Dear Partners:
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is pleased to announce that various types of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be distributed to community organizations throughout the State. In addition to the KN95 masks that Illinois Partners for Human Service continues to help us distribute, the following types of PPE will be available to IDHS-funded provider organizations in the new year:
- Isolation Gowns
- Nitrile Gloves
- Reusable Face Shields
- Shoe Coverings
- Surgical Masks
- Waterproof Elastic Disposable Hair Bonnets
- Disinfecting Wipes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Touch-Free Thermometers
PPE NEEDS SURVEY
Interested organizations must complete the above-linked survey by January 20, 2021, which requires you to provide an overview of the services your organization provides along with an estimate of your monthly PPE needs. Based on the information that you provide, we will distribute PPE to your organization as supplies are available and as your organization is able to accept the delivery. We estimate that providers will receive distributions on a monthly basis until supplies run out.
Please note - supplies are limited; filling out this survey does not guarantee that you will receive all of the supplies indicated in your submission. IDHS will attempt to fulfill all requests for PPE and reserves the right to allocate based on Agency discretion and the type of setting in which your organization operates. Once you complete and submit the PPE Request Form, please allow roughly 2 - 3 weeks before initial receipt of PPE.
Additionally, while this PPE will be available to all IDHS-funded provider organizations, some programs will have a different request process:
- Providers in the Home Services Program may continue to request PPE through your DRS local offices as well as the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living.
- A request process is being finalized for providers in the Early Intervention Program. A communication on this process will be coming soon.
If you have questions about how to request PPE or the process generally, please email DHS.PPE@illinois.gov.
As a final note, we want to, once again, thank you for the remarkable work that you are doing in these trying times. Our appreciation for the work you do has taken on an even deeper meaning this year. We know this second wave is not easy 10 months into this pandemic and are hopeful this distribution of PPE can make things ever so slightly easier on you and your organization. And, as always, we are here to serve as your partner in this work.
Sincerely,
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, IDHS
