PUNS - Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services :  PUNS is statewide cross-disability database for people with disabilities in Illinois.  This is the tool used by the state of Illinois to identify and plan for unmet needs.  The PUNS is for anyone with a developmental disability as defined by the Division of Developmental Disabilities anticipating the need for services within the next five years.  The PUNS encompasses three levels of urgency of need: emergency need (immediate), critical need (within one year), and planning need (within 1-5 years).  To have a PUNS completed for an unmet need within the next 5 years, contact your local Pre-Admission Screening Agency (ISC agency) to schedule a face-to-face appointment between the ISC agency, the individual, guardian, or any other significant other persons the individual with a disability wishes to include.  To locate your local ISC agency, you can go to: www.dd.illinois.gov or call 1-800-DDPLANS.

WISC is the local ISC agency for the following counties:  McDonough, Fulton, Knox, Warren, Henry, Henderson, Stark

WISC began providing services on July 1, 1994.  The agency provides pre-admission screening, service coordination, and advocacy services for individuals with a developmental disability for McDonough, Fulton, Knox, Henderson, Henry, Stark, and Warren counties.  WISC is governed by a Board of Directors representing the counties served.

WISC is a not-for-profit tax exempt organization and is nationally accredited by CARF. This accreditation outcome represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization's substantial conformance to the standards established by CARF. In the past year during the quality assurance site visit, the Department of Human Services (DHS) awarded WISC the highest compliance level for services provided for the 4th year in a row.  WISC will be having a quality assurance site visit before 12/31/08.

                     DHS Quality Assurance site visit resulted in 100%

                compliance level for the forth year in a row.

AREAS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR 2007

v     Individuals received targeted hours of service.

v     Information gathered from our consumer satisfaction surveys indicated that 100% were satisfied with the services they receive from WISC.

v     Information gathered from our guardian/family satisfaction surveys indicated that 100% were satisfied with WISC services.

v     Information gathered from our provider satisfaction surveys indicated that 100% were satisfied with WISC services.

v     Information gathered from our follow-up satisfaction surveys indicated that 100% were satisfied with the services they received from WISC.

v     Communication is continuing to improve with consumers, families, and service providers.

v     Staff accessibility through cellular phones and email access.  Business cards have email addresses on them.

v     Accessibility to WISC through the website.  Business cards, brochures, and letterhead have the website address on them.  Families have been utilizing the website to contact WISC.

v     Staff are serving on community provider human rights committee.

v     Staff are serving on admissions committees, advocating for placement.

v     Staff are serving on transitional planning committees and becoming more involved.

v     Staff have increased hours of professional job development and training.

v     Staff are certified in first aid and CPR training.

v     Staff advocated for homes to be remodeled and day programs to be expanded  in order to be more accessible for individuals utilizing wheelchairs.

v     Some individuals were able to obtain new wheelchairs with the assistance of WISC ISSAs.

v     Several individuals were able to take vacations out of the state.  Individuals have been able to work with TRIPS, Inc. and Search Beyond to take vacations as these organizations assist individuals with disabilities in taking vacations.

v  Individuals have attended Cubs and Cardinals baseball games, went to Six Flags, professional hockey games in the Quad Cities and Peoria, attended rock concerts and country/western concerts.  Some of the gentlemen have enjoyed going out to play pool, ferry boat rides at Bishop Hill, going to state parks, fishing, bowling, movies, and shopping at various malls.  Many individuals have had the opportunity to expand upon their hobbies.

v     Many individuals participated in the regional and state Special Olympics and won many awards/medals.  The individuals really enjoyed the activities, especially the bowling.

v     Several of the CILAs have held special holiday events for the individuals and their families which have been great opportunities for the individuals to interact with their families and friends.

v     WISC staff have advocated for greater independence for individuals and more choices to be offered to individuals, empowering the individuals.

v     Because WISC staff have a special bond with the individuals they work with, they have been able to assist individuals in the grieving process of losing close friends or family members.

v     DHS Quality Assurance review resulted in a 100% compliance level.

v     One of the day program providers has a large volunteer program and many individuals have discovered the satisfaction of volunteering their time through the Humane Society, Adopt a Highway, local schools, local nursing homes, and the cafe' in the park

PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT/STRATEGIC PLAN

      ♦     Enhance satisfaction survey process.

      ♦   Enhance person centered planning.

      ♦   Enhance our creativity in finding services for individuals.

      ♦   Enhance our support services to individuals by obtaining local funding other than DHS.

      ♦   Hire additional staff to accommodate increasing caseloads as needed.

      ♦   Enhance website and update information on a regular basis.

      ♦   Enhance email information and encourage individuals and providers and families to use email.

      ♦   Outreach to schools for students with developmental disabilities in need of services after graduation (school transition) 

      ♦   Continue to provide training in-house and out-of-house to improve professional job development.

      ♦   Continue assisting individuals and guardians in completing the PUNS assessment.

Consumer Characteristics: