Fw: PFA Speaks 09-13-11

[Guest guest]

PFA Speaks 09-13-11FYI

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

PFA Speaks 09-13-11

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

PFA Speaks

The Push For Access Monthly Newsletter

September 2011

Unsubscribe egskb@... | Update your profile | Forward to a

friend

NEW PUSH FOR ACCESS WEBSITE

The developers of Pushforaccess.com are proud to announce the launch

of a new website. The address name will remain the same, but the features and

content will be dramatically different. Keeping in mind the primary intent of

Push for Access - to promote a grassroots movement of support for individuals

with disabilities - the new website will strengthen the efforts of advocates by

incorporating features that are suited to our technological environment. Now

more than ever people connect instantly through virtual mediums such as Facebook

and Twitter, which dominate the online landscape. Push for Access intends to

capitalize on the benefits of services such as these to better coordinate

advocacy efforts and information sharing. A few notable features include:

1. Integration with Facebook and twitter - Anyone who signs up

for the new PFA website can also share the site with all of their online

friends, spreading the support.

2. Interactive Forums - Anyone, whether they are community

provider executives or a concerned friend, will be able to share information

with each other on a variety of topics.

3. News Feeds - The feeds will feature news articles from trusted

sources such as Kaiser Health News.

4. Community Calendar of Events - Perhaps the best way to

organize an event between a large number of people, the calendar will allow

users to share important dates like a rally, fundraiser, or can even remind them

to vote.

5. Blogs - Staff members will be contributing to a blog, which

will provide its subscribers with an inside look at what is going on in the

world of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

6. Site-centered messaging - Site users will be able to leave

each other messages, or instantly communicate through the site’s built-in chat

feature.

To promote the new website, we are inviting all of our readers to

participate in an online chat that will coincide with Friday’s meeting (09/16)

of the House Appropriations - Human Services Committee at 10:30 am. During its

meeting the Committee will be focused on impacts of this year’s budget on

Medicaid, IT developments and strategies within human services agencies, and the

Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and the Illinois School for the Deaf.

A video cast will be provided online through the Illinois General Assembly’s

website - theHouse’saudio/videolink. So, if you are available please meet us

online, on the new Pushforaccess.com, and let’s share our thoughts.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY

In response to our State’s current financial situation, and an

increased public sensitivity to the treatment of individuals with disabilities,

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn this past month signed multiple pieces of

legislation into law which will have a major impact on the mental health

community. When looking at these initiatives it is apparent that their

intention is not only to improve the quality and efficiency of services for the

mentally ill, but also to promote the presence of those individuals in the

community.

As an example of public sentiment, the v.

Quinnconsentdecree, the result of a class action lawsuit which began in 2005,

will require the State to provide opportunity and support to individuals living

in institutional settings who wish to move to a smaller, more independent

community-based facility. This court decision largely speaks of public

recognition to the fact that in many instances an institutional environment may

not be the most appropriate setting for a person with a disability. The General

Assembly this past session passed followuplegislationtothedecision,

which will require the Department of Human Services to provide annual reports on

the implementation of the consent decree. The report will provide information

on any of the funding or regulatory barriers the Department encounters during

this transitional process, as well as requiring it to conduct a survey of

currently existing residential settings for individuals with mental illness.

The results of the survey are to be used as a guide in promulgating regulations

for these community-based settings.

Also signed into law this month was

legislationwhichwilldirecttheMentalHealthCourtofKaneCountytodemonstrateof the

impact of alternative treatment courts, crisis intervention training for first

responders, and assisted outpatient treatment in reducing the number of mentally

ill people admitted into the correctional system. Under this type of system an

individual with mental illness will receive the appropriate means of

rehabilitation after committing a crime, rather than being put into a

correctional facility, which would surely only exacerbate the problem. The

utilization of a specialized judicial system such as a mental health court

demonstrates how public institutions can be successfully modified to suit the

needs of individuals with disabilities, and how their integration into the

community is possible.

In regards to enhancing the quality and efficiency of services and

supports, there were four bills passed in August that address this issue.

Through the passage of

legislationinitiatedbytheIllinoisAssociationofRehabilitationFacilities, the

Department of Human Services has been directed to conduct a geographical

analysis of existing supports and services, and gaps in those services for

individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness. The Department

will then submit a report to the General Assembly of its findings to offer

assistance in the long-term balancing of our State’s finances. The end result

will be a better understanding of how we can improve our existing systems as we

attempt to lower our costs moving forward. In relation, the passage of what was

HouseBill2982, nowPublicAct97-0381, requires the Department of Human Services to

establish a Steering Committee of Regional Integrated Behavioral Health

Networks. The Steering Committee will be comprised of various State agencies,

as well as community stakeholders and providers from each region to guide the

development of strategic plans to identify regional specific barriers to access

of care. Also, the Committee will develop strategic plans to improve access to

the continuum of behavioral health care.

A Mental Health Services Strategic Planning Task Force is

anotherproductofourpastlegislativesession. Legislators and State agencies will

work with providers and consumers to create a strategic 5-year plan to ensure

quality and efficient health care is available to those who are mentally ill.

The Task Force will also work with the State’s Divisions of Developmental

Disabilities and Alcohol and Substance Abuse to ensure quality services for

those who suffer from developmental disabilities and substance use disorders in

conjunction with mental illness.

Legislationprovidingmentalhealthinsurancefairness was also signed into law this

past August. Now, health care insurance companies will provide coverage for

services to treat mental illness and substance use disorders. Safeguards were

included with in order to prohibit insurance providers from applying coverage

limitations or additional costs.

This past month of bill signings and the Spring session leading up

to it has proved to be a prime example of community support for our most

vulnerable citizens, as well as the overarching necessity to lower the extreme

costs of providing rehabilitation services. It will only be through cooperative

efforts that we will ever reach our full potential in providing truly efficient

and effective services and supports to individuals with disabilities. It seems

every year public support grows stronger and stronger. If this remains true,

and advocates remain vigil, individuals with disabilities may one day live in a

truly supportive community which embraces their specialized needs.

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION WEEK

This week is Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week. As

anyone who has dealt with the work done by these individuals will tell you,

their hard work and dedication is what makes it possible for individuals with

disabilities to live happily and successfully in the community. Their level of

dedication goes far beyond that of just another run-of-the-mill employee. Many

DSPs make extraordinary sacrifices many of us would not even consider, and they

do so for those people they serve. That is why it is absolutely necessary that

every provider agency and person who affected by the work they do takes it upon

themselves to display their appreciation. Many community agencies will be

hosting social events like BBQs, picnics, bowling and softball tournaments, and

anything else they may think of to get people together and celebrate. If you

are a family member or friend, perhaps you could write a thank you card, or even

participate in “2011 DSPCallonCongressDayâ€. Sponsored by the American

Network of Community Options and Resources’ National Advocacy Campaign, the

event will take place on Wednesday September 14th. Concerned individuals from

all around the country will call their national representatives in Washington

D.C. to communicate the importance of direct support professionals.

Whatever way you choose to honor the work of Direct Support

Professionals, remember, they deserve it!

You are receiving our regular communications because you signed up at

www.pushforaccess.org.

Push For Access

206 S. Sixth St.

Springfield, Illinois 62701

Add us to your address book

Copyright © 2011 Push For Access All rights reserved.