Advocates say Illinois’ system to help people with developmental disabilities needs fixing, funding

CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s time for the state to get critical about caring for folks with mental disabilities, say advocates are hoping lawmakers will give them $85 million greater than what Gov. JB Pritzker budgeted.

The advocates need the cash to assist cease the exodus of employees offering companies for that neighborhood. However CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov discovered the issues are larger than wages.

The state can be in violation of a 12-year-old consent decree – leaving 1000’s with out care.

Jordan Kennedy, 12, can generally be all smiles and cooperation. However generally, that’s not the case.

“It is not unusual for her to kick, hit, scratch, pull my hair, headbutt me,” mentioned Jordan’s mom, Kelly Kennedy.

Kelly Kennedy says her daughter’s behaviors are resulting from a mind and uncommon genetic dysfunction – which have left Jordan on the developmental age of 4.

Kelly Kennedy, her husband, and their 4 youngsters moved from Arizona to Elmhurst 5 years in the past for the varsity companies.

“The faculties right here in Elmhurst are unbelievable,” mentioned Kelly Kennedy.

However that’s the place companies for Jordan cease.

“We should not have companies for Jordan like social companies,” Kennedy mentioned. “We do not get respite via the state. There isn’t any Medicaid for her.”

That’s as a result of Jordan is caught on an enormous waitlist to obtain state companies, and has been for 5 years. She is one in all greater than 12,000 folks with developmental or mental disabilities on that waitlist – regardless of a 2011 consent decree ordering the Illinois Division of Human Providers to get folks off of it.

“Since its inception, the state has by no means been in compliance with the consent decree,” mentioned Kim Zoeller.

Zoeller heads the Ray Graham Affiliation, a Lisle-based group offering neighborhood companies to folks with disabilities. She mentioned one cause the state cannot transfer folks off the waitlist is as a result of organizations like hers haven’t got sufficient workers – about 25 % of all positions stay unfilled all through the state.

Zoeller blames that on low, stagnant pay.

“This subject actually went a decade with none cost-of-doing-business will increase,” Zoeller mentioned.

That’s the reason Zoeller and different advocates are asking state lawmakers for an extra $85 million to present direct assist professionals, or DSPs, a $4-per-hour increase. That hike was additionally beneficial within the Developmental Disabilities Providers Price Examine report from Guidehouse Inc., commissioned by the Illinois Division of Human Providers to assist repair the continuing issues.

“We’re not speaking about shifting Illinois to be the very best state – we’re speaking about merely stabilizing our companies,” mentioned Zoeller. “That is how unhealthy it’s.”

For the Kennedys, who presently spend tens of 1000’s of {dollars} a yr on Jordan’s care, these companies can be life-changing.

“We’re exhausted,” mentioned Kelly Kennedy. “We’re drowning.”

In an announcement, an IDHS spokesperson defended the state’s report – saying it’s in compliance with two parts of the consent decree, and pointing to a increase given to DSP employees in 2020, together with a proposed $1.50-per-hour increase now.

However advocates say that’s simply not sufficient.