Good Afternoon,
QUICK NOTES
- Per IDPH, the preliminary seven-day statewide COVID-19 positivity for cases as a percent of total test from October 1-7, 2021 is 2.1%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from October 1-7, 2021 is 2.6%.
- There are NEW LINKS to register for the Community Provider Trainings being held by the Division this fall. Please make sure to re-register for the training series. You can find the NEW LINKS here.
DDD PROVIDER SURVEY
Provider survey extended! We've received 138 responses to date! Please make sure to complete the DDD Provider Survey by October 22. We ask that ALL providers complete one for their agency. We understand that thinking about capacity, at this time, is difficult based on staffing challenges. However, we would really appreciate your agency taking the time to complete. While challenges exist today we need to continue to build towards a time when they do not. This will give us necessary data points to know where we want to build up the current system and areas we need to build from scratch.
PLEASE READ: Hard copies of the survey are attached. Please note that the online survey will populate different questions based on your responses. For instance, the questions contained in the Word and PDF documents will not apply to everyone; questions pop up based on how you answer previous questions. Providers can use these documents to prepare to answer the online survey. If your organization has both residential and day programs, please focus your responses on the residential program. Note: it will automatically save your progress if you need to come back to it!
STAFFING CRISIS SUPPORT
The Division sent a letter to our providers yesterday outlining additional funding, regulatory relief, and efforts to create longer term solutions to address the current staffing challenges facing our providers. Please see below for links to the Draft Information Bulletins, the current Information Bulletin and the Q & A mentioned in the letter. We want to thank all of our providers for continuing to weather these difficult times. We are here to help.
DRAFT IB: Closure of a CILA Home When a Provider Will Maintain Their CILA License
DRAFT IB: COVID-19 DSP Training Flexibilities Part 2
Current IB: Updated - V.2.1 - COVID-19 DSP Training (DD.20.023)
Staffing Flexibilities Q & A
LIGAS FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL TOWN HALL - OCTOBER 19
Twice a year, the Ligas Family Advisory Council holds a town hall to get feedback from Ligas Class Members and hear updates about the latest service system changes. The agenda includes good news for people receiving services, a DDD update from Director Stark, an update by the Court Monitor and a call for experiences, questions and comments from people waiting for services and those receiving services. Join us virtually on October 19 from 1-3 pm. We are using a Webex meeting so here is the link to join on October 19. You do not need to pre-register. If you have any questions, please email Meg Cooch .
HEALTH RISK SCREENING TOOL (HRST) WEBINARS
There will be two opportunities to attend an HRST webinar (same information for both) offered by IntellectAbility (formerly HRS, Inc) on the Illinois HRST Protocol. This is not new information, nor required, but may help if your agency has questions on how to best use the HRST. The webinars will be held on November 2 at 10am and November 4 at 2pm. As a reminder, only residential providers are required to administer the web-based application of the HRST to their residents. You can register for the November 2 training here and the November 4 training here.
Warmly,
- Allison V. Stark
- Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Illinois Department of Human Services
- 600 East Ash-Building 400, Springfield, IL 62703
- Tel: (217) 782 -6803
The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.
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