Statewide Independent Living
Council of Illinois

State Plan for Independent Living
2005-2007

ATTACHMENT 1: GOALS, MISSIONS, AND OBJECTIVES

Appendix to Attachment 1

The Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois (SILC) has adopted the following vision and mission statements:

The SILC's Vision- We see an Illinois where persons with disabilities are independent, in control of their lives and free from barriers to full participation in society.

The SILC's Mission- Our mission is to provide the leadership, research, planning and education required to support independent living services in Illinois.

Illinois' ultimate goal is for all persons with significant disabilities to have full access to Centers for Independent Living (CILs) that are providing consumer-controlled, community-based, culturally competent, timely, comprehensive and appropriate independent living services, that assist them in reaching their self-selected goals. Additionally, the SILC is seeking full access for people with disabilities, so that participation is not prevented or significantly impeded by physical, geographic, cultural, communication or other barriers. Full access requires that direct services be located in close proximity to persons served, be available to persons with disabilities and their families, and be delivered in the language or accessible format the consumers choose. Full access also requires that services be free of any physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers, be based on thorough cultural and disability knowledge, and be grounded in the independent living philosophy.

To accomplish our mission, efforts will be made to:

1. Increase levels of funding for existing CILs operations and new program development; 
2. To engage in activities to identify and support grassroots efforts to establish new CILs or the expansion of an existing CILs catchment area via the development of branch offices in unserved areas; 
3. The development of branch offices in underserved areas; and 
4. The development of methods to better serve underserved ethnic/minority groups and underserved disability groups.

These efforts will be made in conjunction with the Department of Human Services - Division of Rehabilitation Services as our Designated State Unit (DSU) as described in the Rehabilitation Act, as amended (the Act), the Bureau of Blind Services (BBS), the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL), the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI), the Illinois Assistive Technology Project (IATP) and other organizations that promote the independent living philosophy and the provision of independent living services.

Research, planning, technical assistance and organizational development activities will continue through the SILC's Capacity Development initiatives, in order to increase CILs' capacity to meet the needs of underserved and unserved populations including minority populations in their service areas. The SILC's 1995 Capacity Development study, 2000 Federal census data, and focus group feedback assisted in the identification of the full range of persons unserved and underserved by CILs, including; rural/urban, geographical, age, disability type and ethnicity or race or other distinguishing characteristics. Outreach activities will focus on strategies which the SILC and CILs can use to reach people, organizations and areas that are unserved/underserved, including services to racial and ethnic minorities, geographic regions and low incidence disability groups. Public awareness to increase understanding of the independent living philosophy and CIL services will be targeted at consumers and staff of existing CILs, communities working to establish new CILs, public agencies and organizations which provide and fund programs that impact the lives of persons with disabilities, and the general public.

MANDATORY AREA #1: EXTENT AND SCOPE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES

All of Illinois' 24 CILs provide the four (4) independent living core services in Section 7 (29), including: 

1. Information and Referral; 
2. Independent Living Skills Training; 
3. Peer Counseling (including cross-disability peer counseling); and 
4. Individual and Systems Advocacy, and 
5. A combination, as appropriate, of any two (2) or more independent living services included in Section 7 (30) (B), as determined by community and individual consumer need.

(A checklist listed on pages 18-20 of the SPIL pre-print identifies the additional independent living services provided by CILs in the state).

MANDATORY AREA #2: COOPERATION, COORDINATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG VARIOUS ENTITIES.

The SILC will engage in continued dialog with the DSU through quarterly meetings between the DSU Director and the SILC Executive Director, and additional meetings as needed, for discussion of substantive issues, budgetary matters, and collaborative efforts or projects. Routine requests for information are handled through the DSU representative on the SILC. A SILC representative for the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) has been selected and serves on the SRC. The SILC meets periodically with representatives from State advisory councils. Additionally, the SILC has developed an on-going liaison relationships with numerous disability related groups, and continues to establish linkages with statewide associations, councils, boards and organizations of persons with disabilities not presently represented on the SILC, including the Consortium of Illinois Disability Advocates (CIDA) which has over 20 statewide disability-related organizations whose mission includes the creation of additional home- and community-based programs and services in the State.

The DSU has developed annual coordinated spending plans utilizing all available State and Federal funds since 1985. With the SILC as its partner, this will continue, including the making of recommendations on the distribution of new Title VII, Part B and/or Part C Federal funding. The DSU also publishes an annual report on CIL services and accomplishments. This report covers CILs funded from all sources. This, too, will continue, with the SILC's involvement in determining needed content. It will serve as one of many key educational tools in efforts to promote the development of CILs statewide.

