Re: Hearing on the closure of Howe

[Guest guest]

I have students exactly at that time--in Tinley but I can't change

things around. I am not sure if a letter from me to my rep, who

has been instrumental in KEEPING HOWE OPEN, would help.

Marie

>

> Hi all:

> I will be attending the Hearing. I know this is quite a distance

but

> it is critically important. If any of you can possibly manage to

get

> there, PLEASE do so. In lieu of attendance please consider

writing a

> testimony that you would then send to every one of the legislators

> listed.

> Thank you.

> Ellen

>

> The Arc of Illinois

>

>

>

> December 8, 2008

>

>

>

> Leaders in The Arc:

>

>

>

> Here is Rep Ryg's letter supporting the closing of Howe and

investing

> in the developmental disability system. Rep Ryg is the current

> Chairperson of the House Disability Services Committee. Please

share

> this email with others.

>

>

>

> ACTION: On Thursday, Dec. 11th, 4:00 p.m., at the Tinley Park

> Convention Center, 18300 & Harlem, Tinley Park, the Commission on

> Government Forecasting & Accountability will hold a hearing on the

> closing of Howe.

>

>

>

> People with disabilities have died at Howe because of medical

> neglect. The federal government has withdrawn its funding of Howe

> because health and safety standards could not be met at Howe. Howe

> needs to be closed!

>

>

>

> Advocates should attend this meeting and support efforts to close

> Howe.

>

>

>

> Tony auski

>

> The Arc of Illinois

>

> 815-464-1832

>

>

>

> December 5, 2008

>

> Members of Commission on Government Forecasting and

> Accountability

>

> Chairman Senator Schoenberg Chairman

> Myers

>

> Senator Bill Brady

> Representative Bellock

>

> Senator Don Harmon

> Representative Mautino

>

> Senator Radogno

> Representative Molaro

>

> Senator Dave Syverson

> Representative Elaine Nekritz

>

> Senator Donne Trotter

> Representative Poe

>

> Dan Long, Executive Director

>

> From: Representative Kathy Ryg, Chair of House Disabilities

> Services Committee

>

>

>

> RE: HOWE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER & TINLEY PARK MENTAL HEALTH

CENTER

>

> As Chair of the House Disabilities Services Committee and a member

of

> the Fee for Service Committee, I have been actively engaged in

> discussions regarding the delivery of services to persons with

> developmental disabilities and mental illness. As members of the

> General Assembly we are familiar with the advocates' message that

> Illinois ranks " 51st and Failing " in funding services for the

> developmentally disabled and mentally ill citizens of our state.

>

> In numerous hearings on the fee for service initiative and the

need

> to rebalance the investment of state dollars from institutional

care

> to community based programs and services, the consumers and their

> families have testified that they are told they should consider

> moving out of state if you want quality services for your family

> member. Advocacy groups have successfully sued the state for

failure

> to comply with the Olmstead decision that gives a consumer the

choice

> to receive long-term care services in integrated community

settings.

>

> These messages have been repeated for years and have been

compounded

> by concerns that due to a lack of resources, quality of care for

> residents in our state operated centers is inadequate. Staffs are

> overburdened and facilities are in disrepair. Federal matching

> dollars have been denied.

>

> Our statewide system of care for the developmentally disabled and

> mentally ill can no longer be sustained as is. More importantly,

we

> recognize that a system that ranks 51st and receives a failing

grade

> must not be maintained.

>

> The proposed closure of Howe Developmental Center and the

> restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center are the

first

> steps to rebalancing a broken system. This rebalancing effort is

> directed by evidence based, expert reports: The Blueprint for

System

> Redesign in Illinois, The Metro South Mental Health Planning Task

> Force, and the Money Follows the Person initiative. These reports

> recommend that some of the dollars spent on institutional care

must

> be reinvested in community based care and the development of state

> operated, state of the art, centers of excellence.

