|
Iowa State Plan for
Independent Living
(SPIL)
2007-2010
|
The Signing of the Iowa SPIL...
|
 |
| Allen Harris, Director, Iowa Department for the Blind, signing the New SPIL 2008-2010. |
|
|
 |
| Steve Wooderson, Administrator, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, signing the New SPIL 2008-2010. |
|
|
 |
| SPIL Signing, Back Row: Tomoko Yajima (IVRS), Donna Crum (SILC), Becky Criswell (IDB), Tim Gracey (IVRS). Front Row: Steve Wooderson (IVRS), Dawn Francis (SILC), Allen Harris (IDB). |
|
|
The Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) worked with the seven Iowa Centers for Independent Living, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Department for the Blind, Grassroots Community Groups, and Consumer Partners to develop the next 3 year State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).
Iowa is required to have a SPIL in place in order to receive federal Part B dollars for independent living services.
The SPIL provides us with guidelines and a plan as to how we are going to strengthen and expand the independent living network in Iowa over the next three years, promoting the independence, productivity and full inclusion of people with disabilities within the Iowa communities where they choose to live.
The New SPIL 2008-2010 can be downloaded by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
|
|
Highlights of the Iowa SPIL
The SPIL is the plan for how we are going to strengthen and expand Iowa’s Independent Living Network so that Centers for Independent Living (CILs) can provide the direct services that are requested by Iowans with disabilities. The CILs provide the services, and the SILC, through the Plan outlined in the SPIL, helps to build the Network so that the resources needed by CILs to provide services are available to them. Here are some key elements of this SPIL that address strengthening and expanding Iowa’s IL Network.
One way the SILC is trying to build a stronger Network is by helping the leadership of the Network develop consensus around some important steps that need to be taken to strengthen and expand the Network, such as developing outcomes, developing a legislative strategy to increase funding, etc.
Another way the SILC is trying to build a stronger Network is by providing outreach in areas in Iowa that are unserved by CILs or underserved by CILs, in order to help some of these Grassroots Groups identify community needs and begin to address the community needs. They can then perhaps develop a CIL satellite or new CIL in their community so that more Iowans with disabilities have access to the services and resources they need to live independently and have control and choice in all aspects of their lives.
A third way the SILC is trying to build a stronger Network is to identify possible funding resources for existing CILs, as well as ways to expand IL services into unserved counties. Our Iowa CILs are severely underfunded. We have seven CILs and they only serve 35 of the 99 counties. Of those 35 counties, CILs are so underfunded that they state 28 of those counties they serve are UNDERSERVED. The estimated disability population in the 35 counties that CILs serve is 271,651. Each Iowa CIL operates with about the equivalent of TWO to THREE full-time staff, so you can see how difficult it is to fully serve the current counties with this limited staff.
To address the lack of funding for CILs and IL services, the SILC, as part of the SPIL, will have a Funding Strategies Committee to assist with identifying possible funding opportunities for CILs, as well as a plan to ask for state funding for CILs. The first priority is funding to strengthen existing CIL operations. The next priority is to expand IL services provided by CILs into unserved counties, by current CILs expanding to serve additional counties and by new CILs being developed.
A fourth way the SILC is trying to build a stronger Network is to continue to build collaborations with other disability organizations in the state, including collaboration with efforts being made to reform Iowa’s long-term care system into one that provides extensive community-based services and resources.
In addition, the two Designated State Units also provide Independent Living Services using the federal Part B funding as follows. Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services offers services statewide to help Iowan’s with disabilities to improve or maintain independence in their home or community. Services can include help in obtaining assistive devices, home modifications, advocacy, and peer counseling. The Iowa Department for the Blind offers independent living skills training to Iowans who are visually impaired.
|
|
