Background

The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF) is a statewide association representing community-based agencies that serve persons with disabilities and mental illness, including developmental disabilities, mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, rehabilitation services, and early intervention services to adults and children. The Association has been the voice for providers of services for Illinois citizens with disabilities and mental illness for over 30 years.  Our mission is to develop and improve resources to ensure comprehensive, quality services and supports in the community system for persons with disabilities and mental illness and their families. 

Year after year, IARF, its coalition partners and community agencies approach the administration and elected officials in office to advocate for an increase in funding for community services.  Many years we have been successful obtaining a funding increase, but our success was due to the active involvement of trade associations, stakeholders like yourself, and leadership of the House and/or Senate.  However, during the years when community services did not receive an increase, it was the equivalent of a funding cut, because as we all know, standing still in economic terms means losing ground.

Keeping funding history and advocacy efforts in mind, earlier this year, IARF developed a Quality Initiative aimed at “Getting Better Together”.  The Quality Initiative focused on six areas: Funding, Financing, Performance, Model Programs, Evaluation/ Accountability, and Strategic Marketing. 

One of the first steps in supporting this Quality Initiative was for the IARF Board President to create the Gubernatorial Platform Workgroup (GPWG) The charge of this workgroup was to develop a four-year platform for community services consistent with the term of the office of Governor to ask for a commitment from the gubernatorial candidates to support community priorities. This platform is a proactive effort to keep from having to come back year after year to beg for desperately needed resources. Our ultimate goal is to meet with the gubernatorial candidates and ask for a written commitment that they will support our priority platform issues.