Division of Developmental Disabilities Crisis Criteria

The Division has released an updated Information Bulletin on Crisis.

Ensuring safety and providing services to individuals who are in crisis are the highest priorities for the Division. Individuals, guardians, or families who believe an individual is in a crisis should contact their local Independent Service Coordination (ISC) agency for assistance. 

The Division of Developmental Disabilities crisis criteria is defined as:

1. Homeless - includes individuals who do not have a permanent residence or are staying at a shelter; individual/caregiver has received an official eviction notice. Situation where the authorities, such as the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Adult Protective Services (APS), the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is currently involved due to abandonment and/or lock out. The individual lost his/her home due to the primary caregiver's death or admission into long term care facility (i.e. hospice, nursing facility, assisted living, senior living, etc.). The ISC will also consider who is supporting or caring for the individual now and what caused the homeless situation described above.
2. Abuse - includes harm done to the individual with a developmental disability as well as the maladaptive/aggressive behaviors the individual is displaying that result in the crisis. The ISC will inquire as to the frequency, intensity, duration and severity of the aggressive behavior(s). The ISC will also consider the circumstances surrounding the abuse, the relationship of the alleged abuser to the individual, whether the abuse has been reported to or investigated by the appropriate authorities such as local police, OIG, IDPH, APS, etc. Other considerations include recent changes in the individual's life that may have increased or caused the abusive behaviors, hospitalizations, ER visits, involvement by medical care, mental health, and/or behavior therapy professionals as related to the current crisis situation. And finally, the ISC must assess whether the proposed service will resolve the current crisis situation.
3. Neglect - in determining neglectful situations, the ISC will consider what the individual cannot do for himself/herself that is causing the crisis situation and/or how is the family/caregiver unable to meet the individual's needs (i.e. ADLs, medical, physical, psychiatric, adequate food, water, heat, electricity, functional bathrooms and adequate sleep arrangements in the home, etc.). They will also look at the adverse outcomes of these unmet needs and recent changes in the individual/family household that is prompting the crisis. Additional factors to be considered in determining neglect is the availability of others who can meet the identified needs of the individual, services the individual is currently receiving, if the individual has a legal guardian, the type of guardianship and what the guardian is unable to do for the individual. It is also important to determine if the neglect has been reported to the appropriate investigative authorities such as local police, OIG, IDPH, APS, etc. and the outcome of the investigation, if one has occurred.

NOTE: As a mandated reporter, any/all suspected abuse and/or neglect must be reported to the proper investigative authority.

Effective April 6, 2021