>

> In public hearings held over my six year career in the General

> Assembly, we have been informed by these reports but more

> importantly, we have listened to the testimony of the consumers of

> services and their family members. While there is some

disagreement

> about technical definitions, there is no disagreement about two

> things:

>

> 1. Our highest priority must be for the health, safety, and

> welfare of each person served with our focus on continual skill

> development and recovery.

>

> 2. We must provide for a continuum of care that meets an

> individual's needs and allows true choice. Choice means being

able

> to decide for one's self or one's loved one, which programs offer

the

> best service in the least restrictive environment. Our system

must

> provide for quality care in the most appropriate setting based on

> person and family directed needs and goals.

>

> The proposed facility closure signals a significant and promising

> step towards our mutual goals of quality care and choice. I can

> testify that this decision was clearly a result of exhaustive

efforts

> to determine how to best allocate scarce resources to insure

quality

> of care in state operated centers and increase capacity for

community

> based services.

>

> That being said, we must insure that the reinvestment of dollars

will

> be dedicated to improving existing services at the other state

> operated centers and expanding capacity in the community. We must

> insure that families and employees will be fully involved in

> transition planning. I believe the proposed closure plan provides

> that additional resources will be provided to insure each resident

> and consumer in state operated centers gets the quality of care

they

> are entitled to and deserve.

>

> Additional resources will build a stronger system of community

based

> programs and services providing increased access and more choice.

> Additional resources will mean more jobs for the direct service

> professionals and we will continue to fight for increased wages

for

> the valuable work they do.

> Additional resources will mean Illinois can maximize federal

dollars

> to match state dollars.

> Please join me in supporting the closure of the Howe Developmental

> Center and the restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health

Center.

>

>

>

>

>

> Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still

receive

> emails from us in the future, please ensure it was not forwarded

from

> another party or sent to an email address that is different than

the

> one asked to be removed. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Or write us

at:

> The Arc of Illinois

> 20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

> fort, IL 60423

>

[Guest guest]

I have to hope that the more numbers of people who come to Tinley

Parkvoicing opposition the more strength it will provide the local voters.

Cindi

[Guest guest]

Marie:

Is one of your sons available to go? Your husband? A neighbor? I forgot that

you actually live closer than most. I would still write to Representative

Riley. Regardless of HIS position...he works for YOU!

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: Hearing on the closure of Howe

I have students exactly at that time--in Tinley but I can't change

things around. I am not sure if a letter from me to my rep, who

has been instrumental in KEEPING HOWE OPEN, would help.

Marie

>

> Hi all:

> I will be attending the Hearing. I know this is quite a distance

but

> it is critically important. If any of you can possibly manage to

get

> there, PLEASE do so. In lieu of attendance please consider

writing a

> testimony that you would then send to every one of the legislators

> listed.

> Thank you.

> Ellen

>

> The Arc of Illinois

>

>

>

> December 8, 2008

>

>

>

> Leaders in The Arc:

>

>

>

> Here is Rep Ryg's letter supporting the closing of Howe and

investing

> in the developmental disability system. Rep Ryg is the current

> Chairperson of the House Disability Services Committee. Please

share

> this email with others.

>

>

>

> ACTION: On Thursday, Dec. 11th, 4:00 p.m., at the Tinley Park

> Convention Center, 18300 & Harlem, Tinley Park, the Commission on

> Government Forecasting & Accountability will hold a hearing on the

> closing of Howe.

>

>

>

> People with disabilities have died at Howe because of medical

> neglect. The federal government has withdrawn its funding of Howe

> because health and safety standards could not be met at Howe. Howe

> needs to be closed!

>

>

>

> Advocates should attend this meeting and support efforts to close

> Howe.

