The Arc of Winnebago, Boone, & Ogle Counties

FOR PEOPLE

with

developmental disabilities

Our Legislators

Governor: Rod. R. Blagojevich - www.illinois.gov

James R. Thompson Center suite 16-100 100 West Randolph, Chicago, IL 60601

312 814 2121

State Senators:

Bradley Burzynski - (R-35 Clare) www.senatorbrad.com

505 DeKalb Ave. Sycamore IL 60178

815 895 6318 info@senatorbrad.com

Dave Syverson (R-34 Rockford) www.senatordavesyverson.com

200 S. Wyman St. suite 32, Rockford IL 61101

815 987 7555 info@senatordavesyverson.com

Representatives:

Charles "Chuck" Jefferson (d-67 Rockford) www.housedem.state.il.us

200 S. Wyman St. suite 304 Rockford IL 61101

815 987 7433 staterepchuck67@aol.com

David Winters (R68 Shirland)

3444 N. Main St. suite 80 Rockford IL 61103

815 282 0083 repwinters@aol.com

Ron Wait (R69 Belvidere)

411 S. State St, suite 213 Belvidere IL 61008

815 547 7771 repwait@aol.com

Jim Sacia(R 89 Pecatonica)

19 S. Chicago Ave, Freeport IL 61032

815 232 0774 jimsacia@aerolinc.net

For up to date information click here for The Arc of IL

FY 2008 Do the Right Thing Campaign

The “Do the Right Thing” Coalition supports revenue enhancements because the need for additional resources for community services and supports is without question. Whatever the agreement on revenue, the needs of persons with disabilities and mental illness are ongoing every day and must be addressed in the FY08 budget. The Coalition urges the General Assembly’s to equally support maintaining quality of services for individuals currently receiving them and expansion of services and supports for those who wait.

The “Do the Right Thing” Coalition supports:

50 cents/hour wage increase for non-executive staff*

o Direct care and other non-executive staff play a critical role in the lives of people with disabilities. The community is losing qualified staff that provides the invaluable service of assisting people in their daily lives. Finding and keeping these employees is becoming impossible for community organizations. This problem clearly threatens the vision of community participation for individuals with disabilities and their families and is made worse by the upcoming increase in the minimum wage.

• 3% CODB to address the increased costs of serving people*

o This cost of doing business will apply to the following Divisions within the Department of Human Services – Alcohol and Substance Abuse; Developmental Disabilities; Mental Health; and Rehabilitation Services

• Community supports and services

CILA and Individual Support Option* $15 million

Home-Based Support Services* $ 8 million

Family Assistance Program $ 4 million

• New Medicaid waiver for home and community-based

services for children with developmental disabilities

$30 million

• Children’s residential waiver* $ 3 million

People with disabilities need services and supports to live and work in their community. Those needs are ongoing everyday. Members of the “Do the Right Thing” Coalition utilized established rate studies and data collection to promote the need of additional resources in the community system. The 2005 State of the States by Dr. David Braddock, PNP/Navigant Cost Analysis, University of Illinois Rate Study, and PUNS substantiate the critical need for increased resources to maintain and make supports and services available for persons with disabilities receiving and waiting for them.

*Services are eligible for a 50% match from Medicaid.

Members of the “Do the Right Thing” Coalition

Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF)

The Arc of Illinois

Family Support Network

UCP of Illinois

The Institute on Public Policy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

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