Gov. Blagojevich announces new funding to expand
services for children with developmental disabilities
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State to receive federal matching funds for programs that prevent
or delay the need for institutional care for up to 800 children
[June 19, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced Friday that
Illinois will receive $8.6 million in federal matching funds to
provide a range of specialized services to almost 800 children with
developmental disabilities. The funds, administered through the Home
and Community Based Services program of the Illinois Department of
Human Services, will allow more families to keep their children at
home and still be able to provide the specialized care they need. By
establishing Medicaid waivers, Illinois is able to waive regular
Medicaid rules and create this new funding source for fiscal 2008.
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The approval of the waivers was announced by Deputy Gov. Louanner
Peters at a joint videoconference of the Developmental Disabilities
Waiver Committee, the Autism Task Force, legislators and other
developmental disability advocates.
"It is often a struggle for families who have children with
special needs to make sure their kids have the best care possible,"
Blagojevich said. "These two new programs will give hundreds more
families access to support and services so they can care for their
kids at home."
The new waiver programs, approved by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, will serve young people age 3 to 21 who meet the
Intermediate Care Facility for Developmental Disability, or ICF-DD,
level of care. Children with developmental disabilities include
those with mental retardation and other related conditions, such as
cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy.
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The children's support services waiver will prevent or delay the
need for out-of-home care for 600 people, and the residential
services waiver will provide services for approximately 175 to 200
families whose children need out-of-home residential services.
"Through Medicaid waivers such as these, Illinois is able to
provide assistance to even more children and adults in need of
long-term health care services," said Barry Maram, director of the
Illinois Healthcare and Family Services. "Under Governor Blagojevich
we have made great strides in furthering the growth of our Medicaid
system and have found more ways to extend these critical health
benefits to more individuals."
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Jun/19/images/ads/current/illini%20bank%20lda%20040207.jpg) The children's support waiver will offer a range of services,
including personal support such as training, respite and personal
care; home and vehicle accessibility and modifications; adaptive
equipment and assistive technology; training and counseling services
for unpaid caregivers; behavior intervention and treatment; and
service facilitation.
The children's support waiver is very flexible for families.
Parents may use a monthly allocation of funds to purchase services
from the list of covered services. Families may purchase these
services from traditional developmental disabilities providers or
from individuals in the local community who wish to provide personal
support.
"We appreciate the support of the legislators, advocates and
families who helped obtain the new waivers. They will enable more
young people with developmental disabilities to enjoy meaningful
relationships with family and friends and others in their lives and
experience personal growth and development," said Illinois
Department of Human Services Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. "The
array of services will provide opportunities for the young people to
have more choice in their services and how they live their lives."
The new waivers are approved for a three-year period beginning
July 1 and can be renewed at the end of that time.
The IDHS Division of Developmental Disabilities administers the
Illinois system of programs and services for people with
developmental disabilities.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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