 Approximately 25 percent of the Chicago Lighthouse staff is totally blind, with
the remaining staff being visually impaired. The call center, located at Chicago
Lighthouse's headquarters on Roosevelt Road, is currently employing 20 people
trained to route callers to the department's licensing or enforcement offices.
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates
more than 1 million professionals and businesses in Illinois."This contract,
which started on March 1, has already improved our ability to assist
professionals who need to be licensed to work in Illinois," said Manuel Flores,
acting secretary of financial and professional regulation. "I am very excited
about our partnership with the Lighthouse for the Blind. The department will now
have a permanent, professional team that will enhance customer service to better
serve the public."
The two-year, $1.35 million contract with the Chicago-based not-for-profit
organization will provide assistance to licensed businesses and individual
customers calling 1-888-4REGUL8 (1-888-473-4858) with questions about obtaining
a new professional license, finding authorized providers of continuing
education, renewing a current license, handling a disciplinary action and other
questions that have in the past been managed by temporary employees.
"We extend our deepest appreciation to the Illinois Department of Financial
and Professional Regulation for this amazing opportunity to provide employment
for many talented individuals who are blind or visually impaired," said Dr.
Janet Szlyk, Chicago Lighthouse president and executive director.
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, created by merging
several independent agencies, has experienced a massive growth in call volume
over the past few years. The need for a dedicated call center has been a
priority of the department for several years. After researching its
alternatives, the department decided to contract with Chicago Lighthouse through
Illinois' State Use Program, which is designed to provide long-term employment
opportunities for people working in not-for-profit community rehabilitation
facilities.
"I am delighted that DFPR has chosen to work with the Chicago Lighthouse, a
renowned social service organization which we proudly approved for our State Use
Program last year," said CMS Director Malcolm Weems. "This partnership
underscores our commitment to empowering persons with disabilities and veterans,
while also helping to reduce costs and expedite services to Illinois residents."
"We are very excited about this partnership with IDFPR and the Lighthouse. It
will help further our mission of assisting individuals with disabilities in
finding quality employment," said David Hanson, director of the Division of
Rehabilitation Services in the Illinois Department of Human Services. "The
unemployment rate for people with disabilities is estimated at over 70 percent,
so jobs are critically important to this population."
[to top of second column] |
The
State Use Program was created by the 1983 enactment of the
State Use Law. The program provides long-term employment
opportunities for people working in not-for-profit community
rehabilitation facilities by encouraging all state agencies to
purchase products and services produced and provided by severely
disabled people.
Community rehabilitation facilities pay wages that
permit employees to reduce their need for state benefits, enabling
them to become taxpayers rather than tax recipients. These employees
also gain vocational training, long-term work experience and
marketable job skills, which are significant aids in reducing high
unemployment in the disabled community.
At the same time, state
agencies that participate in this program are assured of
high-quality products and services at fair market prices, reduced
administrative costs, on-time delivery, and a central point of
contact for assistance. All contracts are independently reviewed,
evaluated and approved by the State Use Committee to ensure the
finest quality and pricing available.
The Chicago Lighthouse,
founded in 1906, is one of the nation's most comprehensive social
service organizations. Housed under its roof are the oldest and most
prominent vision care and rehabilitation programs in the U.S., a
nationally acclaimed school for children with multiple disabilities,
a world-class employment services program, one of the few remaining
clock manufacturing facilities in America, an assistance program
serving veterans in all 50 states, and a radio station.
The
Division of Rehabilitation has placed nearly 30 blind and
visually impaired people into employment at call-in centers through
the Chicago Lighthouse since the start of this year. People who are
blind or who have disabilities can discuss opportunities for
employment by calling 1-800-843-6154. Many more positions will be
available for fast and capable computer users. The call-in centers
serve the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the
Advocate Employee Wellness Program, and the Illinois Tollway
Authority.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
