(Adopted by the Lutheran Advocacy-- Illinois Statewide Advisory Council, October 21, 2006)

It is recognized that the positions taken by Lutheran Advocacy--Illinois must be based on ELCA public policy positions as articulated in ELCA Social Statements, Messages and Resolutions. Where the ELCA has not addressed an issue, Lutheran Advocacy--Illinois will remain silent.

One of the priority issues addressed by Lutheran Advocacy—Illinois will always be support for human services in Illinois—especially for poor and otherwise disadvantaged people. Another priority issue for Lutheran Advocacy--Illinois is hunger and the alleviation of poverty.
(from the Charter of Lutheran Advocacy--Illinois)

[from the Charter of Lutheran Advoacy -- Illinois]

PRIORITY ONE: STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE IN NEED INCLUDING:

• prenatal and maternity services for at-risk mothers
• development of parenting skills for at-risk parents
• enhanced care for abused and neglected children
• affordable quality child care, before and after school programs
• support for grandparents raising grandchildren
• adequate funding for programs serving people with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness
• increased funding for substance abuse treatment
• expansion of teen and youth services including alternatives to detainment
• in-home support for elderly and disable persons as an alternative to institutionalization
• strengthening of the network of supportive and assisted living facilities for elderly and disabled persons
• adequate funding for Medicaid beds in nursing homes

PRIORITY TWO: STATE TAX AND BUDGET REFORM INCLUDING:

• increased state funding for public education
• decreased reliance on local property taxes as the primary source to fund education
• greater progressivity in the state’s tax structure (fairness)
• decreased reliance on gambling to fund the state budget
• increased state revenue to overcome the structural deficit (adequacy)

PRIORITY THREE: HEALTH CARE REFORM INCLUDING:

• Expansion of programs providing quality affordable health care for children and families (such as Family Care, All Kids, Medicaid)
• Increased access to quality affordable healthcare in rural communities
• Increased emphasis on disease prevention (health screenings, nutrition, etc.)
• Implementation of the Illinois Health Care Justice Act
• Medicaid reform

PRIORITY FOUR: MULTI-PRONGED STRATEGY TO OVERCOME POVERTY INCLUDING:

• an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• identifying freedom from poverty as a human right
• improving the system that connects people with public supports for which they are eligible
• support for a transitional jobs program for hard-to-employ populations including persons leaving the correctional system
• expansion of emergency food and subsidized school-based nutrition programs
• eliminating predatory lending

PRIORITY FIVE: STRENGTHENING THE CONTINUUM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES (TIED) INCLUDING:

• Expanded services for homeless individuals and families
• Development of rental housing alternatives for very low income individuals and families
• Development of affordable housing options for working poor families
• Combating discriminatory and predatory lending practices
• Creation of attractive housing alternatives for low and moderate income seniors burdened with the care of their existing homes

PRIORITY FIVE: CIVIL RIGHTS INCLUDING: (TIED)

• Restorative Justice
• Non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation (does not include support for same sex marriage but may include support for domestic partnerships or civil unions)
• Preservation of a woman’s right to choose an abortion
• Juvenile Justice Reform
• Alternatives to detainment for non-violent offenders
• Abolition of Capital Punishment

PRIORITY SIX: CARE OF CREATION INCLUDING:

• Legislation/regulations regarding air and water pollution
• Land use
• Conservation and balanced development
• Agricultural policy