>

>

>

> Tony auski

>

> The Arc of Illinois

>

> 815-464-1832

>

>

>

> December 5, 2008

>

> Members of Commission on Government Forecasting and

> Accountability

>

> Chairman Senator Schoenberg Chairman

> Myers

>

> Senator Bill Brady

> Representative Bellock

>

> Senator Don Harmon

> Representative Mautino

>

> Senator Radogno

> Representative Molaro

>

> Senator Dave Syverson

> Representative Elaine Nekritz

>

> Senator Donne Trotter

> Representative Poe

>

> Dan Long, Executive Director

>

> From: Representative Kathy Ryg, Chair of House Disabilities

> Services Committee

>

>

>

> RE: HOWE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER & TINLEY PARK MENTAL HEALTH

CENTER

>

> As Chair of the House Disabilities Services Committee and a member

of

> the Fee for Service Committee, I have been actively engaged in

> discussions regarding the delivery of services to persons with

> developmental disabilities and mental illness. As members of the

> General Assembly we are familiar with the advocates' message that

> Illinois ranks " 51st and Failing " in funding services for the

> developmentally disabled and mentally ill citizens of our state.

>

> In numerous hearings on the fee for service initiative and the

need

> to rebalance the investment of state dollars from institutional

care

> to community based programs and services, the consumers and their

> families have testified that they are told they should consider

> moving out of state if you want quality services for your family

> member. Advocacy groups have successfully sued the state for

failure

> to comply with the Olmstead decision that gives a consumer the

choice

> to receive long-term care services in integrated community

settings.

>

> These messages have been repeated for years and have been

compounded

> by concerns that due to a lack of resources, quality of care for

> residents in our state operated centers is inadequate. Staffs are

> overburdened and facilities are in disrepair. Federal matching

> dollars have been denied.

>

> Our statewide system of care for the developmentally disabled and

> mentally ill can no longer be sustained as is. More importantly,

we

> recognize that a system that ranks 51st and receives a failing

grade

> must not be maintained.

>

> The proposed closure of Howe Developmental Center and the

> restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center are the

first

> steps to rebalancing a broken system. This rebalancing effort is

> directed by evidence based, expert reports: The Blueprint for

System

> Redesign in Illinois, The Metro South Mental Health Planning Task

> Force, and the Money Follows the Person initiative. These reports

> recommend that some of the dollars spent on institutional care

must

> be reinvested in community based care and the development of state

> operated, state of the art, centers of excellence.

>

> In public hearings held over my six year career in the General

> Assembly, we have been informed by these reports but more

> importantly, we have listened to the testimony of the consumers of

> services and their family members. While there is some

disagreement

> about technical definitions, there is no disagreement about two

> things:

>

> 1. Our highest priority must be for the health, safety, and

> welfare of each person served with our focus on continual skill

> development and recovery.

>

> 2. We must provide for a continuum of care that meets an

> individual's needs and allows true choice. Choice means being

able

> to decide for one's self or one's loved one, which programs offer

the

> best service in the least restrictive environment. Our system

must

> provide for quality care in the most appropriate setting based on

> person and family directed needs and goals.

>

> The proposed facility closure signals a significant and promising

> step towards our mutual goals of quality care and choice. I can

> testify that this decision was clearly a result of exhaustive

efforts

> to determine how to best allocate scarce resources to insure

quality

> of care in state operated centers and increase capacity for

community

> based services.

>

> That being said, we must insure that the reinvestment of dollars

will

> be dedicated to improving existing services at the other state

> operated centers and expanding capacity in the community. We must

> insure that families and employees will be fully involved in

> transition planning. I believe the proposed closure plan provides

> that additional resources will be provided to insure each resident

> and consumer in state operated centers gets the quality of care

they

> are entitled to and deserve.

>

> Additional resources will build a stronger system of community

based

> programs and services providing increased access and more choice.

> Additional resources will mean more jobs for the direct service

> professionals and we will continue to fight for increased wages

for

> the valuable work they do.

> Additional resources will mean Illinois can maximize federal

dollars

> to match state dollars.

> Please join me in supporting the closure of the Howe Developmental

> Center and the restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health

Center.

