Critical, Illinois Developmental Disabilities Services: PUNS Listening Sessions: Aug 14-15, 2013

as shared from our colleagues at Access Living of Chicago... Dear Access Living friends and allies,   Critical information for people with developmental disabilities, families and guardians: the Division of Developmental Disabilities is holding two listening sessions on the PUNS system. Please share the following announcement broadly, which came to us by way of our friends at the Family Support Network:   Family Support Network Members and Friends. . . Calling all Families and Guardians if you are waiting for services and want your voice to be heard - PLEASE participate in the PUNS Listening Session! Please see message below!   THE DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!   Please join Celia Feinstein CFA INC. For a LISTENING SESSION  About the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) in Illinois   The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) contracted with the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) for a strategic planning project in 2004.  One component of that project was to develop an instrument to capture information about those individuals waiting for services.   That instrument is the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS).  The PUNS was developed by Celia S. Feinstein of CFA, Inc., in collaboration with the Division of Developmental Disabilities.   The PUNS has been implemented and used in a variety of ways including the selection of individuals to receive family support services as well as to identify Ligas  class members to receive services.   The Division would like to look again at the PUNS process to determine what improvements need to be made to make PUNS more efficient and useful to stakeholders.  To that end, the ICDD has contracted with CFA, Inc.  to conduct a series of listening sessions throughout the State of Illinois to obtain stakeholder feedback.  CFA, Inc. , will meet with individuals with disabilities, family members, PAS/ISC  agency staff (service coordinators, managers, etc.), advocates, providers, DDD Central Office, including Region staff, and Equip for Equality.   We look forward to your input. We want to hear from individuals and families about your experiences with PUNS. Once we have heard from all we will be making recommendations to the Division of Developmental Disabilities for improvements to the PUNS form and to the PUNS process. Please come and share your experiences with us!   Some questions to think about: 1.  What was your experience like in filling out the PUNS? 2.  Did you agree with the final PUNS form  that was sent to you by your PAS agency? 3.  Has your PUNS form been updated on an annual basis or whenever you/your family member's needs changed? 4.  Are there changes to the PUNS or the PUNS process you would recommend?          DATE:   Wednesday, August 14, 2013 ~ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM  ADDRESS:   Community Alternatives Unlimited (CAU)  8765 W. Higgins Rd., 1st Floor, Chicago, IL 60631  DATE:  Thursday, August 15, 2013 ~ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ADDRESS:   Suburban Access, Inc. (SAI) 900 W. Maple, Homewood, IL 60430 For any questions regarding the Listening Sessions, please contact Rose Ann Kohrt, Administrative Assistant with the Division of Developmental Disabilities,  at (815) 584-3347, Ext 282. Participation in the listening sessions will not affect your being selected to receive services. This project is funded by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.