Good Morning,
With the elimination of earned income collection effective 7/1/21 close to 1500 individuals living in residential CILAs will now be able to keep their earned income! We've received an outpouring of support for this change, as well as some really amazing individuals' stories. Thanks for sharing!
QUICK NOTES
- Per IDPH, the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 25 - July 1, 2021 is 0.9%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from June 25 - July 1, 2021 is 1.1%.
- I am still looking for feedback on our Support Services Teams (SST). Please feel free to email me directly.
- The Human Services Research Institute has issued an extension for providers to complete the Staff Stability Survey until July 31, 2021. Please complete!
- Remember to review Rule 117 (Home Based Rule) and provide feedback!
OSHA HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARD (ETS)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed a very helpful flowchart for employers to help them determine whether the ETS is applicable to their environment. Providers should still consult with their legal counsel.
RULE 116 FUNCTIONAL LITERACY COMMITTE
The Division has been engaged in ongoing dialogue regarding the Rule 116 functional literacy assessment requirement. Because the version of the TABE that has been widely used is no longer being published, we have had to consider alternative testing formats including the 11/12 version of the TABE as well as the CASAS. Understanding the concerns that have been raised regarding the impact of functional literacy testing on the DSP candidate pool, we will be convening a committee of community representatives along with internal DDD staff to review options and present a consensus recommendation for consideration by IDHS. I am looking for a small group of interested community agency representatives who can commit to the following activities:
- Attend all committee meetings via zoom from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon on July 22, 29 and August 5
- Commit to having a small pool of agency DSP staff complete functional literacy assessments during the above timeframe
Interested agency representatives should submit the following information to Monica Jibben by Tuesday, July 13, 2021:
- Name
- Agency
- Title/Position
- Email contact
- Brief summary of experience with Rule 116 functional literacy testing.
Committee members will be contacted via email by the committee chair, Kathy Carmody by July 15. Thank you.
PUNS UPDATE
1593 PUNS selection letters are set to be mailed out on July 12, 2021 for individuals to open for services in FY 22. All eligible adults in seeking services with a time waiting of 57 months or more are included in this selection. We're very pleased that this is below the current reasonable pace requirement!
In FY 21 we also had 710 individuals enter into HCBS services from off the PUNs waiting list! The highest amount in several years.
Finally, we continue to work through all the individuals on our PUNS list that are currently in services that would like to transition to a different service array. Once this process is complete, and with our new waiver transitions process, our PUNS list will be significantly reduced. We hope to complete this process by September 2021.
Continuing the Division's recent practice, in FY22, we expect to send out another round of PUNs preselection notices in December 2021 to let individuals know that if funding is available they can anticipate being selected in summer FY23. The preselection process was created to give people extra time to work with their ISCs and Ligas Family Advocates to consider their options for services and supports so they would feel prepared to make decisions when they were selected. All individuals on PUNS can check their PUNS status and anticipated selection year at any time by emailing www.DHS.DDD.PUNS@illinois.gov.
TEMPORARY 37U BLANKET REQUESTS
We will continue to receive temporary BLANKET requests for At-Home Day (37U) until July 16, 2021. Providers supporting individuals in need of temporary authorization for 37U should reach out directly to the Division, by email, including a CC to their ISC, to discuss options. These emails should be directed to Joy Decker.
All NON-BLANKET requests should be submitted through the ISC.
All approved blanket and individual 37U requests received by July 16, 2021 will be effective July 1, 2021.
After July 16, individuals in need of long term 37U at home day programming will need to submit applications through their ISC.
Thank you for all you do!
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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