Core independent living services in particular, or any other consumer controlled services, are generally unavailable from any other service providers. The unique configuration of each CIL's services beyond core services is based on unmet local need. Documentation of efforts at coordination and establishing working relationships is required as part of the DSU's evaluation of CILs. Services are developed to complement, not duplicate existing services. While the SILC is charged with assessing the scope and extent of existing services and with developing and implementing a plan for development of a statewide network of CILs, the SILC has no role in monitoring any grants awarded by the DSU or the Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to CILs. The SILC and CIL staffs include Executive Directors and Administrative Assistants; therefore, the DSU does not provide administrative support services under Part B.

Illinois State law requires that the SILC have representatives from the Department of Human Services (DHS) - Division of Rehabilitation Services (the DSU), the DHS - Division of Developmental Disabilities, the State Board of Education, the Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department on Aging. These persons help serve as the SILC's organizational linkages in efforts to incorporate independent living philosophy and consumer control into these State agency service systems, and in efforts to develop additional funding resources for CILs while improving access to CIL services for persons served by these State agencies who presently may be unserved or underserved by CILs.

The narrative which follows reflects the following priorities that have been identified:

• X To support the operations of Centers for Independent Living; 
• X To support the development and operation of the SILC; 
• X To provide outreach to unserved and underserved populations; 
• X To provide training regarding the independent living philosophy; 
• X To support the research and data collection activities necessary to successfully implement services provided by CILs.

OBJECTIVE #1: NETWORK OF CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

The SILC and the DSU agree that funds received under Chapter 1, Title VII, Part B and C shall be allocated only to CILs that comply fully with the definitions and standards and assurances in Sections 702 and 725 of the Act, to provide independent living services to individuals with significant disabilities. Title VII, Part B funds will also be used to fund the SILC, as described in the resource plan, Attachment 2. No other entities but CILs that comply with standards and assurances in section 725 of the Act are eligible to receive Title VII, Part B and Part C or State general revenue funds for the delivery of independent living services.

In Illinois, the State provides general revenue funding (GRF), along with various sources of Federal funding and special project funding to support CILs. The SILC works in conjunction with the INCIL to promote the adoption of a formula concept for funding CILs using GRF. The purpose of the formula funding concept is to determine the minimum funding level necessary to provide the four (4) core services provided by Centers for Independent Living to residents in each county of the State. The formula concept takes into account factors related to population, geographic area, number of people with disabilities, availability of ancillary services, and is applied to each county. Currently, the amount of funding each CIL receives from Title VII, Part B and Part C, and State GRF are combined to provide a CIL's operations funding, and used to determine their level of funding compared to what the formula concept would require for a particular CIL. In addition, the SILC will not support the creation of a new CIL with a level of funding that is not adequate to support the four (4) core services as required under the Act.

Additionally, the SILC support the efforts of the National Council on Independent Living to seek additional sources of federal funding for CILs.

The following *funding priorities for allocation of available funds among existing CILs have been established:

• X Maintain current support levels of Title VII, Part B to existing CILs that comply with the standards and assurances in Section 725 of the Act; 
• X Provide for an annual cost-of-living adjustment for existing CILs; 
• X Provide funding increases to existing CILs to achieve funding levels identified in the formula concept; 
• X Maximize the amount of funding that CILs receive as reimbursements from other State and/or Federal sources; 
• X Other priorities mutually agreed upon by the SILC and the DSU.

The SILC's priorities for use of Part C funds mirror the Regulation found at 34 C.F.R. § 366.22.

(*Note: As an Appendix to Attachment 1, each CIL was asked to list priorities for their catchment area. The SILC and the DSU will use this information in its ongoing planning efforts).

In addition to CILs being funded with State GRF, Title VII, Part B and Part C funds, several CILs receive Title I, Chapter 2 funds for Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind, Vocational Rehabilitation 110 funds for independent living services supporting consumers' vocational rehabilitation goals, Home Services Program funds for personal assistance training, referral, and other support services for consumers of the DSU's Home Services Program. Additionally, as of State fiscal year 2004, the DSU has funded 21 (of 24) CILs for its Community Reintegration initiative aimed at assisting individuals between the ages of 18-59 move out of state licensed Nursing Homes in to the community.

