Reforms needed in disability formulas
As an executive director of an organization providing day services to individuals with severe/profound developmental disabilities in DuPage County, and, as a CARF accreditation surveyor having visited in person and virtually over 35 states and 140 organizations in 10 years, I have seen the gamut of funding pathways, state priorities and the needs of individuals served in all of those states, counties and local venues.
I have long advocated that the state needs to adopt a funding tier that appropriates rates to the needs. Higher needs means higher funding. More independent folks would get less funding.
I applaud the efforts of the Department of Human Services and Developmental Disabilities. But, the current initiatives will not bring success. I suggest that changing funding be based on the needs of the person (not of the organization serving them) and ensuring that the services are given proper oversight are necessary.
Our state will never comply with court decrees if we don't:
1) start providing services at the level the individual needs,
2) provide immediate adult services out of public school, and
3) provide service coordination services that actually fulfill the definition of that service in CMS language.
These are the only efforts that will change the current path of failure in the state of Illinois.
Marilyn Flanagan
Lombard