DDD Communication | July 03, 2025

Fiscal Year 25 Recap: FY25 Division of Developmental Disabilities Accomplishments

In FY25, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) continued our work towards developing a robust and diverse continuum of quality services and support options to 30,000 individuals to achieve their wants, needs, and dreams. DDD increased funding for services, front line staff wages and case management, and expanded service options, training and incentives to move the service system towards best practices. Below are just a few of the many accomplishments, DDD has achieved in partnership with individuals, families, community providers, advocates, other state agencies, and numerous stakeholders in FY25.

  1. Investment in Residential and Meaningful Day through continued implementation of the Guidehouse Rate Study recommendations including:
    1. The investment in front line staff continued with the increase of $1/hour on January 1, 2025, for DSPs and ICF aids and the FY26 enacted budget including an $0.80/hour increase subject to federal approval.
    2. New rate methodology successfully rolled out at the beginning of FY25 which reflected updated Inventory for Client & Agency Planning (ICAP) and Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) assessments, some of which were more than 10 years old, for all people in CILA in FY25.
    3. DDD partnered with the Department of Innovation and technology (DoIT) and engaged IBM to transition away from Lotus 123, which is the first and oldest part of the billing system. This project work will be completed in FY26.
  2. In Fiscal Year 2025, the PUNS unit selected a total of 1574 individuals. The lowest wait time of those selected was 45.07 months. Since the inception of PUNS, nearly 10,000 individuals have entered services through PUNS selection.
  3. State Operated Development Center (SODC) Transformation continued including:
    1. Significant movement on the Camera Project (SODCs have added over 300 cameras, and nearly 400 in process). With additional facility going into live test mode by the end of August.
    2. Completion of 11 grand round trainings, with representation of clinical teams.
    3. Completed identification and hiring of Safety Officers at the SODCs.
    4. Partnerships with Southern Illinois University, Equip for Equality and the Illinois League of Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled (ILADD) among other stakeholders.
    5. Transition/transfers 93 of of the originally identified 123 Choate residents to least restrictive or desired environments.
    6. Increased numbers of individuals interested in seeking community placement with 40 more individuals added in the past 6 months, raising the total number of individuals on the transition list to 267.
    7. Initial train the trainer of Safety Care and evidenced based de-escalation model completed, with training for SODCs employees to begin in July 2025.
    8. The Reintegration Funding Program implemented January 1. 2025, which offers $50,000 reintegration funding over two years to ensure the support for transition of individuals in community services. Providers supporting 6 individuals are currently using this program.
  4. Community capacity investments that strengthen the community provider response to service needs:
    1. De-escalation training reimbursement program for community providers of $5 million annually, in November 2024, offered $16,500 per CILA and CDS provider to increase capacity to support individuals with higher behavioral needs in the community. To date, 52 agencies have used the reimbursement.
    2. The Stabilization Home program continues to support 94% of individuals served back into the community including successfully diverting 13 individuals who wanted to remain in the community but did not have a home and would have otherwise entered an SODC. The SH expansion Request for Applications was released for application.
    3. The Support Services Team (SST) supported more than 1340 individuals this year and trained 10,277 people attended the 24 bi-monthly workshops that provide education on behavior and mental health related topics.
    4. In the effort to encourage smaller CILAs, 9 new CILAs received funding through the 3 bed/person incentive program.
    5. Through New Provider Orientation, 20 new CILA providers were licensed this fiscal year and 7 new CDS providers were certified.
    6. DSP Learning Management Tool Request for Proposal (RFP) was released for application and submissions are currently being reviewed.
  5. Supporting Competitive Integrated Employment - With the passage of HB 793, Dignity in Pay, of which DDD with many stakeholders supported, DDD has worked to strengthen access to employment supports including:
    1. Funding a $2M grant to 15 agencies for funding, training and technical assistance related to building supported employment programs as well as provide additional resources to other 14(c) providers.
    2. Increased funding for small group supported employment rate of 40% on the wage rate effective January 1, 2025.
    3. Increased in the Personal Needs Allowance for individuals living in CILA beginning January 1, 2025, from $60 to $100 monthly.
  6. Nearly $12 million went to Community Day Service providers to boost their recruitment and retention efforts for direct care and non-administrative staff.
  7. Notice of Funding Opportunities - DDD successfully awarded grants for Dignity in Pay, Epilepsy, Dental, Latino Outreach and Family Advocate programs.
  8. 59 ILCS 120 (Rule 120), which oversees all Division of Developmental Disability (DDD) HCBS waivers, was finalized after 20 years. The last update was in 1998. It followed the massive update of Rule 115, the CILA rule, in FY23.
  9. DDD increased investment in Independent Service Coordination Agencies, specifically increasing rates for the QIDP case managers, housing navigators, ADA/Olmstead outreach and transition coordinators. DDD also solicited comprehensive surveys from ISCs and started working with ISCs to update funding and the ISC Manual, policies and processes.
  10. In January 2025, DDD embarked with its stakeholders on a strategic planning process, which has included a review and update of previous reports, a survey with more than 900 respondents, 3 townhall meetings which were attended by 229 people, and feedback session/focus groups engaging more than 160 individuals. DDD is currently analyzing the information and plans to release a five-year strategic plan in the next couple of months with stakeholder engagement in implementation planning.
  11. The new Specialized Telehealth and Assessment Team (STAT) service for individuals living in 24 hour or Host Family CILA was roll out May 1, which works to avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room by providing access to medical professionals through telehealth. During the 1 month of implementation, of the 176 calls made, 162 were treated in place/at home and 14 were transferred to the emergency room or urgent care.
  12. The DDD Bureaus and Units that survey and review community providers to ensure licensing and quality standards have reached more individuals and providers than ever before. The Bureau of Accreditation, Licensure and Certification surveyed over 300 providers during the FY 25 and is on pace to exceed this number during FY 26. The Bureau of Quality Management reviewed more than 335 sites and trained more than 3,300 people, offering more than 19 different trainings. The Clinical staff reviewed 225 CILA and CDS sites that pass medications.
  13. Information Bulletins released in FY25:
    1. CDS Operations Under COVID-19
    2. Health Risk Screening Tool
    3. PUNS Adult Selection and Letter Use
    4. Clarifying Three Person Provider-Controlled Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) Incentive Process
    5. HBS Rates Increase 2025
    6. January 1, 2025 Wage/Rate Increase
    7. COVID-19 Community Day Services (CDS) & Residential Rates and Reimbursement
    8. Personal Needs Allowance Increase
    9. Host Family CILA
    10. Intermittent CILA (ICILA) Services and Supports Clarification of Program Scope and Billing
    11. Occupancy Factor and Medical Absence Payment
    12. Reintegration Funding for Individuals Transitioning from State Operated Developmental Centers (SODC) to Home and Community Based (HCBS) Waiver Services
    13. Ligas Hold Category Ending
    14. Provider Discharge Reconsideration Requests
    15. De-Escalation Training Reimbursement
    16. Insulin Pump Management in CILA Waiver Settings
    17. Revised CANTS Clearance Process
    18. Specialty Telehealth and Assessment Team (STAT)
    19. Support Services Team (SST)

In conclusion:

FY25 was a year of continued progress, deepened partnerships, and meaningful transformation across the Division. The accomplishments highlighted above are a testament to the collective commitment of individuals, their families, providers, advocates, and state partners working together to improve systems and outcomes. As we look ahead to FY26, DDD remains dedicated to advancing person-centered supports, strengthening community-based services, and promoting dignity, inclusion, and equity for all individuals we serve. We are grateful for the collaboration and dedication of our stakeholders and look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.

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