In addition, under the Title VII, Chapter 2 Independent Living for Older Individuals who are Blind program, many CILs provide Outreach, Peer Counseling, Skills Training, and Assistive Technology demonstration and distribution to a population that continues to grow at a significant pace. Beginning in fiscal year 2004, at least six (6) CILs will be receiving Title VII, Chapter 2 Independent Living for Older Individuals who are Blind (ILOIB) funding to provide comprehensive services; including, planning, training and technical assistance, outreach, demonstrations, presentations and community awareness, and community collaboration to enhance services to a largely underserved population of individuals with disabilities. Additionally, in fiscal year 2004, four (4) CILs- through an ILOIB mini-grant program- have the opportunity to purchase equipment. This equipment may be housed at the CIL for demonstrations of available products to older individuals with visual impairments, or may be purchased for distribution to individuals with visual impairments to keep and use in their apartment or home.

CILs receiving Title VII, Part C grants receive the funds directly from and are monitored by RSA. CILs receiving state independent living funds, Title VII, Part B funds and Chapter 2, Title I funds deliver services through grants from the DSU. These CILs are evaluated periodically by the DSU staff utilizing a tool developed jointly by the DSU and CILs, which has been adapted to fully reflect the Rehabilitation Act standards and indicators and corresponding Federal and State compliance review guidelines.

CILs may also receive Title VII, Part B funds, regardless of other State or Federal funds received. These funds are granted by the DSU with sign-off by SILC. The funds granted directly to the CILs and the funds granted to the SILC for Operations and Capacity Development comprise an annual budget of $726,014 for fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007. All CILs in Illinois are required to comply fully with the standards and assurances in Section 725 of the Act to receive any funds allocated from the DSU for independent living. This is established in State law, and implemented in the policies and procedures established by the DSU.

CILs receiving Title VII, Part B and/or Title VII, Part C grants from RSA, that also have State general revenue or other funds through the DSU, must comply with monitoring and reporting requirements for both the DSU and RSA. The state requirement that all CILs comply with Federal standards and assurances eliminates conflicting programmatic requirements. Reporting requirements have been streamlined into one report to the DSU. However, the SILC, the INCIL and the DSU will continue to address the streamlining of reporting requirements.

When new Title VII, Part C funds are available in Illinois, new or existing CILs will apply directly to, and be funded directly by, RSA. The SPIL, in provisions regarding the establishment of a statewide network of CILs, shall identify geographic areas in the State that are presently unserved or underserved by CILs as priority areas in the consideration of applications.

The following are all of the current sources of funding for Illinois' Centers for Independent Living including both Part B, Part C, General Revenue Funds and other sources used for CIL operations.

Fiscal Year 2005 CIL Operations Funding Levels

*Locations, addresses/phone numbers and potential future funding considerations of Illinois' CILs are listed as an appendix to Attachment 1: See page number next to City where CIL is located: e.g., at ATCIL (Anytown, p. 26). 

MANDATORY AREA #3: OUTREACH TO UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND MINORITY GROUPS

Each CIL is required by the conditions of their grant award to engage in outreach activities. All DSU-funded CILs are required to have board membership that reflects the demographics of the CIL service area.

In fiscal year 2003, Illinois' 24 CILs provided direct services to 9,924 persons (5,432 females & 4,492 males), representing a 43% increase from the previous SPIL. Direct services include the full range of independent living services, including skills training, housing and transportation assistance, and peer counseling. Information and referral services were provided to 100,305 persons, and increase of over 55% from the previous SPIL. In addition, the CILs made extensive efforts in community education and advocacy, which is central to their mission, and have been instrumental in significant community changes in housing, transportation, and accessibility of services and sites.

The service areas of existing CILs include 93 unduplicated counties (out of 102 counties) and the city of Chicago. However, considerable portions of the state remain underserved or unserved. CILs provide the majority of their direct services (72 %) in the 23 counties of origin in which the CILs are located. This represents a one percent increase from the previous SPIL (71%), but still represents a clear indication of the need for additional outreach and resources to serve outlying counties. The remaining 70 counties of the CIL service area receive only 28% of the direct services.

The breakdown by race or ethnicity for persons receiving direct services from CILs as reported in the DSU's CIL annual report from the State fiscal year 2003 is as follows:

• African American- 28% 
• American Indian- 0.5% 
• Asian- 0.5% 
• Hispanic [Latino]- 4% 
• Native Hawaiian- 0% 
• White- 65% 
• Other- 2%

A review of 2000 Federal census data indicated a ten year increase of 69% in the State's Hispanic population to 12.3% of the total population, a 66% increase in the Asian population to 3.4% of the total population. Caucasians represent 73.5%, African Americans represent 15.1%, Native Americans represent 0.2%, and Multiracial represent 1.9% of the total population.