>

>

>

>

>

> Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still

receive

> emails from us in the future, please ensure it was not forwarded

from

> another party or sent to an email address that is different than

the

> one asked to be removed. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Or write us

at:

> The Arc of Illinois

> 20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

> fort, IL 60423

>

[Guest guest]

Everyone is working or in school. I do have a few friends I can

pass this on to....it was big news in our local paper on Sunday.

Marie

> >

> > Hi all:

> > I will be attending the Hearing. I know this is quite a

distance

> but

> > it is critically important. If any of you can possibly manage

to

> get

> > there, PLEASE do so. In lieu of attendance please consider

> writing a

> > testimony that you would then send to every one of the

legislators

> > listed.

> > Thank you.

> > Ellen

> >

> > The Arc of Illinois

> >

> >

> >

> > December 8, 2008

> >

> >

> >

> > Leaders in The Arc:

> >

> >

> >

> > Here is Rep Ryg's letter supporting the closing of Howe and

> investing

> > in the developmental disability system. Rep Ryg is the current

> > Chairperson of the House Disability Services Committee. Please

> share

> > this email with others.

> >

> >

> >

> > ACTION: On Thursday, Dec. 11th, 4:00 p.m., at the Tinley Park

> > Convention Center, 18300 & Harlem, Tinley Park, the Commission

on

> > Government Forecasting & Accountability will hold a hearing on

the

> > closing of Howe.

> >

> >

> >

> > People with disabilities have died at Howe because of medical

> > neglect. The federal government has withdrawn its funding of

Howe

> > because health and safety standards could not be met at Howe.

Howe

> > needs to be closed!

> >

> >

> >

> > Advocates should attend this meeting and support efforts to

close

> > Howe.

> >

> >

> >

> > Tony auski

> >

> > The Arc of Illinois

> >

> > 815-464-1832

> >

> >

> >

> > December 5, 2008

> >

> > Members of Commission on Government Forecasting and

> > Accountability

> >

> > Chairman Senator Schoenberg Chairman

>

> > Myers

> >

> > Senator Bill Brady

> > Representative Bellock

> >

> > Senator Don Harmon

> > Representative Mautino

> >

> > Senator Radogno

> > Representative Molaro

> >

> > Senator Dave Syverson

> > Representative Elaine Nekritz

> >

> > Senator Donne Trotter

> > Representative Poe

> >

> > Dan Long, Executive Director

> >

> > From: Representative Kathy Ryg, Chair of House Disabilities

> > Services Committee

> >

> >

> >

> > RE: HOWE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER & TINLEY PARK MENTAL HEALTH

> CENTER

> >

> > As Chair of the House Disabilities Services Committee and a

member

> of

> > the Fee for Service Committee, I have been actively engaged in

> > discussions regarding the delivery of services to persons with

> > developmental disabilities and mental illness. As members of

the

> > General Assembly we are familiar with the advocates' message

that

> > Illinois ranks " 51st and Failing " in funding services for the

> > developmentally disabled and mentally ill citizens of our

state.

> >

> > In numerous hearings on the fee for service initiative and the

> need

> > to rebalance the investment of state dollars from

institutional

> care

> > to community based programs and services, the consumers and

their

> > families have testified that they are told they should

consider

> > moving out of state if you want quality services for your

family

> > member. Advocacy groups have successfully sued the state for

> failure

> > to comply with the Olmstead decision that gives a consumer the

> choice

> > to receive long-term care services in integrated community

> settings.

> >

> > These messages have been repeated for years and have been

> compounded

> > by concerns that due to a lack of resources, quality of care

for

> > residents in our state operated centers is inadequate. Staffs

are

> > overburdened and facilities are in disrepair. Federal matching

> > dollars have been denied.

> >

> > Our statewide system of care for the developmentally disabled

and

> > mentally ill can no longer be sustained as is. More

importantly,

> we

> > recognize that a system that ranks 51st and receives a failing

> grade

> > must not be maintained.

