Attending Members
Executive Committee:
Members:
Excused:
Absent:
Guests:
Staff:
Call to Order: The quarterly meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois was called to order by Chair Sherwin at 10:10 a.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2010. Sherwin welcomed members and guests present. Introductions were made.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the October 29, 2009 meeting were distributed for review and approval. Heavens noted that she is not listed as absent.
MOTION: : Pritchard motioned to approve the minutes as amended. Gonzalez seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Report on SILC Congress: Sherwin reported that Gorman, Williams and herself attended the 2010 SILC Congress in January. Approximately 100 people were in attendance representing all the SILCs. The majority of the training revolved around writing the next three year State Plan.
Chair Report: Chair Sherwin extended her gratitude the members of the Executive Committee and the Executive Director Search Committee for their hard work over the last two months.
Sherwin appointed members to an adhoc Nominating Committee to develop a slate of officers for elections to the SILC Executive Committee in May. Terms will begin July 1. Members are John Eckert, Willie Gunther, and Ruth Thompson.
Treasurer Report: Treasurer Kear distributed financial reports for July, August and September, 2009.
Gorman reported that a budget modification has been developed to move excessive funds from the personnel line into other areas to utilize the funding for public forums, public hearings and perhaps training for some CILs on writing measurable objectives and outcomes.
MOTION: Gunther motioned to approve the budget modification as presented. Thompson seconded the motion. Motion carried.
MOTION: Pritchard motioned to accept the financial reports for audit. Cronin seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Committee Reports
Executive Committee Report: Sherwin reported that the Executive Committee met in January via conference call. The minutes were distributed for review.
Sherwin discussed the Responsible Budget Coalition and the Illinois Partners for Human Services. Gorman informed the Council of the similar missions of the two organizations and asked for guidance on submitting our name for support for both. John Eckert asked who the members of the Illinois Partners for Human Services were. It was mentioned this group has a diverse makeup including United Way organizations, unions and human service agencies. This organization has not formally gone on record of supporting a tax increase however they are very much in line with the philosophy of the Responsible Budget Coalition.
Sherwin discussed the legislative forums being held across Illinois in June and July. Family Support Network in conjunction with many other organizations are coordinating these forums. Cronin gave a brief overview of these plans.
MOTION: Gunther motioned for SILC to sign onto the platform of the group sponsoring the legislative forums and support their efforts. Pritchard seconded the motion. Motion carried.
MOTION: Heavens motioned for SILC to sign in as a supporter of the Illinois Partners for Human Services. Thompson seconded the motion. Motion passed with one abstention.
Outreach Committee Report: Committee Chairperson Thompson reported that the Committee has met several times to discuss the complexity of the composition of the Council. After reviewing the federal guidelines for SILCs and our membership, Thompson reported that the Committee has an important task ahead of recruiting and filling expired terms with people with disabilities not employed by a CIL or a state agency. A chart was distributed identifying which Council members can count towards the 51% of voting members who have a disability and are not employed by a CIL or a state agency. Thompson asked the Council for permission of the Outreach Committee to make recommendations to the Office of the Governor, Office of Boards and
MOTION: Heavens motioned for SILC to sign in as a supporter of the Illinois Partners for Human Services. Thompson seconded the motion. Motion passed with one abstention.
MOTION: Thompson made a motion to approve the Outreach Committee report. Pritchard seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Planning & Programs Committee Report: No report given at this time.
Operations Committee Report: See Treasurer’s Report. Gunter mentioned that the next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 22nd at 1:30 p.m. Agenda items include next year’s budget and a travel reimbursement procedure.
DSU Report: Ken Williams stated that RSA has not taken any action yet regarding Part B funds. NCIL has expressed concern regarding the Obama proposal to send Part B and Part C funding to the states. The concern is that some states may scoop up the funding to cover administrative costs and not pass all the money on to CILs. The Illinois Independent Living program annual report will be available in March.
INCIL Report: Ann Ford mentioned that they are participating with the Responsible Budget Coalition and Illinois Partners for Human Services. Fifty to one hundred consumers will be at a rally next Wednesday at the capitol. INCIL is carefully following the managed care initiative and has been working with the Dept. of Public Health to ensure that there is accessibility for HINI vaccination clinics. Eckert asked if the Money Follows the Person program was on hold. Ford responded that it was not on hold and that centers are participating with community reintegration as well as money follows the person.
Executive Director’s Report: Gorman distributed a written report to the Council. He discussed the role of the Executive Director with advocacy and testifying on legislation. Gorman discussed the expectations of RSA in the development of the 2011-2013 SPIL. RSA is requiring more measurable objectives and activities that show measurable outcomes as well as a consumer satisfaction objective.
Gorman discussed SB2516. This bill would require insurance companies to cover hearing aids. This bill is in the Insurance Committee and has not yet been read.
Gorman discussed HB5095 which created the Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act. Ann Ford added that almost everything in this bill is covered under the ADA or the Human Rights Act. The Dept. of Human Services had some concerns with the bill and asked to provide input to the Rules Committee to amend the bill.
Guest Speaker James Parker, Deputy Administrator, IL Dept. of Healthcare & Family Services: Mr. Parker discussed the Department of Healthcare & Family Services’ first steps in reforming the Medicaid Program. They are seeking two insurance companies (Health Maintenance Organizations) to implement the reform. The reform is focusing on individuals who are blind, aged or disabled and will be implemented initially in the collar counties around Chicago. The reform is to be rolled out in three phases: 1. medical services; 2 long term care for the non-disabled; and 3. social supports. Mr. Parker explained that the goal of the reform is integrated care.
The main concern of the Council pertained to trying to implement managed care for long term care for individuals with disabilities. Mr. Parker explained that the HMOs will need to contract with community providers in order to transition individuals in nursing homes to the community (phase 2). The more people covered under managed care the better the outcomes and the more cost effective the program will be. Mr. Parker asked for assistance to continue to research making a future RFP for Phase 3 as good as possible. Mr. Parker expressed a willingness to attend a future meeting.
MOTION TO ADJOURN: Heavens motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois. Thompson seconded the motion. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned.
Next Meeting: The next quarterly meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2010.
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Ruth Thompson, Secretary
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