Services provided to a cross disability population as follows (DSU CIL Annual Report, FY '03):

• Visual- 9 % 
• Hearing- 7 % 
• Cognitive- 9 % 
• Mental [Psychiatric]- 11 % 
• Physical- 39 % 
• Multiple Disabilities- 20 % 
• Other/Unknown- 4 %

Ages of consumers served by CILs are as follows (DSU CIL Annual Report - FY '03):

• Under 6- 2% 
• 6-17 years- 8% 
• 18-22 years- 6% 
• 23-64 years- 70% 
• 65 & Older- 13% 
• Unknown- 1%

A continued examination of access to services and service needs in rural and in urban areas needs to occur. Several CILs have both very rural and very urban communities in their service area; others serve predominantly urban or rural populations. Eighteen (18) of the 24 CILs in the state service 87 counties with primarily rural areas with smaller populations. Federal 2000 census data indicated that these 87 counties- plus the nine (9) currently unserved counties- (totaling 96 counties) have 33% of the State's population. They cover large, often isolated geographic areas. Several rural counties served, especially in southern Illinois, have higher poverty and unemployment rates, as much as double the State average. These resource-poor areas have few other service providers to meet even the most basic consumer needs. Large portions of these CIL's service areas include little or no private and corporate resources for fund-raising to augment public funds.

The six (6) CILs that serve the urban area of Cook county (including, city of Chicago) and the "collar counties" have extremely dense population bases that continue to expand in their ethnic diversity. These urban areas include Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kane, and Will counties. Federal 2000 census data indicated the city of Chicago has 43% of the State's population, while the collar counties have 22% of the population.

Outreach to unserved and underserved populations throughout the State continues to be a need, including minority groups, urban and rural populations. The SILC will utilize the data collected from Public Hearings, focus groups, 704 Reports, data gleaned by CILs from Consumer Service Records, and other sources along with linkages with key entities and representatives of unserved and underserved populations to assist in shaping outreach efforts. A plan for supporting needed outreach will also be developed through coordinated efforts with the SILC, the DSU, the INCIL, and the CCDI. CILs report that they have engaged in a wide variety of outreach activities and continue to utilize strategies in their individual communities.

Priorities for Underserved Populations; including Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Underserved Disability Populations, and Persons with Disabilities under Age 22 and over Age 65:

The information presented on pages 6-8 of this Attachment clearly demonstrates that three (3) groups of persons with disabilities are underserved by existing CILs, even though these persons are within the geographical catchment areas of an existing CIL:

1. Members of racial and ethnic minorities, especially members of rapidly-growing minority groups; 
2. Persons with disabilities other than mobility-related disabilities; and 
3. Persons with disabilities under age 22 and over age 65.

It is a priority for the SILC to assist CILs in increasing both the quantity and quality services targeted to these underserved groups.

These services may include the following:

• X Pursuit of funds targeted at specific populations; 
• X Establishment of branch offices in rural and in urban areas; 
• X Conducting cultural diversity sensitivity staff training; 
• X Conducting efforts to identify and assess needs of underserved and unserved populations; 
• X Establishing linkages with, and presentations to organizations, groups, and clubs serving minority persons; 
• X Establishing goals for staff/board/consumer ratios that reflect local demographics; 
• X Hiring and training minority specialists or outreach coordinators; 
• X Identifying and utilizing foreign language interpreters; 
• X Identifying and utilizing computer assisted real-time translation (CART); 
• X Developing service directories for all counties served; 
• X Participating in city diversity round tables with leaders in the minority community; 
• X Offering targeted services and outreach to persons with psychiatric disabilities, children and students with disabilities, persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, persons with blindness or visual disabilities, parents, minorities, persons with HIV or AIDS, victims of domestic violence, and others. 
• X Making use of targeted media; 
• X Assisting in the reintegration of institutionalized persons with disabilities into the community.

The SILC will communicate with the Rehabilitation Services Administration to clarify the extent to which additional, federal funds can be utilized by CILs for programs to increase services to these underserved populations.

PRIORITIES FOR UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COUNTIES

Nine (9) counties are not included in any CIL service area, leaving persons with significant disabilities with little or no access to independent living services. Since the previous SPIL, ten (10) counties have been added as a result of the addition of five (5) new branch offices being funded with Title VII, Part C funds. Priority for new CIL funding for Illinois is the establishment of new CILs or the development of existing CIL branch offices to expand services to expand CIL services to the nine (9) counties that currently have no CIL services. These counties are: Alexander, Crawford, Johnson, Lawrence, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, and Union.

