[il-talk] Fw: DRS CPU January 2010

[Robert Gardner]

FYI.  This is coming to you through the State Rehab Council.  

Bob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lori Zenner" <Lori.Zenner at illinois.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 3:32 PM
Subject: DRS CPU January 2010


DHS/Division of Rehabilitation Services
Community Partner Update
January 2010

SSA Reimbursement:  In a recent visit with the Regional Commissioner of
the Social Security Administration James Martin, Secretary Saddler,
Assistant Secretary Hou, and DRS Director Rob Kilbury received the
following information:  During federal Fiscal Year 2009, Illinois
Vocational Rehabilitation successfully rehabilitated 385 disabled Social
Security clients and was reimbursed $4,420,045 for its services under
the general and blind program.

This reflects positively on the Division's emphasis to serve those with
the most significant disabilities, as these customers are more likely to
be eligible for Social Security disability payments.  Illinois was
second in the region on this statistic to our neighbors from Ohio, which
has a tremendous advantage in terms of their overall base funding for
VR.

Centers for Independent Living:  The Statewide Independent Living
Council of Illinois (SILC) has hired as its new Executive Director,
William Gorman. Mr. Gorman comes to us from the State of Iowa and
started his duties as Executive Director on December 7th.  He has been a
service provider in three states (Indiana, Colorado and Iowa), has run a
local ARC, was the Executive Director of the Colorado Developmental
Disability Planning Council, was the Administrator of the Division of
MH/MR/DD/BI for the State of Iowa.  We look forward to working with Mr.
Gorman in planning for the independent living program and service needs
of persons with disabilities in Illinois.

On November 11th, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
approved the amended State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The
significance of this is that it now allows Illinois' Plan for the use of
ARRA stimulus funds for the CIL Program to be implemented by RSA.  

Platinum Customer Service/Staff Development:  The DHS/DRS 2010 Calendar
(2009 Annual Report) has been sent to local offices and distributed to
community partners and stakeholders.  It is also available in Braille
and on line.  The annual report reflects the mission of the Division and
the goal of getting jobs for persons with disabilities.

On November 10th an announcement on OneNet heralded in the availability
of the DRS Training Library.  The Library was developed as a means of
supplying all DRS staff with information related to disabilities and
employment and consists of DVDs and books.  It is anticipated that we
will continue to add resources to this library as funds permit, so that
information can be available to staff in working with customers and
fulfilling the mission of DRS.

Home Services Checkpoint Modules have been written and are in the
review process.  The Modules follow the same format as the VR Checkpoint
Modules which are used to train VR counselors.  The same type of
Checkpoint Module System for Rehabilitation Case Coordinators is also in
the final stages.  It is anticipated that both these Checkpoint Module
Systems will be available in the spring for local office use in training
HSP and Rehabilitation Case Coordinator staff.

ARRA: Two ARRA proposals have been written to:
1.Work with the Illinois Broadcaster*s Association to develop and air
a series of informational radio and TV spots regarding DRS on over 200
local media stations throughout the State of Illinois; and

2. Invite Bill Santos back to facilitate a spring meeting for VR staff
as a follow-up to his presentation in September 2009.  These spring
meetings will focus on job seeking efforts and employer contacts from
local offices.

In addition to the policy and procedure training that is ongoing, SDS
will be developing several new training opportunities this year at the
request of local offices.  This will include: Ethics, Public Speaking
(on what DRS does), and motivational interviewing.

Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:  As part of the DRS
transition initiative, Chicago Public Schools and DRS staff h
ave
developed and implemented a procedure to provide transition services to
students who are deaf and hard of hearing.  Five schools that were
selected to participate have established programs for students who are
deaf and hard of hearing. This project started during the fall 2009 term
and involves four DRS Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf and four
Transition Specialists.  The Rehabilitation Counselors and Transition
Specialists will work together to provide transition and vocational
rehabilitation services to students who are juniors and seniors and are
deaf or hard of hearing.  It is anticipated that 65 students will
receive services during the 2009 2010 school year. 

Bureau of Blind Services:  Alvin Roberts, BBS Quality Assurance
Administrator and a 1950 graduate of the Illinois School for the
Visually Impaired (ISVI), will describe student life at the school in
the 1940's as part of the of the celebration of the 160th anniversary of
the school on January 13, 2010.  Mr. Roberts* experiences will provide
students, staff and parents an opportunity to reflect on some of the
changes in education, orientation and mobility, daily living skills,
technology, etc., that have occurred over the past sixty years.  The
school was established with the signing of Senate Bill #19 on January
13, 1849, by Governor Augustus C. French.

