Yesterday, Arc President Terri Devine and I met with Leanne Roth as a new member of
The Arc. Leanne is Co-Director of the National Technical Assistance Center for Voting
and Cognitive Access, the Organizational Coordinator for the Illinois Self Advocacy
Alliance and works as a Quality Enhancement Specialist with CQL. She worked for
SouthStar Services in Chicago Heights, IL for 14 years and has worked with The Arc in
statewide efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities as advisor to the Ray of
Hope Self Advocates group for 9 years. Leanne has a Bachelors degree in Psychology
and a Masters in Healthcare Administration. Leanne states her passion is training people
who work with people with disabilities to support those they serve to achieve their best
possible life, and she is honored to be asked to serve on The Arc Board and we really
look forward to working with Leeanne.
Leanne Roth
Today The Arc’s Public Policy Committee meets to discuss our position on managed
care.
Thursday at the Lisle Hilton we host The Arc’s Annual Living With Autism Conference.
The Autism Conference will feature Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D., Carol Stock Kranowitz and
Marrea Winnega, Ph.D. Join us!
Friday I head to Indianapolis for The Arc’s Annual Convention. Our opening keynote
speaker will be Tim Shirver! The agenda is jam packed with fantastic programs on
advocacy and grassroots activities.
Tim Shriver
Check my Facebook page for updates on this weeks activities.
Advocates in action!
Senator Haine & Michelle
The Ligas Family Advocate Program is all about sharing Options with families. Missy
Kichline, LFA enjoys working with and learning about what self-advocates are doing
with their funding. Pictured is Michelle Spurlock, a self-advocate in her own
apartment!
Longtime, downstate Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton) visited self-advocate Michelle
Spurlock at her apartment in Wood River. The visit was coordinated by the Illinois Self
Advocacy Alliance, a statewide group of which Michelle was is founding member.
Michelle told her Senator she was able to live in her apartment because of the support
she gets from the Home Services Program. She also shared how critical it is to
continue funding agencies such as The Ligas Family Advocate Program and IMPACT
CIL. Michelle said it is because of her
Rep Wallace with Advocates
Cheryl Kinsinger, Autism Speaks 18th District Advocacy Chair, and Merry Klemm,
Autism Speaks 17th District Advocacy Co-Chair, and their respective sons, Lance and
Eric, met with Rockford State Representative Litesa Wallace, on Wednesday,
September 23rd in Representative Wallace’s home office.
Merry and Cheryl stressed the importance of passing a state budget and the need to
reduce the number of persons on the puns waiting list as well as emphasizing that
community is where we need to invest scarce state resources because community
living is less expensive than institutions and the quality of life is dramatically better
and safer for clients.
Cheryl Kinsinger, Autism Speaks 18th District Advocacy Chair, and Merry Klemm,
Autism Speaks 17th District Advocacy Co-Chair, and their respective sons, Lance and
Eric, met with Rockford State Representative Litesa Wallace, on Wednesday,
September 23rd in Representative Wallace’s home office.
Merry and Cheryl stressed the importance of passing a state budget and the need to
reduce the number of persons on the puns waiting list as well as emphasizing that
community is where we need to invest scarce state resources because community
living is less expensive than institutions and the quality of life is dramatically better
and safer for clients.
Changes to the Individual Care Grants story below from today’s Chicago Tribune.
Tony
Law’s goal: Stop ‘creating colony of orphans’
In past, some parents gave up kids to state for mental illness care
By Bonnie Miller Rubin Chicago Tribune
New legislation signed recently by Gov. Bruce Rauner aims to give severely
mentally ill children better access to residential treatment and intensive community
services.
The measure moves the Individual Care Grant program — the main funding source
for families struggling to afford treatment — from the Department of Human
Services to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which should create
more flexibility and efficiency, lawmakers said.
Under Healthcare and Family Services, the state’s Medicaid agency, the Individual
Care Grant — or ICG — can draw federal Medicaid dollars instead of relying solely
on state dollars, potentially increasing the number of troubled youths who can
qualify for comprehensive treatment.
The $20 million budget and key personnel will also move to DHFS, officials said.
The measure, which passed both legislative houses unanimously and was signed
by Gov. Bruce Rauner earlier this month, will be implemented within the next six
months.
“If this works, we will get more federal money for mental health, which is urgently
needed,” said Rep. David Leitch, a Peoria Republican and a co-sponsor of the bill.
An Individual Care Grant assists parents or guardians in paying for some of the costs
of care for children under age 18 with serious, chronic psychiatric conditions at
approved residential facilities or community mental health agencies.
But in recent years, the grant has become difficult to obtain, with narrow eligibility
criteria designed to rein in costs. The biggest barrier to the program is that it requires
a child to have a psychosis — such as hearing voices or hallucinating — and excludes
children who exhibit other dangerous behaviors, such as suicide attempts.
Some parents have become so desperate that they have relinquished custody of
their child, forcing the state to provide care.
“It was a horrible situation,” said Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, the chief sponsor
of the bill. “We closed the spigot and were in the business of creating a colony of
orphans. But I am hopeful that we are finally rowing in the same direction to benefit
children with mental illness in Illinois.”
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