Recent experience suggests that the most likely prospect for expanding CIL services to these unserved areas is through the development of branch offices of existing CILs. The SILC will work with area CILs to pursue funding for such expansion, recognizing the need for community-based independent living services and grass roots support.

Among the existing 24 CILs, many areas remain significantly underserved because of a lack of resources. An additional priority is to expand the availability of those CILs to fully serve their catchment areas via the establishment of branch offices and other innovative strategies. Branch offices allow a CIL to be truly community-based, to bring consumer control in to the various communities it serves, and to assure that community advocacy is a consistent effort throughout the CILs catchment area.

However, the SILC does not support the creation of a branch office to serve an unserved or underserved area if the funding level is less than the amount requested by the CIL requesting the funding to support the branch office. If the funding level is insufficient to create a new CIL or a branch office the priority for the remaining Part C funds will be to serve the underserved population in the counties served by existing CILs.

Those counties are:

Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Cumberland, DeKalb, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jasper, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Kendall, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macoupin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Moultrie, Ogle, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson and Woodford.

The process for decision making on further development of a network of CILs will be driven by consumer and community need. Priorities among identified unserved or underserved areas will be established and strategies for increasing capacity of existing CILs will be based on periodic needs assessments and focus groups that will have consumer input as a primary foundation. All planning efforts will be evaluated based on whether the process maximized direct, substantial input from persons with disabilities themselves who are presently unserved or underserved, ensuring that those who are members of minority populations are adequately represented. Achievement of a network of CILs is not defined merely as geographic coverage of areas, or particular funding levels, or an arbitrary number of CILs: It is defined as the full accessibility and ready availability of services to all persons with disabilities in need of services. As is expected, the establishment of new CILs or branch office expansion is subject to the legislative and political processes that are part of overall State and Federal budget development.

Future plans for expansion call for inclusion of all Illinois counties and communities in a CIL service area, through development of additional CILs and branch office development. This includes increasing the use of computers and other technology aimed at reaching underserved and unserved persons with disabilities. However, increasing the number of physical access points by developing more CILs and branch offices is only a part of the SILC's vision of the expanding state CIL network. In addition, the SILC intends to develop the capacity for CIL collaboration and the access to independent living services through electronic means using the Internet.

The SILC with its Capacity Development initiatives will assist with research, strategic planning and technical assistance to assist CILs who are unable to fully meet the service needs of all geographic and disability communities in their service areas. With each CIL, the viability of branches or other service delivery mechanisms or service area strategies will be explored as the SILC, the DSU and the INCIL analyze the 2000 census data in conjunction with National, State and local trend data. This information will help assist in the design for expansion of existing CILs to meet the needs of unserved and underserved populations, including minority populations in their service areas.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The SILC has selected the following goals and objectives that further "the purpose of Chapter 1, Title VII of the Act [which] is: 

To promote a philosophy of independent living, which includes consumer control, peer support, self-help, self determination, equal access, and individual and systems advocacy, to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society." 

Currently the SILC has five (5) standing committees which assist in the development, implementation and evaluation of the State Plan on Independent Living (SPIL). The SILC has assigned its goals and corresponding objectives to its committees: Executive, Operations, Outreach, Planning, and Programs. Additionally, the committees will seek the cooperation, coordination and collaboration with our colleagues in the Designated State Unit (DSU), the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL), the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC), the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI), the Illinois Assistive Technology Project (IATP), the Consortium of Illinois Disability Advocates (CIDA), the Office of the Governor, members and staff of the General Assembly, members and staff of the Congressional Delegation and other stakeholders.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Consists of the officers of the SILC and the chairs of the standing committees. The Executive Committee shall coordinate the SILC's activities, and ensure that progress is made on the SILC's objectives between meetings. Serves as nominating committee for new members and for officers.

GOAL- #1: Ensure that the SILC Executive Director performs his/her duties as identified by the SILC Chair (ongoing). Objective- (a): Review performance objectives and conduct performance evaluations of the Executive Director (annual).

GOAL- #2: Monitor, review and evaluate the implementation of the SPIL 2005-2007. Objective- (a): Review committee goals as they apply to the SPIL (semi-annual). Objective- (b): Make recommendations for amendments to the SPIL (as needed). Objective- (c): Make recommendations for significant revisions to the SPIL 2008-2010 (by 5/30/10).

GOAL- #3: Ensure that the SILC membership has a cross-disability, cultural and regional representation. Objective- (a): Recruitment qualified pool of candidates for potential appointment (ongoing). Objective- (b): Conduct new member and periodic orientation for existing members (annually). Objective- (c): Conduct timely recommendations to the Office of the Governor, Boards and Commissions to replace members whose terms have expired, and recommend for re-appointment members who qualify for a second term and are active members of the SILC (annually).

