Join They Deserve More Action Hours

As the Illinois 102^nd General Assembly is winding down, the They Deserve More Coalition continues to take to advocate during the “lame duck” session for a one-time $56 million infusion into the IDD community service system intended to support recruitment and retention of direct support professionals (DSP) through hiring incentives and retention bonuses. As previously reported, a survey done over the summer indicated that community-based organizations are struggling to attract and retain DSPs.

This Thursday, January 5^th from 9a to 12p, They Deserve More is staging action hours. It will take just a minute or two out of your day, but it really helps. Legislators have been asking us questions to better understand the urgent crisis faced by IDD community providers and the people they serve. Click here on Thursday morning to take action!

In case you missed it…

Just prior to the winter break, The Arc of Illinois released a statement in reaction to another news article about Choate Developmental Center located in Anna, Illinois as well as one out of Garrison School in Jacksonville, Illinois. We will continue to advocate for increased community-based system capacity as stated in our 2023 Policy and Advocacy Priorities.

Free COVID-19 At-Home Tests Again Available Online

The White House has announced a new limited round of free at-home COVID-19 tests for the winter. Households can now order either standard at-home tests or tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. Shipping is free.

Older adults and people with disabilities who need support ordering the free at-home tests can contact the Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) or the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL, 888-677-1199).  Staff are available to assist you from 8 AM to 9 PM ET Monday through Friday. They can help you learn more about testing options, including by connecting you to accessible instructions and helping with test administration.
 

Visiting Research Specialist Positions Open at UIC and IDHD

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD) is searching for two visiting research specialists to support the Direct Support Professional (DSP) Training project. One position is for a project coordinator and the other is for a curriculum developer/webmaster. Please see the links below for more information.

Project Coordinator: https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/2539?c=uic

Curriculum Developer/Webmaster: https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/2540?c=uic

Alliance Membership Webinar

Interested in starting a self-advocacy group? Wanting to reinvigorate your current group? Join us and learn about joining or re-signing as an Alliance member group chapter!

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 10am Central Time

Click here to join.

Membership will look a bit different during this grant cycle. During our time together, we will discuss what services The Alliance will offer to self-advocacy groups, what expectations for member group chapters will be and answer your questions!

Apply to Do These SARTAC Projects!

$5,000 Fellowships - Apply by January 9, 2023

Six fellowships are available. It is like an internship. It is for 1 year. You find an organization to work with. You pick a project to do. You work on your project for about 6 hours each week. SARTAC pays you $5,000 to complete your project.

SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered) Mini-Grants for self-advocacy groups.

Get people with disabilities the facts about:

#1 Health & Vaccines -> APPLY HERE

#2 HCBS Settings Rule -> APPLY HERE

Virtual Learning Is Now Research Study Opportunity

Has your family member with intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD) talked about what they want for their future? Not sure on how to prepare your family and loved one with IDD for their future? 

If yes, you might be eligible to join the VFIN research study, which consists of an online & interactive training program offered by the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois Chicago. The VFIN training program is for adults with IDD & their family members residing in Illinois to help them initiate the future planning process. This training will consist of weekly 1-hour Live Zoom classes and self-paced materials on Google Classroom for 8 weeks in Winter 2023. To know more, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SDwbtfEXFP3WdGDVKJm5Hm4gU0cXlWlZ/view?usp=share_link   

For screening your eligibility, please visit: https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9p0UElW9Ovsk63A or contact us at phone: 312-996-1002 or E-mail at kkeiling@uic.edu

Work in Human Services? Have 5 Minutes to spare? Help us with research!

The Council on Quality and Leadership wants to learn more about the views of people working in human services! In this research study, they are asking people working in human services to complete a 5-minute online survey where they read a short story about human services and answer some brief questions about their thoughts and opinions. All responses and opinions are anonymous.

Your opinion has a huge impact!

Your opinions and experiences as a person in human services are valuable. Through this study, you will help us provide deeper insight into the human services field.

The IDHS Division of Mental Health is pleased to provide a new resource!

Illinois 988 Myth Busters Fact Sheet 

While most information online and in the news has shared the helpful and life-saving aspects of 988, there has also been some incorrect information being shared. Attached is an Illinois fact sheet with some of the myths that have been circulating on social media about 988, along with correct information.

For more information about 988 resources, please visit: IDHS: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (state.il.us). 

To learn more about Illinois’ 988 planning activities and meetings visit: IDHS: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Planning Page (state.il.us)

To ask a question about 988, please complete and submit this request from to the Division of Mental Health: https://forms.office.com/g/K82GhbRgKJ

To sign up for Communications from the Division of Mental Health regarding 988, please complete this request form: https://forms.office.com/g/Da9MEQE8Hb .

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