Investment Initiatives

The Council makes investments (grants) to a wide variety of organizations and individuals to help improve the lives of people with disabilities and entire communities. Calls for Investments are made throughout the year. For an information packet, contact the Council's Springfield office at (217) 782-9696.

The State Plan outlines the Council's priorities and objectives in nine areas of emphasis. Click on any area to find out about the latest Council-funded programs.

Education & Early Intervention
Employment
Child Care
Formal/Informal Community Supports
Health
Housing
Quality Assurance
Recreation
Transportation
Cross-Cutting

Education and Early Intervention

This project will build lasting capacity throughout the State's heartland by creating capacity for leveraging generic community resources, multiple funding braids, cooperative relationships, and inventive service delivery through the demonstration and stabilization of both wage and self-employment in eight cornerstone communities.

Contacts:
Project Staff: Marsie Frawley MFrawley@hdadvocates.org
Council Staff: Margaret Harkness Margaret.Harkness@illinois.gov
Agency Website: http://www.hdadvocates.org/

In addition to the initiatives listed above, additional opportunities are available for people with developmental disabilities who want to find work.

Work Incentives and Planning (WIPA) projects, sponsored by the Social Security Administration (SSA), help people with developmental disabilities make informed choices about employment and navigate through the complexities of benefit programs. More information on the Ticket to Work program is available at: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate

Disabilityworks http://www.disabilityworks.org/default.as;?contentID=10

Individuals have access to other services available or offered in a community, including formal and informal community supports that improve their quality of life.

Project: New Visions
Investment Partner: Macon Resources
Location: Decatur, IL
Investment: $750,000

This project will implement a statewide initiative that empowers persons with developmental disabilities to envision, express and realize the dreams they believe will enrich their lives in the community. The initiative utilizes personal coaches in a Full Life Future Planning process that guides individuals to develop support networks and action plans to meet their hopes and dreams.

Contacts:
Project Staff: Karen Randolph KRandolph@maconresources.org
Council Staff: Jennifer Harrison Jennifer.Harrison@illinois.gov
Agency Website: www.maconresources.org

Project: Dreaming New Visions
Investment Partner: Macon Resources
Location: Decatur, IL
Investment: $292,895

Through this initiative Macon Resources, Inc. will expand their New Visions project to focus on family members of individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly those whose family member resides in a State Operated Developmental Center. Macon Resources, Inc. will provide education and resources to families to teach and motivate them how to dream bigger and expect more for themselves and their loved ones.

Contacts:
Project Staff: Shirley Pacely spaceley@maconresources.org
Council Staff: Jennifer Harrison Jennifer.Harrison@illinois.gov
Agency Website: www.maconresources.org

Project: Managing the Art of Living
Investment Partner: Illinois Association of Microboards and Cooperatives
Location: Statewide
Investment: $644,181

Through this project, structures will be developed so that people with developmental disabilities are able to manage and direct the services and supports through the use of microboards and/or cooperatives. In addition, an Illinois Microboard Association will be developed to assist others who would like to create a microbord/cooperative for themselves or a family member.

Contacts:
Project Staff: Vicki Niswander vniswander@gmail.com
Council Staff: Jennifer Harrison Jennifer.Harrison@illinois.gov
Organization Website: http://www.managingtheartofliving.org

Health

Project: Increasing Access to Community Health
Investment Partner: Whitewide County Community Health Clinic
Location: Rock Falls, Illinois
Investment: $100,000

This project will provide comprehensive primary health care, including medical, family planning, dental and behavioral health to approximately 300 individuals with developmental disabilities through the Whiteside County Community Health Department and Community Health Clinic.

Contacts:
Project Staff: Marcia Widolff
Council Staff: Sandy Ryan Sandy.Ryan@illinois.gov
Organization Website:http://www.whitesidehealth.org/

Housing

Quality Assurance

The Council's Quality Assurance investments focus on improving consumer and family-centered quality assurance and consumer protections, including monitoring services and supports that protect against all forms of exploitation and abuse. This area includes training in leadership, self-advocacy, and self-determination for individuals with developmental disabilities and interagency coordination to improve services to and supports for people with developmental disabilities.

Project: Consumer Stipend Program
Investment Partner: The Arc of Illinois
Location: Frankfort, IL
Investment: $100,000

This project provides stipends for people with disabilities and their families to attend conferences on disability-related issues.

Contacts:
Project Staff: MaryLynne Paris MaryLynneParis@aol.com
Council Staff: Jennifer Harrison Jennifer.Harrison@illinois.gov
Agency Website: www.thearcofil.org

Project: Special Education Advocacy Clinic
Investment Partner: DePaul University
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Investment: $123,500

Through this four-year investment, DePaul University will train at least 21 culturally diverse law students who have a family member with a developmental disability, through an innovative, comprehensive advocacy program that emphasizes ongoing collaboration between school districts and parents. The project will impact people with developmental disabilities through direct legal advocacy.

Contacts:
Project Staff: Mary Bandstra MBANDSTR@depaul.edu
Council Staff: Margie Harkness Margaret.Harkness@illinois.gov
University Website: http://www.depaul.edu/

Project: The Alliance
Investment Partner: Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)
Location: Portland, OR
Investment: $300,000

The Alliance will consist of a network of self-advocacy groups and self-advocates that, through local action, will improve their lives, change local service practices, or make contributions to their communities. In addition, self-advocates, by working together, will promote statewide needed changes in disability policy and practices.

Contacts:
Project Staff: John Agosta agosta@hsri.org
Council Staff: Sandy Ryan Sandy.Ryan@illinois.gov
Project Website: http://www.hsri.org

Project: Strengthening Quality Initiative
Investment Partner: The Foundation for Quality and Leadership
Location: Towson, MD
Investment: $427,500

This project will focus on the creation of a core group of Certified Quality Analysts (CQAs) who will lead the development of the new quality management plan for the Department of Human Services/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS/DDD). This project will also lead to the establishment of a data management system to gather information concerning stakeholder needs and priority in a fashion that is both efficient and effective.

Recreation

Transportation

Cross-Cutting