The Institute is a voluntary association of organizations
supporting services to persons with developmental disabilities.
The Institute seeks to influence public policy development which
supports these services and to engage in activities which will
improve the quality of programs and services throughout the
State of Illinois.
OUR HISTORY, OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OUR FUTURE
Since its inception in 1999,
the Institute on Public Policy has had one constant vision: we
believe that public policy in Illinois must be driven by best
practices – not current practice.
Starting with a small group of
five agencies, we now have 27 agencies that share this vision.
Our goal is not to be the biggest, but to be the best. Though
our members are mostly providers, we are not a trade
association. Our mission is to provide leadership, technical
support, and training to change the system in Illinois. We
believe that we should move from facilities to supports, from
regulations to real lives and that we can change the system one
person at a time.
We have three larger goals that
currently drive our efforts:
Promoting a revised
Medicaid Waiver that focuses on individualized
options for day and residential supports for three or fewer
persons.
Implementing a community
mobile crisis system that prevents
institutionalization, promotes small integrated settings
allowing individuals currently in institutions to move to the
community
Implementing Self
Determination in Illinois. This includes the
development of person-centered plans and individual budgets with
the person and his/her allies truly in control.
We have accomplished much in our short history. Some
of the achievements we are most proud of follow::
1. The institution of an annual Best Practices Conference
offering national speakers presenting cutting edge issues.
2. The creation of our Crisis Innovations Pilot in
partnership with DHS and other community stakeholders. We have
successfully diverted individuals from state institutional
admissions, allowing them to remain in the community through the
efforts of our intensive consultation and support.
3. Provided leadership in the rewrite of the Medicaid Waiver
to promote person-centered community day and residential
supports for 3 or fewer persons in the setting.
4. Wrote white papers and position statements on Howe
Developmental Center, Mental Health/DD issues, and other
relevant topics.
5. Provided technical assistance and training each year to
other DD agencies, the Department of Aging, DHS, families and
people with disabilities on person-centered planning, positive
behavioral supports, supervision, and strategic planning.
6. Promoted
mobile community-based crisis supports as an alternative to
facility-based services in state operated developmental centers
(SODCs).
Much has been done and much is left to do. We will
continue to work urgently toward our goal of assisting
individuals with disabilities and their families to enjoy full
citizenship that is their birthright.
To explore membership, please contact
Derrick Dufresne, President/CEO,
at 217-492-9999 or
cra@aol.com |
