GOAL 1: EXPAND IL SERVICE PROVISION IN CONNECTICUT

Obj 1: Strengthen infrastructure of the SILC

• Activity 1: new membership campaign
• Activity 2: Revise and implement orientation training
• Activity 3: Host 2 workshops to improve corporate management skills and oversight of 501C3
• Activity 4: Identify funding sources
• Activity 5: Work w/ CT CILs and SILCs nationally to develop and implement standards and assurances.
• Activity 6: Review policies and procedures including financial and establish a personnel manual and affirmative action plan.

Obj 2: To assure the integration of planning between CILs/SILC

• Activity 1:Host 2 statewide CIL/SILC meetings per year.

Obj 3: To continue to provide resources for consumers to purchase $50,000 in goods and services

• Activity 1: Allocate $10,000 to each CIL in the state
• Activity 2: Record of the impact of direct service purchases

Obj 4: BESB will utilize $12,000 in Part B funding

• Activity 1: Provision of IL services to individuals who are legally blind

Obj 5: Develop process and outcome measures with CILs for shifting existing Part B appropriations to document and give evidence of statewide priorities aligned with the SPIL.

• Activity 1: Continue funding $30,000 to each CIL to support activities advancing priority areas outlined in the SPIL.
• Activity 2: Develop a framework for formulating approaches to promote the priorities set forth in the State Plan and for measuring outcomes.
• Activity 3: Review and fund plans submitted from interested CILs advancing key priorities of the plan

Obj 6: Design, develop and implement an integrated statewide database

• Activity 1:Jointly analyze in cooperation with CILs existing system and methods at regional level including applicable portions of 704 reports
• Activity 2: In cooperation with CILs, jointly design survey based on existing data including applicable portions of the 704 report
• Activity 3: Seek appropriate expertise to present viable, cost effective solutions to the SILC for establishing a statewide database
• Activity 4: Pilot recommendations with identified priority areas of the SPIL

Obj 7: Jointly fund an IL Counselor employed by the State of Connecticut

• Activity 1: Consultative – to CILs, vocational rehabilitation agency, and other agencies
• Activity 2: To serve as a bridge between the independent living and vocational rehabilitation worlds
• Activity 3: Promote system change in those areas that have created barriers to independent living or community inclusion

Obj 8: Establish an effective working liaison between grass roots consumer groups, CILs, DMHAS and the SILC

• Activity 1: Gather and assess existing initiatives both in Connecticut & nationally in cooperation with other interested groups and agencies;
• Activity 2: Identify areas of expertise within each of the constituent groups;
• Activity 3: Identify gaps and opportunities to improve network
• Activity 4: Develop and initiate action plan to advocate for systems change closing gaps.

Obj 9: Design and implement independent living initiative on college campus

• Activity 1: Review existing data from the Center on Aging and develop framework for collaborative college IL plan(s).
• Activity 2: Design, implement and evaluate independent living/self-determination initiative(s) on 1-2 college campuses
• Activity 3: Assess for integration into network of CILs

Obj 10: Design, develop and implement initiative targeting individuals in institutions or at high risk of reentering an institution

• Activity 1: Explore development of a peer support network for people transitioning from living in institutions to living in the community.

Obj 11: Design and Implement plan for expansion of Network

• Activity 1: Continue current core level while conducting review
• Activity 2: Survey a representative sample of States to determine the minimum levels of funding and the percentage of funding secured from other than State/Federal sources
• Activity 3: Assess core funding requisite to sustain and/or expand number of CILs.
• Actvity 4: Analyze R. Fortinsky information especially data relative to defining unserved and underserved populations in the state, existing CIL network capacity, success of pilots, satellite history
• Activity 5: Create models of catchment areas with special consideration to serving unserved and underserved persons considering use of satellite offices housed in host agencies, itinerant staff assigned to cover rural communities, etc
• Activity 6: : Identify and advocate for funding to fully implement plan
• Activity 7: Continue to advocate for funding to fully implement plan

Obj 12: Development of legislative policy initiatives to reduce systemic barriers to independent living.

• Activity 1: Identify 3-5 major barriers to independent living that require systems advocacy
  • Activity 1.1: Devise and implement various tools to gather input on systems advocacy issues to be distributed to CIL consumers and/or members as well as identified unserved and underserved persons
• Activity 2: Adopt position or policy papers on 3-5 major barriers that identify the problem(s) and propose systemic solution(s) to resolve the problems
• Activity 3: Educate people with disabilities about the barriers and proposed solutions through various mechanisms, including publication on its website.
• Activity 4: Develop a collaborative plan to implement its policy initiatives with the CILs and related advocacy coalitions and entities
• Activity 5: Develop a legislative action network of people with disabilities to empower people with disabilities to engage in legislative action activities
  • Activity 5.1: Identify seasoned advocates to mentor consumers and join with them to engage in legislative advocacy activities including writing letters, creating testimony at public hearings, etc.
• Activity 6: review the success of its policy initiatives and modify its plan on an annual basis.

GOAL 2: TO INCREASE THE PROMOTION OF THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PHILOSOPHY

Obj 1: To develop opportunities for agency and non-profit staff to understand the independent living philosophy and its application

• Activity 1: Host an Independent Living Conference
• Activity 2: Design a survey accessing awareness of Independent Living

Obj 2: Develop a project(s) to promote leadership and civic engagement by youth with disabilities

• Activity 1: Establish an ad hoc working committee to study the issue including review of similar projects.
• Activity 2: Collaborate with CILs and interested groups to design a pilot project
• Activity 3: Establish selection criteria for proposals
• Activity 4: Explore funding sources to help implement the pilot
• Activity 5: Develop evaluation tool to assess outcome and explore replication in other communities.

Obj 3: To create and implement strategic marketing plan increasing awareness of independent living philosophy

• Activity 1: Develop, support and promote a website
  • Activity 1.1: Assure promotion to unserved and underserved persons
• Activity 2: Develop and distribute materials

Obj 4: To educate legislators about the independent living philosophy

• Activity 1: Host Candidates Forum
• Activity 1.1: Outreach to unserved and underserved persons