4/5/2012
Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois Department of Human Services are committed to increasing community care options and improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities and mental health challenges. The State's Rebalancing Initiative is a major step in reaching that goal.
We are restructuring the system - moving from a facility based "beds" or "slots" approach to one that is person-centered and provides customized services and supports. The restructuring effort also requires us to identify who is currently providing services and supports that are needed and desired and where there are gaps in these services and supports that must be addressed.
The Rebalancing Initiative for State-Operated Developmental Centers will begin the process of developing capacity in the community and transitioning residents of developmental centers to community settings. In order to determine the capacity of the current provider community (including licensed practitioners such as OT, PT, and psychologists), identify service and support gaps, and what supports will be necessary to assist current providers in their efforts to help achieve the overall goals of this effort, a DHS has begun the Rebalancing Initiative for State-Operated Developmental Centers RFI/RFA Informational Gathering Process.
The Request for Information is simply a series of questions that the provider submits answers to. This does not obligate the provider to any services, further processes, etc. but rather serves as a baseline of what services currently exist. This process allows the providers to describe their current service array and capacity and limitations associated with further development, etc.
The Request for Application, or RFA, is essentially a continuation of the RFI process through the completion of the second section of the form. The RFA is directly tied to a provider's willingness to engage in the new transition process according to the established criteria. Together these are called the RFI/RFA informational gathering process.
The RFI/RFA informational gathering process will be implemented for those providers interested in assisting with the transition of care to the community for the current residents of the Murray Developmental Center.
Read more information on the Rebalancing Initiative for State-Operated Developmental Centers.
