Welcome! Programs of The Arc of Illinois December 3, 2014

Programs of The Arc of Illinois include: Consumer Involvement Program Consumer Stipend Funds

Meet The Ligas Family Advocates Shirley Perez, Program Director, Ligas Family Advocate Program Kimberly Johnson - Evans, Ligas Family Advocate Toni Howard, Ligas Family Advocate Missy Kichline, Ligas Family Advocate link to our Ligas website

Ligas Family Advocate Program 4 The Ligas Family Advocate Program has one purpose – to connect recipients of Ligas award letters seeking Home Based or CILA services and their families with family advocates who are knowledgeable about creative ways to utilize their Ligas funding to build successful lives in the community.

5 This program will initially focus on Ligas class members within the areas served by three Independent Service Coordination agencies: 1.Community Service Options Inc. 2.Developmental Disabilities Services Metro East 3.Suburban Access. Ligas Family Advocate Program Focus Our advocates will work closely with a designated representative from within each of these agencies, sharing information with families. Two of these agencies serve the greater Chicago area and the third serves the St. Louis metropolitan area.

6 What Information will be shared with Ligas Class Members and How? Information will be shared in face-to-face meetings, at trainings, at outreach events and presentations, and through brochures and other informational documents. Information about the Ligas Consent Decree and the rights of class members Information about choices for living and receiving services The history of, and current parameters for Home-Based Support Services Program and CILA Information on Illinois’ Employment First legislation and resources for employment assistance Effective advocacy strategies and resources Potential questions for use in choosing a service provider Person-centered planning and self-determination information/resources

7 Outreach Activities Since April the Ligas Family Advocates have held 10 Know Your Options Events ! The Success of these events were measured through surveys. Through their outreach activities the Ligas Family Advocates have had some form of contact with at least five hundred people this includes: Ligas class members in the pilot area, Ligas class members from outside of the pilot area, their families, providers, and professionals in the ID/DD field. One hundred and sixty-five Ligas class members and their guardians received letters from the Ligas Family Advocate program in April 2014 when their names were selected from PUNS.

8 Barriers Identified Lack of Communication/Inconsistency in Information Communicated Information Overload CILA placements still seem to be too large and are too far away Lack of Meaningful Daytime Activities/Programs – need more options Lack of Employment Opportunities Services with Non-Disabled peers Transportation Health/Medical concerns

9 Summary The process for awarding services to Ligas class members is confusing to class members and their families. They have made recommendations to the Ligas Family Advocate Program on everything from the letter of invitation itself to the Ligas website, from a need for clear definitions of different relevant terms (such as employment coach, personal assistant, service facilitator) to a frustration with the time involved in the process itself and in their communications with their PAS/ISC agents. Families have complained of lack of follow up or call-backs. They are frustrated about the lack of employment opportunities or even having a discussion about it. They have also talked about the confusion caused by information overload and differences in how PAS/ISC agencies handle all the paperwork that needs to be done and how they communicate this to Ligas class members and families. Families have expressed a need for knowledge about what to expect at Pre-Admission Screening meetings and what to expect of the various professionals involved in the process.

10 What We Hope To Accomplish Collect data that identifies: Services needed but unavailable Observed trends Barriers to employment Barriers to successful development and implementation of an individual’s service plan Level of consumer/family satisfaction with the Home-Based Support Services Program or CILA as implemented Descriptions of successful strategies used to reach individuals/families The end result of this data collection will be the ability to provide program data summaries and recommendations to both the Ligas Court Monitor and the Illinois Department of Human Services that will ultimately result in positive systemic change.

11 Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities 319 E. Madison Street, Suite 3M Springfield, IL Phone: (217) Or You may contact the federal Court Monitor for the Ligas Consent Decree: Mr. Tony Records Phone: Ligas Contacts

Acknowledgement The Arc Ligas Family Advocate Program would like to thank the three Individual Service Coordination agencies: Community Service Options Inc., Developmental Disabilities Services Metro East, and Suburban Access and their designated staff person who has and is working with this program as we move forward working together to provide information about services and options for families and self-advocates. We are an additional resource for families and self-advocates. 12

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Thank you for your interest in The Arc of Illinois! December 3, 2014