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From The Arc of Winnebago, Boone, and Ogle Counties: June 11, 2018 Call to Families on Homebased who use Self-Directed Assistance
(SDA).
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
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
Meg@thearcofil.org
August 11, 2016
 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.
June 20, 2016  The Arc has the awesome opportunity to help varying individuals with skills building and entrepreneurialism. During the summer, those calling The Arc, or stopping in, may get to meet Samantha, our newest intern. Samantha is a quick learner and eager to give assistance where needed. We've asked Samantha a few questions to get to know her a little better! In addition to the questions asked, she also offered that her favorite purchase is a Minnie Mouse sweatshirt bought from Disney World last November.
Why did you want to intern at The Arc? My
dream job is to be a receptionist, so I thought this would be a good
opportunity to see if I like being a receptionist or not. What do you hope to learn by interning? I
hope I will learn more social skills, and I also hope I will learn about more
typing programs on the computer. Do you have a favorite genre of music? My
favorite genre of music is hip-hop. Who is your favorite musical artist? My
favorite is Kesha. Do you like to watch movies? Sometimes
I like to watch movies, but if I have nothing in my hands to play with, then it
is really difficult for me to sit through movies.
It all depends on the type of movie I am watching. What is your favorite movie? My
favorite is called The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks. What do you like to do in your spare time? I
like to listen to music and I also like to play with my favorite Barbie doll. Tell us something about yourself that most
people do not know? My
favorite restaurant is Lucha Cantina and I like their chicken and spinach
enchiladas. Are you a morning person? Yes,
I am a morning person. What is your favorite beverage? My
favorite is Diet Coke. Do you volunteer anywhere else?
Last summer I volunteered at a Walter Lawson's Children's home in their laundry department. Now, since I am interning, I do not volunteer there anymore.
12. When do you graduate?
I have already graduated from high school in May of 2015. The school I go to allows me to stay until I am 22 years old. So, I have a couple more years to go.
June 7, 2016  David Gray joined The Arc about three months ago as a Home Based Service Facilitator. We, in the office, have had the privilege of getting to know David; however, some may not have had the same fortune. Therefore, we thought it appropriate to introduce this valuable part of The Arc's team. David was a good sport and answered the following ten questions:
1. Are you from the Rockford Area? If not, what
brought you to Rockford?
I am
originally from the farm country in the Quad Cities area. I came to Rockford in
2007 to attend Rockford College. I came because the campus was in the heart of
the city, but still felt like I was in the country. The campus is off the main roads,
but tucked away in a forest where I can run and bike.
2. Describe your favorite vacation. When I was in high school, I got an opportunity to spend three days in Honolulu Hawaii and seven days in Gold Coast Australia. I spent time climbing Diamond Head, visiting Pearl Harbor, attending a Luau and enjoying the beach in Hawaii. While in Australia, I had the privilege of visiting the beach, zoo, amazing restaurants and running two races for the United States of America/ Illinois. I helped Team Illinois win Gold in the American Games in Australia. 3. What do you do in your spare time?
During my free time I like to country line dance, ride my road bike and run. I also like
helping and encouraging the youth by coaching cross country and track. I enjoy being a part of Heartland Church, Delta and the other programs they offer.
4. Plane, train, or automobile?
I
would like to ride an old fashion someday in the mountains, as I enjoy cruising
around in the country and seeing what God has created.
5. What excites you about working with The Arc?
Working at The Arc with the awesome staff that keeps this place
running excites me. We have different backgrounds and fit well together as a team. I am
excited to learn from all the staff, to push myself to new levels.
6. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?
I am
not sure if this is a hidden talent.
I can country line dance and pick up on new dances pretty fast.
7. What song are you listening to right now? Do you
have a favorite genre of music?
T-shirt
by Thomas Rhett . I am a big Country and Christian music fan.
8. If you had to choose one sporting event to
attend, what would it be?
I
would like to attend La Tour De France someday. I get a little nerdy when the
Tour is on TV and tend to log lots of miles on my bike during the Tour.
9. When you wake up in the morning, what is at the
forefront of your mind to accomplish?
In the
morning, my mind first thinks about a time to walk, run or bike during the
day.
10. What is your go-to comfort food?
My
comfort food would have to be ice cream but prefer if was from Whitey’s Ice Cream.
Thank you, David, for helping us get to know you!
May 10, 2016 Pathways to Justice™ Grants Awarded for 2016-2017  Darci Ladwig, Stacy Ceder, Megan Williams, and Brian Holloway work collaboratively to lend support to The Arc of Spokane’s Disability Response Team. This month, six chapters of The Arc each received a $2,000 Pathways to Justice™ grant from The Arc of the U.S. Funded by DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, The Pathways to Justice program was initiated in 2013 by The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability® (NCCJD) with the goal of developing strong and lasting relationships between criminal justice professionals and the disability community. These partnerships then work together to close gaps in services experienced by people with disabilities and their families at all stages in the criminal justice system. This year’s recipients are The Arc of New Mexico; The Arc of Texas; Berkshire County Arc (MA); The Arc of Loudoun County (VA); The Arc of Ventura County (CA); and The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties (IL). The Pathways to Justice training focuses on three target audiences: law enforcement, victim service providers, and attorneys. Using evidenced-based models and promising practices from the mental illness and victim advocacy fields (such as establishing a Disability Response Team), the program raises participant awareness of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and urges communities to find solutions together. Upon completion of the one-day training, criminal justice and disability professionals, people with disabilities and others work together to begin creating site-specific, holistic solutions to challenges their community faces when their citizens with disabilities enter the criminal justice system as either victims or defendants/suspects/offenders. >>>Read More April 4, 2016 Occasionally, we will be highlighting different people who work at The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties for you to get to know them a little better. Our hope is you'll gain more of an understanding of who to go to for questions, concerns, and needs. We have a unique set of personalities that make up the team here at The Arc. Just as you have dreams and visions and basic needs, so do our staff members. This week we are getting to know Pat Kline, Guardianship Coordinator and Money Management. Pat has been with The Arc for about twenty years. She is a terrific resource for navigating various agencies in our community and has a wealth of knowledge. She has helped hundreds of families with guardianship needs at a fraction of the cost of what an attorney would ordinarily charge. Because of Pat's dedication to working with individuals on a budget and acting as a Representative Payee, the consumers in the Money Management program live a more fulfilling life with a little bit of extra cash for the fun things they desire to do. We asked Pat a few questions in order to learn a bit more about her.
What
gets you up in the morning? Sunlight!
Or the alarm on yucky days. Why
do you do what you do? It’s a chance to make a difference in someone’s life. What
are your goals for Guardianships/Money Management? To insure that the people I work with have security and
safety in their lives. What
is one thing you wish you could change in the world? Bullying and violence. Do
you have any pets? Of course! My two BT’s and my feathered friend. Where
is your favorite vacation spot? Anywhere we park the RV. Do
you have any hobbies? Cross stitch and cooking/baking. What
is your favorite genre of music? Smooth jazz and R&B What
would you like people to know about you? I probably take my job too seriously. Pie or Cake? Pie
Thank you, Pat, for sharing so many interesting tidbits about youself!
March 29, 2016
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.
February 28, 2013
As life gets busier around here, we like to be able to connect with you - the community - as much as we can! Along with our blog, we have also launched a twitter account!
Follow us at @arcWBO or here is the direct link to our page:
Thank you again for the support! Looking forward to connecting with you!
February 27, 2013
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 6thannual 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!
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