> >

> > The proposed closure of Howe Developmental Center and the

> > restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center are the

> first

> > steps to rebalancing a broken system. This rebalancing effort

is

> > directed by evidence based, expert reports: The Blueprint for

> System

> > Redesign in Illinois, The Metro South Mental Health Planning

Task

> > Force, and the Money Follows the Person initiative. These

reports

> > recommend that some of the dollars spent on institutional care

> must

> > be reinvested in community based care and the development of

state

> > operated, state of the art, centers of excellence.

> >

> > In public hearings held over my six year career in the General

> > Assembly, we have been informed by these reports but more

> > importantly, we have listened to the testimony of the

consumers of

> > services and their family members. While there is some

> disagreement

> > about technical definitions, there is no disagreement about

two

> > things:

> >

> > 1. Our highest priority must be for the health, safety, and

> > welfare of each person served with our focus on continual

skill

> > development and recovery.

> >

> > 2. We must provide for a continuum of care that meets an

> > individual's needs and allows true choice. Choice means being

> able

> > to decide for one's self or one's loved one, which programs

offer

> the

> > best service in the least restrictive environment. Our system

> must

> > provide for quality care in the most appropriate setting based

on

> > person and family directed needs and goals.

> >

> > The proposed facility closure signals a significant and

promising

> > step towards our mutual goals of quality care and choice. I

can

> > testify that this decision was clearly a result of exhaustive

> efforts

> > to determine how to best allocate scarce resources to insure

> quality

> > of care in state operated centers and increase capacity for

> community

> > based services.

> >

> > That being said, we must insure that the reinvestment of

dollars

> will

> > be dedicated to improving existing services at the other state

> > operated centers and expanding capacity in the community. We

must

> > insure that families and employees will be fully involved in

> > transition planning. I believe the proposed closure plan

provides

> > that additional resources will be provided to insure each

resident

> > and consumer in state operated centers gets the quality of

care

> they

> > are entitled to and deserve.

> >

> > Additional resources will build a stronger system of community

> based

> > programs and services providing increased access and more

choice.

> > Additional resources will mean more jobs for the direct

service

> > professionals and we will continue to fight for increased

wages

> for

> > the valuable work they do.

> > Additional resources will mean Illinois can maximize federal

> dollars

> > to match state dollars.

> > Please join me in supporting the closure of the Howe

Developmental

> > Center and the restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health

> Center.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still

> receive

> > emails from us in the future, please ensure it was not

forwarded

> from

> > another party or sent to an email address that is different

than

> the

> > one asked to be removed. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Or write

us

> at:

> > The Arc of Illinois

> > 20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

> > fort, IL 60423

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I will bet it was big news with a pro-institutional slant...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: Hearing on the closure of Howe

Everyone is working or in school. I do have a few friends I can

pass this on to....it was big news in our local paper on Sunday.

Marie

> >

> > Hi all:

> > I will be attending the Hearing. I know this is quite a

distance

> but

> > it is critically important. If any of you can possibly manage

to

> get

> > there, PLEASE do so. In lieu of attendance please consider

> writing a

> > testimony that you would then send to every one of the

legislators

> > listed.

> > Thank you.

> > Ellen

> >

> > The Arc of Illinois

> >

> >

> >

> > December 8, 2008

> >

> >

> >

> > Leaders in The Arc:

> >

> >

> >

> > Here is Rep Ryg's letter supporting the closing of Howe and

> investing

> > in the developmental disability system. Rep Ryg is the current

> > Chairperson of the House Disability Services Committee. Please

> share

> > this email with others.

> >

> >

> >

> > ACTION: On Thursday, Dec. 11th, 4:00 p.m., at the Tinley Park

> > Convention Center, 18300 & Harlem, Tinley Park, the Commission

on

> > Government Forecasting & Accountability will hold a hearing on

the

> > closing of Howe.

