The+State+of+Autism+in+IL+-+2008

Consider the following facts: 1.Illinois is ranked 51st in the development of small community living settings like CILA's.* 2.Illinois is ranked 47th in spending on community services.* 3.Illinois is ranked 4th in the number of persons in state institutions. * 4.Community services rates are 30% underfunded. 5.In this budget, and in the last six years, there have only been 3 budgets with a cost of doing business increase for community services. *** 6.The State continues to inefficiently spend its resources on institutions. 7.There are over 17,000 Illinois citizens with developmental disabilities on the waiting list. 8.Howe, the state institution in Tinley Park, is funded at $50 million in all state funding resulting in the loss of $50 million in federal match because the state cannot protect the health and safety of the residents at Howe. New resources and increased spending for community services are necessary as documented by the "Blueprint for System Redesign for Disability Services," ICDD, 2008. THESE CUTS TO DIRECT SERVICES MUST BE RESTORED: 1.$4.2 million in cuts to grant funded direct services including supported employment, respite care, family support and other community services. 2.Restore the cuts to The Autism Program (TAP) and fully fund this statewide service at $10 million. 3.Restore the cuts to the Illinois Life Span Program of $540,000. 4.Restore the cuts to the 360 Grant of $500,000. 5.Restore the cuts to Best Buddies of $500,000. 6.Restore the cuts to Lewis & Clark Community College of $55,000. 7.Restore the cuts to Lekotek Services of $100,000. The cuts to these direct services violate a long standing agreement when advocates reached agreement with the prior administrations policy to increase Medicaid match for community services. To my knowledge little effort has been put forth to seek Medicaid match for these services. Also, that agreement stated that no one would lose services as a result of us seeking to increase Medicaid matching funds. Clearly many individuals have lost direct services because of these cuts. Please restore the funding for these important services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. NEW SERVICES IN HB 3841 FOR $162.15 MILLION WOULD: 1.Decrease the waiting list by 1,000 by investing in Adult & Children's Home-Based Services and CILA expansion. 2.Provide every person on the waiting list with individual service coordination. 3.Invest in community infrastructure, including the downsizing of CILA's; transitioning individuals in private ICFDD's to waiver services; transitioning developmental training services to employment, and increasing best practice service reimbursement rates. 4.Increase direct care professionals' wages by $1.00 per hour. 5.Build community capacity for persons with challenging conditions by investing in: a.Mobile Crisis Teams b.CILA Nursing Services c.CILA Behavioral Health & Intervention Rates d.Quality Management Training