Pat Quinn, Governor                                                                                          Carol L. Adams, Ph.D Secretary

MEMORANDUM

TO: Provider Organizations Funded through the Division of Developmental Disabilities

FROM: Lilia Teninty, Director

Division of Developmental Disabilities

DATE: June 11, 2009

RE: Fiscal Year 10 Budget Impact

The General Assembly recently approved a “50-percent budget” for fiscal year 2010 that cuts a long list of vital services and programs. This budget falls far short of meeting the statutory obligations and needs of the State, and fails to fulfill our basic commitments to the people of Illinois.

The legislature’s “50 percent budget” cut $2.24 billion from the DHS budget severely impacting our ability to provide vital services to people with developmental disabilities and their families. As a result, we are forced to cut a number of grant programs and consider significant rate cuts to remaining programs.

The list of grant programs the Division of Developmental Disabilities will no longer be able to fund effective June 30, 2009 include the following:

Grant and Respite Programs:

150 Diagnostic/Evaluation

160 Client/Family Support

250 Epilepsy

320 Vocational Development

380 Regular Work/Sheltered Employment

390 Supported Employment

400 Dental Services

430 Leisure Time

450 Demonstration Project

500 ISC

781 Bogard Service Coordination

880 Group Respite

87D In-Home Respite Care

89D Residential Respite

430 Leisure Time

500 ISC

89D Residential Respite

Additionally, funding for Child Care Institutions (CCIs, Program 19D) will be terminated effective October 1, 2009. We also will be forced to end the Family Assistance Program (FAP) effective July 1, 2009. We are notifying families of children in CCIs and the FAP of these cuts in a separate letter.

Significant rate reductions, in the range of 20 – 30% annually, for all remaining programs including Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILA), Developmental Training (DT) and Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD) services are still under review. In the event these rate reductions are necessary, a separate notice will be issued in advance of the effective date.

Due to the General Assembly’s failure to approve the revenue plan proposed by Governor Quinn, the State of Illinois will no longer be able to afford even basic services for thousands of people with developmental disabilities. This will have a negative impact on the individuals, their families, their providers and direct care workers who continue to work to meet people’s needs in even the most difficult situations.

Since unveiling his budget proposal in March, Governor Quinn has understood and expressed the consequences of an inadequate budget. While the Governor continues to work with the General Assembly to enact a responsible and balanced budget, we must take steps to operate within the statutory limits of the budget that was approved by the legislature.

This letter is to notify you of these cuts in order for you to work with families served in these programs, as well as your staff to prepare, as best as possible, for an uncertain future.