Education Family Connections Helpful Information
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The goal of NAMI DuPage’s Family Connections is to provide educate, support and resources for families who support someone living with a mental illness. We were originally made up of family members who attended NAMI’s Family to Family class, although we welcome anyone to join us in our efforts. In the past year, we have sponsored five Family Connections community events at Wheaton Public Library. These events cover topics and provide resources relevant to families who care for a loved one living with a mental illness.
Court Ordered Outpatient Treatment: Myth or Reality?
October 27, 2009
Learn about what outpatient treatment is, how it can help, and forced medication treatment.
Presenter: Thomas Ost
Mr. Ost is an attorney in private practice who worked for several years in the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office.
For more information, follow this link: http://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasost
Survivor’s Guide to Social Security Benefits
December 8, 2009
Presenter: Donald Davea
Mr. Davea is from the DuPage Center for Independent Living. He has many years of experience successfully assisting individuals in navigating and obtaining Social Security benefits.
For more information, follow this link: http://www.dupagecil.org/
Working and Living with Mental Illness
February 16, 2010
Learn about Department of Rehabilitation Services in DuPage. Get help preparing for and finding work. Learn about Home Service programs that enable you to stay in your home.
Presenter: Marilyn Lanawag
Ms. Lanawag works at the Downer’s Grove office of the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), an agency which assists residents to achieve independence and self-sufficiency through various programs.
For more information, follow this link: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29736
911 in a Mental Health Emergency: How Police and Community Services Can Help
April 12, 2010
Presenter: Sgt Steve Hochstetler and Social Worker Mike Hoffman
Sgt Hochstetler is a Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT) officer and Mr Hoffmann is a social worker, both working with the Naperville Police Department.
For more information, follow this link: http://www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/2008PDAnnual_adminawards.pdf
June 7, 2010 – Look here for future information
Additional Links:
“Working and Living with Mental Illness,” was the lecture topic February 16 at Wheaton Library. Marilyn Lawanag, Director of the Downers Grove office of Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services was the featured speaker.
As the lead agency serving people with disabilities, DRS partners with these individuals and their families to assist them in becoming active members of their community. They work closely with employers, service organizations, state agencies, providers, and schools to help individuals achieve their goals.
There are 50 offices all over the state. Many individuals work for the first time in their lives. Others learn skills to obtain a job that provides health benefits and allows them to become self-sufficient.
People with the most significant disabilities can live self-directed lives in their own homes through Centers for Independent Living and many home health care providers.
High School students with disabilities are assisted in preparing to transition into the adult world with ongoing support from a dedicated staff.
Educational Funding: Clients can apply for financial assistance equal to the tuition at University of Illinois, including Room and Board or equal to the tuition at College of DuPage.
Applicants must apply for FAFSA and deduct any funding obtained. Students must maintain a 2.2 GPA.
If applicant is less than 24 years, all forms of family (parents ) income is considered before funding education. If 23 years old and on SSI, family income is not considered before funding granted.
Vocational Funding: DRS can also pay for books, transportation, uniforms, tools needed.
STEP: A secondary educational program, prepares students for transition to employment and community participation during & after high school. Eligibility includes ages 14 ½ thru 22.
Services include: career counseling, referrals, paid work experiences, job training, Supported Employment Services, Post-secondary education & training, Independent living services.
Short term job coaching is available
Next Steps: This program provides training and support to parents & caregivers of children with disabilities
On the Job Training is available. Cost is shared 50/50 between DRS and client.
Residential Schools: DRS operates 3 residential schools, Illinois school for the Deaf, Illinois school for Visually Impaired, Illinois Center for Rehabilitation And Education. For information regarding these services, contact http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29739
Disability Determination Services: DRS determines eligibility of people to receive benefits from Social Security disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Home Services Program: For individuals with most significant disabilities so they can remain in their home and live as independently as possible. These services include feeding, grooming, etc. DRS provides services to those under 60 years of age. If you are older than 60, you will be referred to the Department of Aging.
The client is the employee and can pick a neighbor or relative to assist them and DRS will provide payment to them. If client has no one, Home Health Agency worker will be assigned. Visits can be approved to a max of 3 per day. Must meet financial qualifications set by State.
Respite Services: Caregiver is provided to watch severely disabled child to give parents break from care.
How do you apply for services? You need to call a DRS office where someone will help you apply. Your records from doctors, schools, past jobs or other programs will help DRS . When this is done, a counselor will look at all of the information to see if you qualify. If the counselor needs more information, DRS may pay for it.
Contact: Illinois Depart. Human Services
Division of Rehabilitation Services
1-800-843-6154 or visit the website at www.dhs.state.il.us
Local DRS office: 2901 Finley Rd., Suite#109, Downers Grove, Il. 60515,
630-495-0500
Additional link:
Mental Health Courts
Family members who live with mental illness may at some point encounter the court system. In many cases, our loved one in involved in dangerous or risky behavior. They may start to self-medicate (abusing drugs) as a result of their mental illness. Losing control can be a sign of instability. Yet people with mental illness rarely respond well to intimidation or restraint, although those are the usual approaches to dealing with someone who is out of control. Yet an unstable person is usually unaware that their behavior is not appropriate. Lack of insight into what one is doing and why is usually part of the illness as well. Consequences don’t work as a deterrent if the mentally ill person is in distress and can’t think about their future. Medical evidence suggests that we can’t expect behavior to improve without treatment. And yet it is sometimes difficult to get a mentally ill individual into treatment. Fortunately, the court system in
In cases where the law has been broken while the individual was ill from a brain disorder, DuPage County has an alternative to the usual court system. Funded by the DuPage County Board, the program is located in the DuPage County Courthouse. The goal of the program is to provide treatment instead of incarceration to non-violent offenders who wish to turn their lives around.