> >

> >

> >

> > People with disabilities have died at Howe because of medical

> > neglect. The federal government has withdrawn its funding of

Howe

> > because health and safety standards could not be met at Howe.

Howe

> > needs to be closed!

> >

> >

> >

> > Advocates should attend this meeting and support efforts to

close

> > Howe.

> >

> >

> >

> > Tony auski

> >

> > The Arc of Illinois

> >

> > 815-464-1832

> >

> >

> >

> > December 5, 2008

> >

> > Members of Commission on Government Forecasting and

> > Accountability

> >

> > Chairman Senator Schoenberg Chairman

>

> > Myers

> >

> > Senator Bill Brady

> > Representative Bellock

> >

> > Senator Don Harmon

> > Representative Mautino

> >

> > Senator Radogno

> > Representative Molaro

> >

> > Senator Dave Syverson

> > Representative Elaine Nekritz

> >

> > Senator Donne Trotter

> > Representative Poe

> >

> > Dan Long, Executive Director

> >

> > From: Representative Kathy Ryg, Chair of House Disabilities

> > Services Committee

> >

> >

> >

> > RE: HOWE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER & TINLEY PARK MENTAL HEALTH

> CENTER

> >

> > As Chair of the House Disabilities Services Committee and a

member

> of

> > the Fee for Service Committee, I have been actively engaged in

> > discussions regarding the delivery of services to persons with

> > developmental disabilities and mental illness. As members of

the

> > General Assembly we are familiar with the advocates' message

that

> > Illinois ranks " 51st and Failing " in funding services for the

> > developmentally disabled and mentally ill citizens of our

state.

> >

> > In numerous hearings on the fee for service initiative and the

> need

> > to rebalance the investment of state dollars from

institutional

> care

> > to community based programs and services, the consumers and

their

> > families have testified that they are told they should

consider

> > moving out of state if you want quality services for your

family

> > member. Advocacy groups have successfully sued the state for

> failure

> > to comply with the Olmstead decision that gives a consumer the

> choice

> > to receive long-term care services in integrated community

> settings.

> >

> > These messages have been repeated for years and have been

> compounded

> > by concerns that due to a lack of resources, quality of care

for

> > residents in our state operated centers is inadequate. Staffs

are

> > overburdened and facilities are in disrepair. Federal matching

> > dollars have been denied.

> >

> > Our statewide system of care for the developmentally disabled

and

> > mentally ill can no longer be sustained as is. More

importantly,

> we

> > recognize that a system that ranks 51st and receives a failing

> grade

> > must not be maintained.

> >

> > The proposed closure of Howe Developmental Center and the

> > restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center are the

> first

> > steps to rebalancing a broken system. This rebalancing effort

is

> > directed by evidence based, expert reports: The Blueprint for

> System

> > Redesign in Illinois, The Metro South Mental Health Planning

Task

> > Force, and the Money Follows the Person initiative. These

reports

> > recommend that some of the dollars spent on institutional care

> must

> > be reinvested in community based care and the development of

state

> > operated, state of the art, centers of excellence.

> >

> > In public hearings held over my six year career in the General

> > Assembly, we have been informed by these reports but more

> > importantly, we have listened to the testimony of the

consumers of

> > services and their family members. While there is some

> disagreement

> > about technical definitions, there is no disagreement about

two

> > things:

> >

> > 1. Our highest priority must be for the health, safety, and

> > welfare of each person served with our focus on continual

skill

> > development and recovery.

> >

> > 2. We must provide for a continuum of care that meets an

> > individual's needs and allows true choice. Choice means being

> able

> > to decide for one's self or one's loved one, which programs

offer

> the

> > best service in the least restrictive environment. Our system

> must

> > provide for quality care in the most appropriate setting based

on

> > person and family directed needs and goals.

> >

> > The proposed facility closure signals a significant and

promising

> > step towards our mutual goals of quality care and choice. I

can

> > testify that this decision was clearly a result of exhaustive

> efforts

> > to determine how to best allocate scarce resources to insure

> quality

> > of care in state operated centers and increase capacity for

> community

> > based services.

