SILC of Illinois Logo.Statewide Independent Living
Council of Illinois

 May 1 & 2, 2003, Minutes

Attendance

Executive Committee:

Members:

Excused:

Staff:

Guests:

Thursday, May 1, 2003

Call to Order:

Following lunch, at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2003 Chair Fielding called to quarterly meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois to order. Introductions were made and the minutes of the February, 2003 meeting were reviewed.

Discussion and Approval of February Minutes:

Chair Fielding gave the Council a few minutes to review the minutes. It was noted that on page 4 of the February minutes that there needed to be more clarification on the letter to be written to RSA. The sentence will be changed to read "it was suggested that Eckert draft a follow up letter."

Motion: Anel Gonzalez motioned to approve the minutes with the minor wording change. Tony Arellano seconded the motion. Motion carried.

SILC Mandated Partners (Ex-Officio Update):

DHS, Division of Developmental Disabilities:

Andrea Bragg reported that Jeffrey Obrzut was appointed as Director approximately three weeks ago. She noted that a Director has yet to be appointed to run the State Operated Development Centers. In regards to the new budget for fiscal year 2004, approximately 10.5 million dollars will go to the DDD budget to transition 80 wards of Illinois between the ages of 18 and 22. Bragg noted, that as with many agencies there has been cuts within DDD and that there will be a reduction for community service providers. She noted that the "Home-based Support Services" and "Supported Living" programs will be consolidated in FY04 in an effort to capture additional federal Medicaid funds, and there will be no cost of living increase for community providers.

Illinois Department on Aging:

Ross Grove reported that Charles Johnson has been appointed as Director. Mr. Johnson has been an Executive of an Area Agency on Aging for 30 years. He noted that Nicky Smith will manage the Division of Communications, and that Elton Arendo has been appointed as Special Assistant to the Director, and there is still a vacancy for the Manager of Older American Services. In regards to the FY04 budget, the Department did not get as much funding as was requested but there was a small increase in state funds. GRF is approximately 263 million dollars. Staff is down 20% due to early retirement. There was discussion about the Community Care Program and its mandatory Medicaid provision. Many elderly do not want to apply for Medicaid so they drop off the program. Grove noted that IDoA will be reorganizing the "Community Care" program and the Division of Long-Term Care. He also reported that the "Family Caregiver Support" program has been a great success.

DHS, Office of Rehabilitation Services:

Ken Williams reported that Rob Kilbury has been appointed as Associate Director of the Office of Rehabilitation Services. The new Bureau Chief for Home Services Program is Marta Sayeed, a former Zone A Administrator who has been with ORS for 30 years and begins on May 1. Ms. Sayeed has indicated she wants to meet with Centers for Independent Living. Williams noted that the Home Services program has many position vacant due to early retirement and that the current freeze on jobs affects ORS. He noted that the majority of ORS funding is federal. The Springfield central office will be moving to a new location in early June, and also reported that the Center for Independent Living annual report should be out soon. Ken reported that Secretary Adams is very interested in the world class concept and is involved in the process of the CIL and ORS workgroup to develop trainings and other initiatives to improve working relations between the CILs and ORS offices. The goal is to have training completed by August 1.

Department of Children and Family Services:

Candace Keller reported that Bryan Samuels has been appointed as Director of DCFS. Keller noted that he led Governor Blagojevich’s transition initiative for DCFS and through the work of that team has identified three areas of concern for the department to begin focusing its efforts on:

  1. special education for youth with disabilities;

  2. run away status of wards;

  3. mental health services of wards.

Illinois State Board of Education:

Eckert noted that since the retirement of Jack Shook, no replacement has been named.

Legislative Update:

Ann Ford discussed a fact sheet produced by Equip for Equality regarding the ADA and "Garrett v. University of Alabama" in which the U.S. Supreme Court cited discrimination by state’s seeking immunity from Titles I-III of the ADA as unconstitutional. It was discussed that Illinois was looking to change its current practice to give state employees the same rights as identified with the Garrett decision.

Eckert discussed several pieces of state legislation as updated in the April edition of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois’ April newsletter "The Catalyst." pages on legislative issues.