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE : Develop policies, procedures, the SILC budget and resource plan, and other tools needed for the SILC to function as a legal organization. Address issues related to the SILC structure and overall organizational management.

GOAL- #1: Ensure that administrative and management activities of the SILC are conducted in a legal and professional manner. Objective- (a): Update and revise the SPIL resource plan (as needed). Objective- (b): Prepare for the SILC's approval an annual budget showing all funding sources (annual). Objective- (c): Ensure that the SILC adequately accounts for grant funds, including appropriate allocation of administrative costs to the various grants (annual). Objective- (d): Address legal issues affecting the SILC (on-going). Objective- (e): Conduct a thorough review of all formal SILC policies and revise as necessary. Draft new policies as needed (by 7/1/06). In particular, (i) prepare a policy for reimbursing SILC members for travel costs (by 7/1/05); and (ii) prepare an ethics policy for SILC members (by 7/1/05). Objective- (f): Review by-laws and revise as necessary (on-going).

GOAL- #2: Ensure that Capacity Development funds are expended in a fashion that best serves the State. Objective- (a): Conduct review and make recommendations for expenditure of Capacity Development fund activities (annually).

GOAL- #3: Continue operation of the SILC as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. Objective- (a): Maintain status via providing the necessary documentation to the Office of the Secretary of State (annually). GOAL- #4: Comprehensively review the allocation of Title VII, Parts B and C funds to the SILC and CILs in the State. Objective- (a): Continue to acquire information about the process for applying for Title VII, Part C funds by communicating with RSA (ongoing). Objective- (b): Obtain definitive guidance from RSA about the extent to which Title VII, Part C funds can be utilized by CILs for the purpose of expanding services to underserved populations (by 7/1/06). Objective- (c): Develop a policy on allocating Title VII, Part C funds that maximizes opportunities for all CILs in the state to receive those funds (within six months of achieving the immediately-proceeding objective). Objective- (d): Revise the existing SILC Title VII, Part B funding policy (by 7/1/05).

OUTREACH COMMITTEE: Identify and describe the full range of persons unserved and underserved by CILs, including rural/urban, geographical, age, disability type, ethnic and racial minorities or other distinguishing characteristics. Develop strategies the SILC can use to outreach to people and organizations and areas that are unserved/underserved. Develop ways for the SILC to increase participation of unserved/underserved in planning processes.

GOAL- #1: Continue the process of ensuring access to services to all persons with disabilities in the State's 93 counties currently served by the State's 24 CILs. Objective- (a): In cooperation with the DSU and the INCIL, continue to conduct research on CIL branch/branch "best practices" (by 7/1/06). Objective- (b): In cooperation with the DSU and the INCIL, convene interested CILs in learning about branch/branch office development (by 7/1/07). Objective- (c): In cooperation with the DSU and the INCIL, identify ways to expand existing services (ongoing).

GOAL- #2: Increase participation of underserved disability groups and minority groups at CILs. Objective- (a): In cooperation with the INCIL, identify needs of un/underserved disability groups and/or minority groups with information gleaned from 704 Reports and Consumer Service Record data (annually).

GOAL- #3: Assist CILs with training opportunities to better serve their consumers and communities. Objective- (a): Facilitate two (2) annual trainings for CIL staff basing content as determined by annual 704 Training and Technical Assistance needs (bi-annual). Objective- (b) In cooperation with the DSU and the INCIL, facilitate training on developing "outcome-based" reporting methods (annually).

PLANNING COMMITTEE: Oversee the needed information collection, analysis, and other efforts needed to develop state plans, and oversee the activities of monitoring and evaluating our completion of SPIL activities. Lead and coordinate SILC efforts on statewide independent living budget development and public input/hearings, related to meeting objectives in the SPIL.

GOAL- #1: Work with stakeholders on implementation of the Olmstead v. L.C. (1999) decision and the expansion of home- and community-based services in the State. Objective- (a): Conduct public awareness (on-going). Objective- (b): Conduct research and develop report on an overview of the State's existing Long-Term Care system and current institutional bias (by 7/1/05).

GOAL- #2: Conduct research on persons with disabilities in Illinois to assist with the expansion of independent living services and CIL services. Objective- (a): Share IDPH nursing home data to interested CILs to assist with Re-Integration efforts (by 9/30/06). Objective- (b): Conduct focus groups and public hearings to assist with the development of the SPIL '08-10 (by 4/30/07). Objective- (c): In cooperation with the DSU, research and make recommendations on the controlled growth of the Home Services (Medicaid waiver) Program (by 7/1/05).