> >

> > That being said, we must insure that the reinvestment of

dollars

> will

> > be dedicated to improving existing services at the other state

> > operated centers and expanding capacity in the community. We

must

> > insure that families and employees will be fully involved in

> > transition planning. I believe the proposed closure plan

provides

> > that additional resources will be provided to insure each

resident

> > and consumer in state operated centers gets the quality of

care

> they

> > are entitled to and deserve.

> >

> > Additional resources will build a stronger system of community

> based

> > programs and services providing increased access and more

choice.

> > Additional resources will mean more jobs for the direct

service

> > professionals and we will continue to fight for increased

wages

> for

> > the valuable work they do.

> > Additional resources will mean Illinois can maximize federal

> dollars

> > to match state dollars.

> > Please join me in supporting the closure of the Howe

Developmental

> > Center and the restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health

> Center.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

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> > The Arc of Illinois

> > 20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

> > fort, IL 60423

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[Guest guest]

You would be correct....lots of family members wondering where their

loved one would go, etc. etc. I read about half of the article and

got disgusted.

Marie

> > >

> > > Hi all:

> > > I will be attending the Hearing. I know this is quite a

> distance

> > but

> > > it is critically important. If any of you can possibly

manage

> to

> > get

> > > there, PLEASE do so. In lieu of attendance please consider

> > writing a

> > > testimony that you would then send to every one of the

> legislators

> > > listed.

> > > Thank you.

> > > Ellen

> > >

> > > The Arc of Illinois

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > December 8, 2008

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Leaders in The Arc:

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Here is Rep Ryg's letter supporting the closing of Howe and

> > investing

> > > in the developmental disability system. Rep Ryg is the

current

> > > Chairperson of the House Disability Services Committee.

Please

> > share

> > > this email with others.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ACTION: On Thursday, Dec. 11th, 4:00 p.m., at the Tinley

Park

> > > Convention Center, 18300 & Harlem, Tinley Park, the

Commission

> on

> > > Government Forecasting & Accountability will hold a hearing

on

> the

> > > closing of Howe.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > People with disabilities have died at Howe because of

medical

> > > neglect. The federal government has withdrawn its funding of

> Howe

> > > because health and safety standards could not be met at

Howe.

> Howe

> > > needs to be closed!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Advocates should attend this meeting and support efforts to

> close

> > > Howe.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Tony auski

> > >

> > > The Arc of Illinois

> > >

> > > 815-464-1832

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > December 5, 2008

> > >

> > > Members of Commission on Government Forecasting and

> > > Accountability

> > >

> > > Chairman Senator Schoenberg Chairman

> >

> > > Myers

> > >

> > > Senator Bill Brady

> > > Representative Bellock

> > >

> > > Senator Don Harmon

> > > Representative Mautino

> > >

> > > Senator Radogno

> > > Representative Molaro

> > >

> > > Senator Dave Syverson

> > > Representative Elaine Nekritz

> > >

> > > Senator Donne Trotter

> > > Representative Poe

> > >

> > > Dan Long, Executive Director

> > >

> > > From: Representative Kathy Ryg, Chair of House Disabilities

> > > Services Committee

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > RE: HOWE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER & TINLEY PARK MENTAL HEALTH

> > CENTER

> > >

> > > As Chair of the House Disabilities Services Committee and a

> member

> > of

> > > the Fee for Service Committee, I have been actively engaged

in

> > > discussions regarding the delivery of services to persons

with

> > > developmental disabilities and mental illness. As members of

> the

> > > General Assembly we are familiar with the advocates' message

> that

> > > Illinois ranks " 51st and Failing " in funding services for

the

> > > developmentally disabled and mentally ill citizens of our

> state.