The program is the Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP). Graduates of the MICAP program have a very low rate of recidivism. Since 2004, 162 individuals have graduated, and many have paid restitution and court costs.
In order for you or your loved one to be considered for this program, the offender must (a) be 17 years of age, (b) be charged as an adult with a criminal misdemeanor or non violent felony in DuPage County, (c) document how their mental illness relates to their criminal behavior, and (d) agree to treatment. In return, MICAP provides a diagnostic evaluation, treatment, medication, case management services (including housing, food and transportation), and life skills training.
For more information, contact Jim Wojtas (
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), MICAP Program Director, at (630) 407-8846 or ask your lawyer or public defender if MICAP is an option for you.
Or, follow this link: http://www.co.dupage.il.us/courts/generic.cfm?doc_id=4458
DuPage County Mental Health Court
503.
Presiding Judge: Judge Mark Dwyer, room 4007
ASA: Jennifer Hulvat (630) 407-8038
Secretary: Mary Anthony (630) 407-8048
MICAP Case Manager: Lisa Salvadore (630) 682-7979, Ext. 7528
MICAP Probation Officer: Deena Kuranda (630) 407-8450
Additional Link:
What do you do if you have insurance, but it doesn’t cover the level of care your loved one needs?
1) First, as you use up your coverage, apply for services through the Illinois Department of Human Services at http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=32490.
To get help, contact the nearest Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) by:
- using the DHS Office Locator or
- calling 1-800-843-6154.
In life threatening, emergency or crisis situations call 911. We do recommend that you indicate whether your loved one is unstable and needs help with transport to the nearest hospital.
2) If your family member is a child or adolescent, you might find assistance through SASS:
Screening, Assessment and Support Services, (SASS) is a crisis mental health service program for children and adolescents. SASS serves children experiencing a mental health crisis. SASS services are available by calling the CARES line.
CARES Line: 1-800-345-9049 (Voice) 1-773-523-4504 (TTY)
Any child or youth in a mental health crisis who may need public funding through the Illinois All Kids program or Medicaid may receive SASS services. A parent/guardian may check to see if their child can receive SASS services, by calling the CARES crisis line: 1-800-345-9049 (Voice) 1-773-523-4504 (TTY)
- SASS will work with the guardian and child for at least 90 days.
- If the child goes into the hospital, SASS will join the hospital team to care for the child.
- SASS will help the hospital team plan for the child's return home and will provide services when the child is at home.
- If the child does not go into the hospital, SASS will provide mental health services and supports to help the child stay at home.
Families/parents/guardians play a major role in making a plan for the child's treatment. SASS will work closely with families to learn about the child's problems and strengths.
For more information, follow these links: www.allkidscovered.com, www.hfs.illinois.gov
3) Individual Care Grant http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=33657
The Individual Care Grant Program (ICG) is governed by 59 Illinois administrative code 135. Rule 135 sets forth the criteria below, which must be met in order for a grant to be awarded. The ICG funds the cost of intensive community-based care or residential treatment.
- Parent / guardian must be a resident of Illinois (135.30(a))
- The child must have a severe mental illness.
A severe mental illness is defined as a mental or emotional disorder, which substantially impairs thought, perception of reality, emotional process, judgment, behavior or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of several life domains. Symptoms must include severely impaired reality testing and may include hallucinations, delusions, avoidance or withdrawal from human contact, marked affective instability, apathy, bizarre behavior, deficient or unusual forms of communication, agitation and/or danger to self or others. The course of the illness should indicate that the symptoms do not represent acute episodes from which rapid and substantial remission is likely. (135.30 (b)).
- Must be enrolled in an approved educational program.
- The child is not past the age of 17 years and six months before submission of the completed application (135.20(f)).
- Frequently asked questions are answered at: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=33652
4) American Academy of Pediatrics: Medical Homes in Illinois
Medical Home Initiatives: This section provides information on state medical home initiatives/programs. States that are a part of the mentorship network will have a "Promise to the State" which outlines how they will achieve ensuring that all children have a medical home by 2010. This is based on the Healthy People 2010 goals which is a 10 year action plan to achieve and measure success for all CSHCN.
Name: Rita Klemm, MSW
Contact: Phone: 217-558-2340 |Fax: 217-558-0773 | Email:
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State Team: Roster
http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/States/state/illinois.html
5) In Wisconsin and elsewhere, there are Katie Beckett grants: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/bdds/kbp/kbpcons.htm
Many disabled children are raised in households where the income level prohibits the child from qualifying for SSI. Yet, the child still needs significantly more financial support to receive medical services than the family’s private insurance or resources can provide.
Each state administers their program a bit differently. In fact, in many states it is difficult to find out information on this program because it is called by so many different names. Sometimes called home-based waivers, they are generally administered through the same people who administer Medicaid in the state. Early intervention programs can usually provide information on how to access the right agencies in your state, but schools rarely are aware of these programs.