Discussion on Questions for RSA Regarding Title VII-C Funding:

There was discussion about the conference call with RSA at the February meeting. It was discussed whether the call was useful or was there more confusion about how Title VII, Part C grants are awarded. Williams noted he had spoken with Jeanette Shell regarding how some Centers had received VII-C grants which appear to be inconsistent with the current policies being discussed inasmuch as they were funded for activities within existing service area. Williams noted that perhaps RSA was interpreting regulations differently at that time, including what are their interpretation of "geographic area" and "service area" of a CIL? It was noted that the only way RSA knows the "service area" is by what the grant application says and that we need to determine whether "existing" Part C Centers can apply for money to enhance the services and programs in their area?

Williams noted that SILC’s current recommendation was e-mailed to Shell for review and that it was his assumption is that the letter is okay, except that we have no control over the subjectivity on reviewers RSA and how they interpret our recommendations indicating our priorities for applications for unserved counties.

A discussion followed as to the need for SILC write a letter to RSA and ask that RSA’s interpretation be changed, noting the current difficulty SILC faces when identifying unserved and underserved group and the need to articulate SILC's belief that RSA’s interpretations are inconsistent. Ford noted that she felt that for SILC to write a letter was unnecessary and that the SILC should strive to have a better understanding of the regulations. R. J. Robertson noted that we need to submit some form of correspondence to avoid having these discussions every quarter, and that we need formal clarification from RSA on consistent definitions of "unserved," "underserved," "service area" and "geographic area."

Following further discussion, it was agreed that Eckert work with Robertson and others to draft a letter to RSA to clarify our reinterpretations of the regulations and supporting policy memorandums.

Motion: Robertson made the motion that Eckert and others draft a letter to RSA to attempt to persuade RSA to allow SILC to make recommendations about VII-C consistent with the priorities already set about opening competitions to reach unserved and underserved groups. Motion seconded by Ford.

Amendment to Motion: Williams amended the motion to include: contingent upon us gathering the necessary facts to back up the statements that we make in the letter. A first draft to be distributed to the Council by the end of May. Annette Grove seconded the motion noting that the letter must get the facts right and point out the inconsistencies. Amendment to the Motion carried.

Motion to Adjourn:

Motion: A motion was made by Pete Roberts to adjourn for the day and this motion was seconded by Ford. The Council will reconvene at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Friday, May 2, 2003

Call to Order:

The meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council was called to order at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2 by Vice Chair Robertson.

Guest Speaker Jim Marino:

Jim Marino reported on the Parents Alliance Employment Project which is partner in the Workforce Investment Grant (WIG) of which SILC is the Project Manager for the Illinois Workforce Investment Board. Marino is working on one of the largest sub-contracts of the grant which is the "Shared Visions Project." He reported that the Parents Alliance Employment Project is located within the Illinois Employment and Training Center (IETC) in Lombard. There are many people within the IETC office including community college representatives, unemployment specialists, books on take, as well as the Parents Alliance Employment Project. Marino noted that he previously worked for 30 years at the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Folders were distributed that have all the information about the IETC and other agencies located in the building.

Marino noted that the main goal of the "Shared Visions Project" is to locate people with hidden disabilities seeking employment and to better assist them. The staff developed a team to work around the person and find assist with training and employment. Individuals with learning and psychiatric disabilities are the two main hidden disabilities that Shared Visions is focusing on. An intake is taken on all consumers and a plan is developed for employment opportunities. Consumers are referred to DHS/ORS services when appropriate. Some consumers are referred to AimStar for evaluation of reading skills. The purpose of the project is to assist consumers to use the IETC and help the IETC become more user friendly. There is a great resource room at the IETC with two complete systems with assistive technology computers. He reported that staff are making great efforts to outreach to other service providers and inform them of the project. Referrals are the bet way for consumers to find out about the Shared Visions Project as most people with disabilities will not seek out assistance on their own, and that to date eleven (11) people are enrolled in the project. Disability awareness still is an issue but trainings with IETC staff and other partners is ongoing.

Robertson thanked Marino for his presentation and Eckert noted that this piece of the Workforce Investment Grant has been extremely successful through the efforts of Marino and the other stakeholders associated with the implementation of their subcontract.

