The Arc’s comments were submitted to HFS on the two Childrens Waivers yesterday.
Tony
Dear Mr. Bennett:
Thank you for inviting us to share input regarding Illinois’ Applications for Renewal of
1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver. The recommendations below
reflect our evaluation of both the Children’s Support Waiver and the Children’s
Residential Waiver applications.
In our role as our state’s Family to Family Health Information Center, funded by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Services and Resources
Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), we are in contact
with numerous families of children and youth with developmental disabilities who are
either served by or seeking to be served by one of these waivers.
Based upon our experiences with families of potentially eligible children statewide, our
input is focused on the following goals and objectives:
Person centered planning for children, including viable participant directed
service options for children served by each of these waivers.
Independent service coordination, rather than provider-based service coordination,
for children served by both waivers.
Training for families in developing and enhancing their service coordination skills
for their children should be an integral part of waiver implementation.
Adherence with the new Center for Medicaid Services (CMS) rules on community
living and flexible budgets that permit and promote children transitioning back to
living with their families with appropriate supports, rather than continued reliance
on out-of-home placement.
In order for our state to achieve these goals and objectives, we recommend the following:
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org