Business Enterprise Program for the Blind:  Public Law 2421 (The Blind
Vendors Act) becomes effective January 1, 2010.  This law gives priority
to the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind (BEPB) to operate
vending operations in state facilities.  The BEPB has been diligently
working with the Legal Department within DHS to draft Memoranda of
Understanding for all agencies that will be affected by this Act.  This
legislation is something that the blind managers as well as the BEPB
have been wanting for many years.  The legislation was penned to reflect
the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Act which gives priority for blind
individuals to operate vending facilities on federal property.  The
passing of the Public Law will greatly impact the lives of our blind
managers and will afford them the opportunity to receive benefits that
previously available to them.
 
Legislative and Administrative Update:  The Department of Central
Management Services (CMS) has recommended several field office
consolidations for the Department of Human Services.  The
recommendations include the following DRS offices:

Benton   relocate and move into the Family and Community Resource
Center (the Human Capital Development field office). 

Business Enterprise for the Blind Program Warehouse   The BEPB's
equipment warehouse in Springfield has closed and the operation has
moved to the Department's central warehouse in Springfield.

Decatur   relocate and move into the Family and Community Resource
Center. 

Freeport   CMS has signed a lease for new office space near the local
one stop.   Preliminary discussions regarding office build out have
occurred with the landlord.

Quincy   relocate and move into the same building as the Family and
Community Resource Center.

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved proposed
changes to Part 650, which govern the Business Enterprise for the Blind
Program and are being prepared for adoption.

JCAR approved and adopted the repeal of Part 645 Workers*
Compensation (VR).

The following administrative rules are currently in the Administrative
Rule process:
-Part 520 Authorizations (General)   First Notice   published 11/20/09 
 33 Ill. Reg. 15981.
-Part 527 Recovery of Misspent Funds (General)   ready to post on
Second Notice.
-Part 686 Provider Requirements, Type Services, and Rates of Payment
(HSP)   Enhanced Rate for Homemaker Health Insurance Costs   JCAR lifted
their objection with the requirement the agency repeal their emergency
filing and process the rules under the regular rule making process.  

Money Follows the Person:  DRS has completed the revision of the MFP
process for submittal to Health
care and Family Services. Twenty-two
Centers for Independent Living have once again been approved to start
the process of MFP. Sixteen individuals have been transitioned since the
beginning of the program.  Forty individuals have been enrolled in the
MFP program.

The Community Reintegration program continues to operate providing
services to those individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria
under MFP.  Year-to-date transitions for CRP total 60.
 
Rapid Reintegration:  HSP staff and designated CIL staff located in
Sangamon, Boone and Winnebago counties continue to work with Swedish
Memorial Hospital, Rockford and Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, to
conduct pre-screenings and linkages with the Home Service Program and
CIL reintegration services, in an effort to increase community based
services for those transitioning from nursing facilities. This is a
pilot program.

Vocational Rehabilitation Field Services:  Competitive outcomes are
lagging somewhat in comparison to last year. However, eligibility
determinations are up seven percent.  Hopefully the economy will
continue its resurgence and more VR customers will move into productive,
meaningful jobs the remainder of this fiscal year.

Co location of DRS field offices with our sister Division of Human
Capital Development continues to move forward (see Legislative and
Administrative Update above).  Hopefully, within the next several weeks,
DRS will announce these co locations to you. The goal of co location is
increased cost-efficiency, while enhancing the Smartpath initiative of
one stop *no wrong door* services.

Home Services Program:  The debit card initiative, undertaken by
DRS-HSP and HCD-Child Care, has now moved into full implementation, with
the first deposits onto debit cards occurring this month.  With this
step, Personal Assistants (PA) working for Home Services customers and
Child Care workers can now choose one of three ways to receive their
payment.  

PAs can now choose to receive a paper check, have their payment direct
deposited into their personal bank account, or have the funds loaded
onto a debit card offered by ACS State & Local Solutions, Inc.  In the
upcoming months, DHS and ACS will be working to iron out any wrinkles in
the implementation process, as well as to encourage PAs to decide if the
program is right for their individual situation.

Illinois School for the Visually Impaired: A celebration of ISVI's
160th birthday will be on January 13th, 2010, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in
the ISVI auditorium. 

A few highlights of the celebration will include:

* A few former graduates of ISVI will speak about what ISVI meant to
them.

* Another former graduate wrote a song about ISVI's 160th birthday and
it will be sung by the ISVI Concert Choir.

* The first quilt square of a commemorative quilt will be presented and
will be placed in the ISVI museum.  It is being made by an ISVI staff
member.

* Cake and punch will be served in the ISVI Dining Hall.  Sugar cookies
may also be available for guests to decorate to look like braille
cells.


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