The process can be extensive and confusing. Where to start? Who to contact? What programs are available? Who can help me?
I receive calls daily from families that are in need of services and assistance but are unsure where to begin or who to contact. Many do not understand how the funding is provided or how to apply for it. Some families are in crisis and can not wait for an award letter to arrive. To assist families and individuals in requesting help and guidance with the processes, I have compiled some links and resources that can assist you in expediting the process.
The first step is to contact the local PAS agency or ISSA. This agency will assist in the eligibility and the application process. The application process consists of a form called the PUNS. To assist you in how the PUNS works, please see the link below.
Microsoft Word - PUNS - The Basics.doc - GE_PUNS_the_Basics.pdf
After the screening and PUNS is completed, individuals often wait. In some circumstances, crisis funding can be requested. To determine if your situation constitutes a crisis, you will need to discuss this with the PAS or ISSA who assisted you in the screening.
If you are seeking residential placement (a group home setting), you may want to explore the option of an ICF/DD facility. ICF/DD facilities vary in size (from 4 bed facilities to 16 bed facilities to larger). An ICF/DD facility is governed by the Illinois Department of Public Health and adheres to a strict set of regulations regarding the services and care the facility provides. An ICF/DD facility is funded differently and the funding for the residential service is secured to the facility, thus there is no wait list or award letters that must be met prior to attaining the service. Once the individual has been screened and the PAS has determined the individual meets the critera to be defined as developmentally disabled, an individual is eligible for the residential services of an ICF/DD facility.
According to Illinois Health Care Association, and ICF/DD is explained as :
" Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD) are facilities providing 24-hour residential care to three or more individuals with developmental disabilities. These facilities are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as ICFs/DD and are certified for Medicaid participation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as Intermediate Care Facilities for Developmentally Disabled (ICF/DD).
ICF/DD provide specialized services encompassing everything from personal care to intensive nursing, depending on the setting. ICF/DD offer a variety of services to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities while enhancing their quality of life. Supports and comprehensive training in practical life skills such as mobility, socialization, employment, and recreational opportunities are designed to help individuals acquire skills necessary for maximum independence.
The comprehensive approaches to helping individuals residing in ICF/DD acquire the skills necessary for maximum independence is referred to as "active treatment." Active treatment refers to aggressive, consistent implementation of programs of specialized and generic training, treatment and health services.
ICF/DD must adhere to an extensive set of state and uniform federal regulations and are subject to unannounced on-site inspections, as well as on-site surveys when complaints are filed with the Illinois Department of Public Health."
http://www.ihca.com/consumer/ddcare.html
Along with residential services, an ICF/DD will ensure the individual with disabilities has access to developmental day training services. In fact, an individual residing in an ICF/DD facility is immediately eligible for day training services as the ICF/DD facility contracts with day training providers to provide services to their residents. The types of Day training services are explained below:
- Developmental Training (DT) Programs that prepare individuals 18 years of age or older to live and function in social setting with people with developmental disabilities and promotes independence in daily living and economic self-sufficiency.
- Supported Employment offers supervision, training, counseling, coaching and follow-up services to maintain individuals with developmental disabilities in competitive jobs at an integrated work-site.
- Vocational Development offers time-limited supports including, but not limited to work adjustment training, vocational evaluation, skills training, and placement.
If you would like to explore the services available in an ICF/DD facility, you can request more information from the PAS agency or ISSA who assisted in the screening and PUNS. If you need assistance in locating a PAS agency, click the link : http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12&officetype=&county=
Or, please feel free to contact one of our management team at mccc240@gmail.com or by completing the contact form below. We would love to show you and your loved one the services and programs we offer. If we are unable to meet your needs, we can also refer you to other ICF/DD providers in the area.
For more information on residential services, programs, funding and assistance in locating services for individuals with developmental disabilities please visit https://www.disability.gov/