GOAL- #3: Expand the Title VII, Chapter 2 Independent Living for Older Individuals who are Blind (ILIOB) Program to include more grants to CILs in the state. Objective- (a): The DSU and the SILC will meet with the Manager of the DSU's Blind Services Program to evaluate the progress of the ILOIB grants relative to CILs (annually). Objective- (b): Expand ILOIB program to include new CILs (pending funding increases).

PROGRAMS COMMITTEE: Provide oversight on the planning, development and implementation of existing programs of which the SILC has a role as sponsor or is a participating organization. Identify new programs, summits, symposia of which further the independent living movement in the State. GOAL- #1: Increase home ownership opportunities for persons with disabilities in the State. Objective- (a): Maintain Illinois Homeownership Coalition for Persons with Disabilities as a project of the SILC (ongoing). Objective- (b): Identify and secure Federal, State and local grant funds (ongoing). Objective- (c): Continue to fund full-time Homeownership Coalition Program Manager (ongoing). Objective- (d): Identify and secure funding for a part-time Program Manager Assistant for the Homeownership Coalition (ongoing). Objective- (e): Conduct Statewide stakeholders teleconferences aimed at expanding the capacity of interested CILs to develop Homeownership Coalitions' (quarterly). Objective- (f): Continue to expand Homeownership Coalition to additional sites in the State, in collaboration with interested local CILs (ongoing).

GOAL- #2: Continue Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit. Objective- (a): Identify and secure funding from State agencies and other sources (ongoing). Objective- (b): Identify and recruit participants in cooperation with the INCIL, the CCDI, the IATP and other stakeholders (annually). Objective- (c): Assess and modify summit format, as needed (annually).

GOAL- #3: Continue the SILC Capacity Development Consumer Stipend Program. Objective- (a): In cooperation with the Operations Committee, review and revise if necessary the consumer stipend program guidelines (by 6/30/05).

GOAL- #4: Continue to explore potential funding opportunities aimed at expanding "the provision of independent living services" in the State. Objective- (a): Review request for proposals and other funding opportunities that may be appropriate for the SILC's mission (ongoing). Objective- (b): Write and submit proposals pending approval by the Executive Committee (ongoing).

FOCUS GROUPS FEEDBACK

On October 29-30, 2003 the SILC hosted a SPIL planning session in cooperation with the INCIL to discuss the role of CILs in SPIL development and to garner their feedback on development of the SPIL '05-07. Part of the discussion centered on increasing the level of participation by CIL consumers, staff and board members in determining critical issues effecting people with disabilities in Illinois. An ad hoc INCIL committee was formed and two sets of questionnaires were developed for: (i) consumers, and (ii) for CIL board and staff. The questions were as follows:

"Questionnaire for a Community Focus Group"

1. If you are not currently working or active in the community, what would have to happen for you to go to work or be more active?
2. List the top 5 things you would want the CIL to do in this community in the next 3 years.
3. What are the 5 biggest barriers facing persons with disabilities in this community?
4. What are the 5 biggest things happening for persons with disabilities in this community?
5. How have things improved in this community in the past 5 years.

"Questionnaire for a Board/Staff Focus Group"

1. List the top 5 things you want the CIL to do in this community in the next 3 years.
2. What are the 5 biggest barriers facing persons with disabilities in this community?
3. What are the 5 best things happening for persons with disabilities in this community?
4. How have things improved in this community over the past 5 years?
5. If your CIL received $1 million what would you do with it?

A total of 16 of the State's 24 CILs participated in the Focus Groups between January 1 and May 31, 2004: Will-Grundy CIL (Joliet), RAMP CIL (Rockford), Progress CIL (Forest Park), PACE CIL (Urbana), Options CIL (Bourbonnais), SCIL (Springfield), NICIL (Rock Falls), LINC (Belleville), LIFE CIL (Bloomington), Lake County CIL (Mundelein), JACIL (Jacksonville), IL/IA (Rock Island), IVCIL (LaSalle), Fox River Valley CIL (Elgin), CICIL (Peoria), DuPage CIL (Glen Ellyn), Access Living CIL (Chicago). People with disabilities from across the State participated in these cross-disability focus groups in which they voiced a wide range of barriers to independent living. The top five (5) concerns identified were the need for:

1. An increase in disability awareness throughout the community. This includes educating the public concerning discrimination and disability concerns as well as informing persons with disabilities about opportunities available to them and their rights. 
2. An increase in all services provided to persons with disabilities. The services consistently and specifically mentioned were youth education advocacy, employment, housing, transportation, interpreters, reintegration, advocacy in general, architectural accessibility and services for specific populations historically underserved including those with mental illnesses, blind, deaf and the hard of hearing. 
3. An increase in outreach in the communities. The comments surrounding this topic were predominantly aimed at the need for branch offices in under-served counties, additional staff, increased funding and the general expansion of each CIL's services provided to those being served. 
4. An increase in visibility in the communities. In general, the respondents felt that increased marketing and awareness of the existence of the CIL's, their services and the Independent Living Philosophy was needed. 
5. An increase in training and education in the communities. The citizens at the focus groups brought this area to light by wanting more of what we do best - advocacy. Specifically, they expressed their appreciation for areas of education and training in the voter registration campaigns, visitability, Olmstead, accessibility assessments and as different legislative issues came up and needed to be addressed.

The Board and staff responses will be identified in the CIL's individual green sheets as an Appendix to the SPIL. However, with only a few minor variations, the results almost always mirrored the community input received from the focus groups.

PUBLIC HEARING FEEDBACK 

Three public hearings were conduced were conduced in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Transcripts of all Public Hearings are available from the SILC office upon request. Following is a listing of the three (3) Public Hearings, the number in attendance and the key points made at each Public Hearing.

Chicago (State of Illinois Building), June 1st, 2004 with 2 people in attendance: (1) "AS" - Noted involvement with SILC in another state, encouraged our SILC to involve more community members on it's committees and discussed a newsletter prepared by the SILC that she was previously involved with. Encouraged ongoing communication between the network of CILs and SILC. (2) "ET" - Noted the need for more funding for Centers for Independent Living. Noted was previously institutionalized and benefited from the reintegration program and is now able to live independently and work in the community.

Springfield (Illinois State Library), June 3rd, 2004 with 15 people in attendance: (1) "KJ" - A CIL staff, indicated need for increased training for personal care assistants, in addition to training for CIL staff regarding the recruitment of personal care assistants. (2) "DM" - A CIL staff, encouraged SILC to take an active role in the development of housing specifically increasing the use of Section 8 vouchers. Noted the need for increased housing options for people with mental health concerns, noting existing models encourage segregation. Noted need to maintain consumer control of home services program, yet noted need for state involvement with checks and balances of personal care assistants to ensure that individuals health and safety are secured. (3) "ME" - A CIL director, thanked SILC for involving CILs in the planning process of the SPIL and additionally thanked the SILC for including the concept of formula funding as a part of the SPIL. (4) "PR" - A CIL director, noted the need for SILC to increase the opportunity for all CILs to be able to compete for federal funding that it makes recommendations on. Also noted that the issue of unserved and underserved populations is prevalent throughout the state. Additionally noted the need for increased funding to better serve outlying counties in catchment area. (5) "PH" - A CIL director, noted the need for increased funding for all CILs in the state. Also expressed that the SPIL should be used by the SILC and CILs as a tool to increase funding as a part of the legislative process. (6) "AF" - The director of the state association of CILs, noted the need for affordable and accessible housing in an integrated setting driven by consumer choice. Expressed concern about the lack of attention paid by the state related to workforce development for people with disabilities, citing the ongoing high unemployment rate.

Cairo (Cairo City Hall), June 8th, 2004 with 6 people in attendance: (1) "BV" - A CIL Director. Noted need to establish services in unserved counties of Alexander, Pulaski , Johnson, Union, Polk, and Massac. Indicated that resources for people with disabilities in Cairo area were negligible due to lack of funding for services. Urged the SILC to make this unserved area a priority in the SPIL. (2) "EM" - A CIL staff person. Noted need for transition services for High School students with disabilities needing independent living services in six-county area. Noted lack of industry in area and that adults with disabilities face similar issues due to lack of employment opportunities. (3) "TD" - A CIL staff person. Noted need for additional assistance for youth with disabilities coming out of High School in terms of finding jobs and other services. (4) "OD" - Noted a volunteer with CIL-initiated youth program and indicated the need for continues funding to make the program more successful. (5) "TD" - Noted need to assist youth in area and need for additional transportation options. Indicated that a CIL-initiated job readiness training was started but noted need for more assistance in this area. (6) "CV" - Noted working with CIL vocational youth program for several years and indicated its importance in the area. Noted young people currently must travel into Missouri to seek employment and transportation is an issue. Noted CIL vocational program helps provides jobs for people out of school.

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