If you have an adult (age 18+) family member who is still waiting on the PUNS list or who has received funding but is unable to find suitable services because of high behavior and/or medical needs, please attend this townhall meeting on April 17.
The State of Illinois is currently under a consent decree as a result of a lawsuit. The consent decree requires the state to offer services to adults who are waiting on the PUNS list within 60 months (5 years) of being eligible and in the “seeking services” category.
The State of Illinois wants to end the consent decree, meaning there would be nothing requiring the state to offer services in a timely manner.
WITH the consent decree, there’s still a 5-year wait and many people with high needs are still unable to access services. Imagine the situation WITHOUT the consent decree!
It is crucial that families of adults with developmental disabilities make their voices heard!
This includes anyone struggling to keep loved ones out of SODCs or ICF/IDDs, but who cannot find appropriate community services due to:
– A shortage of in-state residential school or CILA placements for young adults w/very high behavioral or medical needs
– Continuing staff shortages of new & experienced DSPs which delays any increases in CILA capacity (i.e. staffing existing homes or opening new ones)
– Continuing staff shortages across all the ISC agencies which leads to unassigned cases, long delays in processing applications after PUNS selection, and too-high caseloads for quality check-in’s or advocacy after CILA placement occurs
– A shortage of short-term stabilization or ER beds for DD/MI cases that could mean the difference between losing at-home or CILA placement due to extreme behavioral health needs
No need to pre-register! Just join the meeting via Webex (link below) or by phone @ 312-535-8110.
Meeting Code: 26312072068