Illinois
Individual Advocacy Group Programs
IAG provides a variety of programs and supports to assist individuals with disabilities and their families.
Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA)
IAG’s CILA Program began in 1999 when the State of Illinois sought assistance for someone for whom all other CILA programs had refused admission. Since that time, IAG’s CILA Program has grown to provide 24-hour supports to more than 80 CILA sites (all individually controlled) from Cook County to Rock Island County to Sangamon County. The individuals in IAG’s CILAs have an Intellectual Disability; most also have a secondary disability such as autism or a mental health or an emotional-behavioral diagnosis, which has limited other CILA provider’s willingness and ability to provide services.
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Individuals in IAG’s CILAs are provided supports based on their personal needs and interests and are encouraged to participate within their communities. IAG’s CILA program is unique in that the individuals’ residences are independently controlled and each person has their own bedroom. This means that the individuals or their guardians rent their own homes, are responsible for the lease and are responsible all associated living expenses. IAG provides the supports for these individuals so they can live meaningfully within the community. This is achieved by providing training for the acquisition of the rental property and assisting with:
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the completion of daily tasks which includes but is not limited to selecting and maintaining clothes as well as dressing;
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the design of food menus and encouragement of nutritious food preparation;
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grocery and other types of shopping;
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the creation of budgets, management of funds and maintenance of bank accounts;
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maintenance and cleaning of the residence; and
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the fostering of social interactions at home and within the community
Intermittent CILA
Although the principles of the Intermittent CILA program are the same as those of the CILA program, the purpose is much different. Individuals in the Intermittent CILA program have the capability of living independently, but still require some services to assist them with their community integration. Intermittent CILA provides those supports and services, but on a significantly lessened basis (designated by a number of hours per week).
Behavioral Health Services
Individual Advocacy Group provides behavioral services to all individuals living in the agency based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis. IAG employs Board Certified Behavior Analysts who are responsible for creating and maintaining behavior programs tailored to each individual. Behavior Analysts serve as support for staff in the homes and community environments and conduct agency-wide staff trainings. Behavior analysts at IAG also work one-on-one with individuals, teaching new skills and reducing inappropriate behaviors to encourage all individuals to live a productive life integrated in the community. In addition, IAG provides individual and group therapy for individuals with mental health and emotional disorders as needed.
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We are currently seeking to expand our behavior team and encourage anyone who is a BCBA or BCBA-eligible to apply. Please contact the main office to apply.
Host Family
The Host Family program is an adult foster care program where a family accepts one or two individuals with an Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability into their home as family members. Host Family provides the opportunity to live with a family with the consistency in relationships that a family provides as compared to a 24-hour CILA with staff rotating in and out on shifts. A family contracts with IAG to be a Host Family provider and must comply with all applicable CILA requirements. There are tax benefits for contractors providing the Host Family opportunity.
Community Integration Support (CIS)
IAG’s Community Integration Support Services helps people with developmental and other disabilities to acquire interpersonal skills for participation in the community by implementing individualized goals and personal objectives. Designed to accommodate each individual’s unique needs, CIS programming accentuates the transfer of personal skills into the social setting, through extensive community integration opportunities
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Customized employment can also be a part of an individual’s CIS program if a personal interest and readiness is determined by his/her multi-disciplinary team. In an employment capacity, which greatly impacts an individual’s self-worth and self-esteem, supports and job coaching activities are made available to foster a positive and sustaining work experience.
Home Based Services (HBS)
The Home Based Services (HBS) program provides service coordination for individuals with a disability who choose to live within their familial home rather than the CILA opportunity. Service planning and coordination includes, but is not limited to:
• personal support;
• Community Integration Supports and customized employment;
• Behavioral and therapy opportunities;
• medical services; and
• transportation.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program provides case management services for individuals who have sustained a brain injury and who prefer to remain in their home rather than accept admission to a nursing home. IAG provides the following case management for program participants:
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• assessing the home’s accessibility;
• overseeing assessment of need and
• acquiring needed rehabilitative services such as Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy;
• providing a liaison with companies that remove barriers/obstacles and increase home accessibility;
• ensuring homemaker services are provided as delineated; and
• serving as a liaison to DHS/ORS for the purpose of setting up funding/assistance.
Transitional Living Program
IAG provides supports to DCFS wards, 18-21 years of age, through a specialized Transitional Living Program (TLP). These young adults have a wide range of disorders, ranging from developmental disabilities to severe mental illness as well as emotional disorders from childhood abuse and neglect. The TLP assists young people, who have previously been in residential facilities, with the development of skills and abilities in order to improve their independence within the community. In an effort to replace the pain of abandonment and childhood abuse with a life of trust and support, these young people receive training and supports:
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• to secure and maintain a job;
• to find, apply for and maintain an apartment lease;
• to budget and effectively manage their money;
• to maintain their residence; and
• to interact with others in a positive manner.
Supported Living Program
People in IAG’s Supported Living Program are provided supports based on their needs and are encouraged to participate within their communities. This means that many people rent their own homes, are responsible for the lease and are responsible all associated living expenses. IAG provides the supports for these people so they can live meaningfully within the community. This is achieved by providing training for the acquisition of the rental property and assisting with:
​
-
the completion of daily tasks which includes but is not limited to selecting and maintaining clothes as well as dressing;
-
the design of food menus and encouragement of nutritious food preparation;
-
grocery and other types of shopping;
-
the creation of budgets, management of funds and maintenance of bank accounts;
-
maintenance and cleaning of the residence; and
-
the fostering of social interactions at home and within the community