> > >

> > > In numerous hearings on the fee for service initiative and

the

> > need

> > > to rebalance the investment of state dollars from

> institutional

> > care

> > > to community based programs and services, the consumers and

> their

> > > families have testified that they are told they should

> consider

> > > moving out of state if you want quality services for your

> family

> > > member. Advocacy groups have successfully sued the state for

> > failure

> > > to comply with the Olmstead decision that gives a consumer

the

> > choice

> > > to receive long-term care services in integrated community

> > settings.

> > >

> > > These messages have been repeated for years and have been

> > compounded

> > > by concerns that due to a lack of resources, quality of care

> for

> > > residents in our state operated centers is inadequate.

Staffs

> are

> > > overburdened and facilities are in disrepair. Federal

matching

> > > dollars have been denied.

> > >

> > > Our statewide system of care for the developmentally

disabled

> and

> > > mentally ill can no longer be sustained as is. More

> importantly,

> > we

> > > recognize that a system that ranks 51st and receives a

failing

> > grade

> > > must not be maintained.

> > >

> > > The proposed closure of Howe Developmental Center and the

> > > restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center are

the

> > first

> > > steps to rebalancing a broken system. This rebalancing

effort

> is

> > > directed by evidence based, expert reports: The Blueprint

for

> > System

> > > Redesign in Illinois, The Metro South Mental Health Planning

> Task

> > > Force, and the Money Follows the Person initiative. These

> reports

> > > recommend that some of the dollars spent on institutional

care

> > must

> > > be reinvested in community based care and the development of

> state

> > > operated, state of the art, centers of excellence.

> > >

> > > In public hearings held over my six year career in the

General

> > > Assembly, we have been informed by these reports but more

> > > importantly, we have listened to the testimony of the

> consumers of

> > > services and their family members. While there is some

> > disagreement

> > > about technical definitions, there is no disagreement about

> two

> > > things:

> > >

> > > 1. Our highest priority must be for the health, safety, and

> > > welfare of each person served with our focus on continual

> skill

> > > development and recovery.

> > >

> > > 2. We must provide for a continuum of care that meets an

> > > individual's needs and allows true choice. Choice means

being

> > able

> > > to decide for one's self or one's loved one, which programs

> offer

> > the

> > > best service in the least restrictive environment. Our

system

> > must

> > > provide for quality care in the most appropriate setting

based

> on

> > > person and family directed needs and goals.

> > >

> > > The proposed facility closure signals a significant and

> promising

> > > step towards our mutual goals of quality care and choice. I

> can

> > > testify that this decision was clearly a result of

exhaustive

> > efforts

> > > to determine how to best allocate scarce resources to insure

> > quality

> > > of care in state operated centers and increase capacity for

> > community

> > > based services.

> > >

> > > That being said, we must insure that the reinvestment of

> dollars

> > will

> > > be dedicated to improving existing services at the other

state

> > > operated centers and expanding capacity in the community. We

> must

> > > insure that families and employees will be fully involved in

> > > transition planning. I believe the proposed closure plan

> provides

> > > that additional resources will be provided to insure each

> resident

> > > and consumer in state operated centers gets the quality of

> care

> > they

> > > are entitled to and deserve.

> > >

> > > Additional resources will build a stronger system of

community

> > based

> > > programs and services providing increased access and more

> choice.

> > > Additional resources will mean more jobs for the direct

> service

> > > professionals and we will continue to fight for increased

> wages

> > for

> > > the valuable work they do.

> > > Additional resources will mean Illinois can maximize federal

> > dollars

> > > to match state dollars.

> > > Please join me in supporting the closure of the Howe

> Developmental

> > > Center and the restructuring of the Tinley Park Mental

Health

> > Center.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still

> > receive

> > > emails from us in the future, please ensure it was not

> forwarded

> > from

> > > another party or sent to an email address that is different

> than

> > the

> > > one asked to be removed. DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Or

write

> us

> > at:

> > > The Arc of Illinois

> > > 20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

> > > fort, IL 60423

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >