Statewide Independent LivingCouncil of Illinois
Statewide Independent LivingAs is noted throughout these attachments, Title VII, Part B Chapter 1 funds are used to fund Center for Independent Living (CIL) operations and independent living (IL) services provided by CILs that fully comply with provisions of the Act, to fund the SILC Operations and planning, and to fund the SILC Capacity Development and other activities described throughout these attachments.
CILs receiving Title VII, Part B funds receive them in the form of grants from the DSU with SILC sign-off. The CILs are required to adhere to all requirements in the Act, and the CILs themselves determine eligibility of consumers for receipt of services, in accordance with Section 704 of the Act. Regarding Section 704(e), the DSU delegates to the CILs the determination of eligibility for such services. Title VII, Part B funds are used in tandem with state general revenue funds and/or Title VII, Part C funds, to serve as the core or base funding of the CILs in Illinois.
The SILC receives Title VII, Part B funds in the form of a grant from the DSU for both Operations and Capacity Development. The grant supports three full-time staff; an Executive Director, an Administrative Assistant, and the Project Manager of the SILC’s Illinois Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities project. The Executive Director is responsible for overall administration, coordination, and management of the SILC’s activities as directed by the SILC and the SPIL. The Administrative Assistant is responsible for performance of internal accounting duties, clerical support for the SILC and its Executive Director, coordination of meetings and other assigned activities. The Homeownership Project Manager oversees the day-to-day operation of that project. The Executive Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and report to the Chair of the Council. All other staff shall be recruited, hired, terminated (if necessary), and supervised by the Executive Director.
The SILC maintains an independent office at 510 East Monroe 3rd Floor, Springfield IL 62701. Funds are allocated for furnishing and maintaining a fully functioning office, for holding quarterly SILC meetings, and other committee, planning, and training activities as required by the SPIL. Funds are allocated for the procurement of services and equipment to ensure cross disability access. Funds are allocated for a full fiscal and program evaluation, and for public awareness and training activities about the SILC, the CILs, and the independent living philosophy.
Funds are also allocated for extensive planning activities by the SILC to be done in conjunction with the DSU, the CILs, local communities, and organizations which provide services or influence service provision affecting persons with disabilities. A primary source of gathering information is consumer input and involvement in the processes of assessing need and planning for future development of services by existing CILs, and establishment of new CILs. Costs are tied to measurable goals and objectives in Attachment 1.
Fourteen (14) CILs in Illinois receive Title VII, Part C grants directly from RSA, and those CILs also receive Title VII, Part B funds. Title VII, Part B funds have been used to supplement state general revenue and other federal funds received by CILs, in as equitable and needs-based manner as possible.
The CILs will be partners with the SILC in identifying and developing strategies to address unmet needs in their areas, as part of the design for a statewide network of CILs, and in identifying needed data and information required for statewide planning and expansion. All CILs have developed collaborative working relationships and referral mechanisms with a vast array of other service providers to assure non-duplication with other federal, state, and local programs.
Currently, eight (8) CILs have received Chapter 2 funds for Independent Living services to Older Persons who are Blind (ILOIB).
The SILC and the DSU agree that funds received under Title VII, Chapter 1, Part B 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 (IL) services to individuals with significant disabilities. No other entities but the CILs that comply with standards and assurances in section 725 of the Act are eligible to receive Title VII, Part B or state general revenue funds for the delivery of independent living services.
All CILs must provide the four (4) independent living core services in Section 7 (29), and a combination, as appropriate, of any two (2) or more IL services included in Section 7 (30) (B), as determined by community and individual consumer need.
In Illinois, CILs are funded with state general revenues, Title VII, Part B and Part C funds, and Chapter 2 funds for Services for Older Individuals who are Blind. Two CILs also utilize Vocational Rehabilitation 110 funds for independent living services supporting consumers' vocational rehabilitation goals. Additionally, 23 CILs utilize Home Services funds for personal assistance training, referral, and other support services for consumers of the DSU’s Home Services Program.
The 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 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 the CILs, which has been adapted to fully reflect the Rehabilitation Act standards and indicators and corresponding federal and state compliance review guidelines.
The SILC has developed a resource plan utilizing $227,124 for the SILC’s Operations and Capacity Development activities for each fiscal year and which reflects priorities mutually established by the SILC and the DSU. An annual contract will be developed between the SILC and the DSU, specifying the mechanisms by which these capacity development funds are allocated. This contract will address how specific activities will fulfill objectives in the SPIL and will include the required assurances that nothing in the agreement shall compromise the SILC's autonomy or its ability to utilize these funds to achieve the objectives included in the SPIL. All contracts should meet state and federal fiscal accountability guidelines.
To maintain Title VII, Part B funding levels for existing Centers for Independent Living;
To maintain the SILC as an autonomous entity capable of meeting the requirements under the Rehabilitation Act, as amended;
To initiate activities that will lead to the establishment of new CILs and increase the capacity of existing CILs to meet the needs of unserved and underserved populations in their existing service areas;
To undertake and support outreach activities to identify and serve unserved and underserved populations, particularly minority and rural populations in need of independent living services.
Following is a copy of the SILC’s annual resource plan.
PERSONNEL $112,988.
FRINGE $ 21,643.
EQUIPMENT $ 0.
TRAVEL $ 18,045.
COMMODITIES $ 2,000.
CONTRACTUAL $ 63,248.
OTHER $ 9,200.
TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $227,124.
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