Workforce Investment Grant Management Update:

Eckert reported that this is the second Workforce Investment Grant (WIG2) with the Department of Labor. SILC is Project Manager for WIG2 which is slightly less than a $1 million dollar grant for two years. He noted that the IETC in Lombard which was just presented on is the pillar of the grant. The grant wanted to address how to reach people with hidden disabilities. The intent is to take what we are learning from Lombard and share that with the seven other "model" One Stop Business and Employment Centers. Eckert noted that some barriers the grant partners have encountered are that the relationships and levels of communication between the "mandated partners" e.g., the IETC, ORS, IDES and the Community Colleges are effective in some communities and not in others.

Eckert noted that all 44 comprehensive One Stops in Illinois have been given assistive technology (AT) equipment and have been trained on the use of the equipment with the first workforce Investment Grant administered by DHS/ORS. Some of the One Stops are not working well with the project partners in that they do not want to use the equipment. Partners are working to develop local AT teams. Most of the equipment is in the resource rooms at the One Stops. The eight model One stops in WIG-2 will be receiving a second round of AT equipment giveaways according to their communities needs.

Committee Reports:

Operations Committee:

Committee Chair Robertson reported that budget reports are within the folders and everyone took a minute to review them. Hearing no questions Robertson continued with other Operations Committee business. Robertson reminded the Council that the policy is to have two signatures on all checks over $500 and that with the new appointments from the Governor’s office expected soon the Council will need to decide on new members to be signers on checks, noting that it makes sense to have members who are located in Springfield. There was discussion about the signers being ex-officio members. It was agreed that any current members are eligible to be signers regardless if they are a voting members or ex-officio.

Motion: Robertson motioned to authorize Ross Grove and Pete Roberts to be designated as signers on checks. Arellano second motion. Motion passed.

Ford discussed some concerns she has with record keeping now that SILC has begun to administer several different grants. The Homeownership Coalition has been very successful in finding lots of different funding sources with specific accounting requirements. In particular her concerns are whether SILC should hire a professional for SILC’s accounting needs. Ford recommended that Eckert and the Operation Committee investigate SILC’s bookkeeping and record keeping needs. A discussion followed.

Motion: Robertson motioned to authorize Eckert and the Operations Committee to hire a consultant to review SILC’s record-keeping methods and to offer recommendations on how best to streamline records and to ensure the best efficiency in its accounting and record-keeping activities. The motion was seconded by John Gapsis. Motion passed.

Outreach Committee:

Committee Chair Tony Arellano discussed the growing Latino population in Illinois noting that Centers for Independent Living as well as other service providers need to outreach to this population. He noted that some of the boundaries that are keeping us apart from successful outreach to the Latino communities are language, disabilities and whether they are legal immigrants with green cards or undocumented. Arellano reported that the Joliet Junior College is starting a bilingual training so that processionals can learn to communicate.

He noted that Outreach trainings for Centers for Independent Living have been scheduled for October 22-23 and October 29-30, 2003 in Springfield. These two trainings will focus on rural outreach and minority outreach. It is the hope that all of the Centers will send staff to these trainings.

Planning Committee:

Committee Chair Pete Roberts reported that SILC provided funds for the Outcome-Based Ad hoc Committee to receive a two day training from a consultant providing United Way training on Outcome-Based reporting methods. Roberts noted that this Committee needs to take what they learned at the training and try to develop it for Illinois CILs. A meeting with program directors and executive directors of all the CILs needs to take place to discuss how this is going to look. He also reported that the research students from SIU-Carbondale are still working on the results from the survey SILC/DHS did last year.

Programs Committee:

Noting the absence of a Committee Chair, Eckert asked Tara Dunning to report on the upcoming Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit in July. Dunning reported that the deadline for youth applications as well as mentor applications is May 16, 2003. She expects a large amount of applications due to the marketing brochure that was developed. Jon Foppe has been selected as the keynote speaker and noted that many exciting new workshops will take place not to mention a talent show and dance.

