The Division of Developmental Disabilities has made significant changes to the services formally known as service facilitation. With the updated Adult Services Waiver and the implemenation of conflict-free case management, service facilitation officially went away and in its place came self-directed assistance (SDA). The Arc of Illinois is very concerned that the Division has a very narrow view of what an SDA's role can be for families. Previously SDAs in the agreement with families could manage the PSW, the budget and fill out forms and navigate systems for and with families. It appears that the Division might be suggesting that SDAs can primarily assist and train families to do these things themselves only. The Arc is advocating so that families can have SDAs keep doing much of what they were previously doing but we NEED YOUR HELP.

If you are an individual or family who uses the SDA beyond just for training and assisting you to explain how you can do things, please email Meg at meg@thearcofil.org and share 1) what the SDA does for you; 2) how important the SDA is to you. We will be sharing this information with the Division.

Here is a SDA Recorded Webinar, powerpoint and FAQ shared previously. Please note - the FAQ is in the process of being updated to respond to issues that the Arc has raised among others.

Ligas Consent Decree Judge find the state is not doing enough
Yesterday, Judge Coleman in the Ligas Consent Decree found that the state is “not in compliance with the Consent Decree by failing to provide the resources of sufficient quality, scope and variety.” Here is the judge's statement.

The state submitted a proposal that included a $0.38 wage increase for direct support professionals (DSPs), a program to train individuals receiving TANF (temporary assistance to needy families) to be DSPs, increases in quality monitoring and additional program improvements and enhancements.

The Judge indicated that based on this proposal the Court "sees no end to the Court's oversight". She recommends the state convene a work group to look at wages and rate methodology as well as quality monitoring tool. Finally she recommends the parties come together to agree on a process for people to move faster off the waiting list and define a reasonable pace.

The judge remains clear that she "lacks the expertise and the budgetary authority to impose measures to resolve the issues here and calls on the parties to continue to develop a plan to bring the state into compliance.

Parties will return to Court on July 10, 2018 to discuss the Order.

Good news from this: The judge agrees that the state must do more in order to move the needle on people getting access to quality services and staff in the community. The state continues to be under pressure of the consent decree to make change and hopefully investment in community living.

Challenge remains: The Judge insists she can only do so much because she lacks the expertise and the ability to require additional state fundings. So we still have to work to getting the state fully on board with increasing funding and investing in monitoring. It will continue to require advocacy to decrease the PUNS waiting list for home and community based services.

More shake ups at the State
Tim Mapes, Michael Madigan's chief of staff, stepped down due to new misconduct allegations. This is a big change as Mapes is also the clerk of the House, running the House's day to day operations and pushing Speaker Madigan's agenda.

Administrator Norwood Resigns from Healthcare and Family Services to take Private Sector Job
Anthem Names Felicia Norwood President, Government Business. Anthem, Inc. announced on June 4, 2018, that Felicia Norwood has been named president of the company’s government business division, effective June 18, 2018, responsible for Medicaid, Medicare and Federal Government Solutions lines. Norwood was most recently director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. She also served a stint as head of Aetna’s Active Health Management subsidiary.

Meg Cooch

The Arc is pleased to announce the return of counseling services.  Matthew Matheny, Home Based Services Facilitator, QIDP, LSW, has begun working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to achieve their goals in areas of life including: anger management and relational issues.  The focus in bringing counseling to The Arc is not in diagnosing individuals with mental disorders or providing treatment for previously diagnosed disorders, rather to help individuals deal with stressors and guide them through issues in their daily lives.

Matthew graduated from the Masters in Social Work program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2009.  Since graduation, he has specialized in assisting individuals diagnosed with an I/DD.  He is currently working towards his Licensed Clinical Social Worker Certification and practicing under the supervision of Jude Hines, PHD, JD, LCSW.

When asked about the addition of counseling services, Matthew stated, “I look forward to the opportunity to help the consumers The Arc serves.  This work has become my passion and joy since my first encounters with diagnosed individuals.”

Clients generally come in every two weeks for forty-five to fifty minute sessions. Fees for service are based on a sliding scale and/or the Medicaid Waiver program.

If interested, please contact Matthew or Pamela at 815-965-3455.

1. What gets you up in the morning?   

   Sunlight!  Or the alarm on yucky days.

2. Why do you do what you do?   

   It’s a chance to make a difference in someone’s life.

3. What are your goals for Guardianships/Money Management?

   To insure that the people I work with have security and safety in their lives.

4. What is one thing you wish you could change in the world? 

   Bullying and violence.

5. Do you have any pets? 

   Of course!  My two BT’s and my feathered friend.

6. Where is your favorite vacation spot? 

   Anywhere we park the RV.

7. Do you have any hobbies? 

   Cross stitch and cooking/baking.

8. What is your favorite genre of music? 

   Smooth jazz and R&B

9. What would you like people to know about you? 

   I probably take my job too seriously. 

10. Pie or Cake?   

    Pie

Did you know The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties started two book clubs last year? We follow a platform developed by the Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) NCBC out of The Ohio State University Nisonger Center and are an affiliate of NCBC.

Established in 2002, the NCBC has grown to nearly 300 clubs nationwide and internationally. The mission of NCBC is to “provide meaningful opportunities for lifelong learning, social connections, and authentic community engagement for people with developmental disabilities through weekly book club meetings that include people with all reading levels.”

At the core, our NCBC clubs promote community inclusion. We want our members to enjoy reading a good book, drinking a great beverage, and socializing with each other at a local coffee shop or café.  It’s also an opportunity to develop a love of reading and friendships with individuals who may have similar interests.  Oftentimes, individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability feel secluded and unaccepted. Our book clubs are accepting regardless of reading ability.  Plus, other patrons see us reading together and come over to see what we’re doing.

We’ve tried to make the schedule easy to remember. We have an afternoon club at 2:30 pm and an evening club at 6:30 pm. Both clubs meet the second and fourth Mondays of the month at a local coffee shop.

Thus far, we’ve read Lucky Dogs, Lost Hats, and Dating Don’ts, The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Currently, we are reading Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (winner of the Newbery Medal), and Hoops.

New members are welcome; we do ask that you call the office at 815-965-3455 to register.

In 2014, the NCBC was featured in a news story in Ohio. You can click here to view the video.

Hello all! This is the first blog post by The Arc and we are super excited to have a new way to connect to our supporters in the community! Hopefully, this blog will be great way for you to catch up on what The Arc is up to!  We will also be posting helpful information about advocacy and legislation - which all comes back to our main goal - supporting people with developmental and intellectual disabilities!

We are coming out of an exciting time; with the Chocoholic Frolic taking place last Thursday! If you were one of the lucky 800 people to attend our 6^thannual Chocoholic Frolic, we hope you had a great time! Make sure to let us know how you liked it by commenting on this page or going to our Facebook page! For those of you that didn't get to attend this year, make sure you make it next year! Chocolate, wine, cheese, and good people? Who could ask for more?

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to come back soon to get the latest updates from The Arc!

Drive carefully out there!