon Kaplan, Director, Marketing and Communication Anthony Lowery, Director, Policy and Advocacy phone: 312-922-2200 www.saferfoundation.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Many articles refer to people with criminal records as "ex-offenders" or "offenders". While we appreciate all the positive press these issues receive, we are working to use other terms to describe our clients that do not carry such negative connotations. These terms include "people with criminal records" or "people reentering society".