Eckert gave an update on SILC’s Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities project. He noted that labels were obtained from ORS for all Home Services Program clients so that a informational mailing could be mailed to inform people with disabilities about the Homeownership Coalition. Additionally, a grant was received from Housing and Urban Development which allowed for the hiring of a Fair Housing Specialist for the Springfield Center for Independent Living and will be supervised by our Homeownership Project Manager. This position will assist the Project Manager to fulfill the goals of the HUD grant. A press conference is scheduled for the first week in June to tour an accessible home and promote the Homeownership Coalition and it is anticipated that DHS Secretary Carol Adams will be present.

At this time, Chair Fielding asked that someone volunteer to serve a Chair of the Programs Committee. No one expressed interest in serving at this time.

Public Policy Retreat in August:  Eckert discussed the August retreat at Touch of Nature Environmental Center in Carbondale. Mike Lawrence will facilitate the discussion on the role of SILC in developing public policy. Lawrence is Associate Director of with the SIU-Carbondale’s Public Policy Institute. Additionally, Scott Forbes from Region V RRCEP will be facilitating a discussion on the Rehabilitation Act and how is applies to SILC and the SILC’s role in developing State Plans for Independent Living. He noted that we will also spend time reviewing our By-Laws, finances, committee structure as a means to orientate the newly appointed SILC members and re-orient current members.

Executive Director Report:

Eckert distributed a written update of selected activities during the past quarter for review.. He reported he was impressed with meeting with DHS Secretary Carol Adams and he does not expect ORS to be moved into super workforce development agency as previously rumored. He noted that he has been meeting with many new directors, key staffers and staff of Governor Blagojevich and looks forward to working closely with the new administration. Eckert noted his concern that human services’ community providers are seeing a decrease in money for services while money is being appropriated to re-open the Lincoln Developmental Center at some level.

Additionally, he noted that movement has occurred in the Governor’s Boards and Commissions office and felt confident that new appointments will be on board in time for the August retreat. A copy of a new Homeownership Coalition was distributed and it was reported that a Spanish version of the SILC-produced "Ready-Reference for Illinois Business for People with Disabilities" was developed and has been well received. Finally, Eckert noted the success of the INCIL/SILC/CCDI/IATP Legislative Reception, specifically the significant role the INCIL played in planning the event.

INCIL Report:

INCIL Representative Pete Roberts reported that their Executive Director Ford is spending a lot of time at the Capitol working towards increased funding for the Home Services Program, CILs and increased PA wages. He noted that INCIL has met with DHS Secretary Carol Adams as well as Louanner Peters of the Governor’s staff and felt that these initial meetings went well. Roberts noted that INCIL has given testimony in opposition to DHS budget because of it did not include a PA wage increase nor a COLA for CILs which has not been received for three years. Finally, he noted that INCIL, SILC, CCDI and IATP co-hosted a legislative reception at the state library on April 2 which was well attended.

Other Business:

Robertson discussed that there was a pretty good chance that approximately half the Council will be reappointed when the Governor’s office gets around new appointment. How do we deal with that transition? Three of four officers will not be around for next meeting. Robertson was concerned that SILC will need to elect new officer before August meeting and recommended that an ad hoc nominating committee be appointed to solicit members who might be interested in serving as officers. Following a slate, a ballot will be made to elect officers before the next SILC meeting in August.

Motion: Robertson motioned to select a nominating committee of three people to solicit board members who would be willing to serve as officers. Authorize elections by secret ballot through the mail as soon as the nominating committee can come up with candidates. Motion was seconded by Gapsis. Motion carried by unanimous vote.

Motion: Ford motioned that we approve Fielding, R. Grove and Gapsis as the nominating committee. Motion seconded by Roberts. Motion carried.

It was agreed that the nominating committee meet briefly following this meeting to develop a slate for a mail ballot.

Motion to Adjourn:

Motion: A motion to adjourn was made by Gapsis and seconded by Roberts. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.

Home | Contact Us | About SILC | State Plan | Member Bios | Meeting Schedule | Meeting Minutes | Position Papers | People with Disabilities and the Workplace | Centers for Independent Living in IL  | Youth Summit | Media Releases-Articles | Outreach Manual | Links

  bobby approved AA