With the governor’s proposed budget set to impose devastating cuts on the Sertoma Center, Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) visited the center to stress that maintaining funding for individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities needs to be a priority.

“When you make cuts to services on paper it is one thing, but when you step into the shoes of those men and women who suffer from mental health and developmental disabilities it shows that it is not about the money,” Hastings said. “Actual lives are at stake here and it is important to invest now before we have liabilities later.”

The Sertoma Centre offers a number of programs including autism services, developmental training, mental health services, behavioral health services and a number of residential services.

Hastings had the opportunity to speak with the staff and clients at the Sertoma Centre about what the governor’s proposed budget cuts would mean for the facility, the people they serve and the community.