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Illinois Life Span Program

Non-Emergency Mental Health Resources for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Last Updated September 2023

This Fact Sheet is available for download in the following languages:

IL Dept. of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS-DDD) Non-Emergency Mental Health/Behavioral Health Resources for Children & Adults with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

For general information related to Emergency/Non-Emergency Mental Health Resources see: Mental Health Resources in Illinois

Technical assistance and training response to children and adults with a developmental disability in a medical or behavioral situation that challenges their ability to live and thrive in the community. See https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=173151 for information on who is eligible, how to get assistance, location of SSTs around the state, agency that provides services (the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network), response, times and contacts. Referrals are made through DDD staff.

Children with IDD ages 3 -21, whose families are in crisis (at or near homelessness, abuse, neglect, as determined by the ISC agency) may contact their local Independent Service Coordination (ISC) agency to apply for the Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities – Support Waiver. https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/hcbs/support_cyadd.html To find the ISC agency in your area use the IL DHS Office Locator, for “Office Type: choose “Developmental Disability Services” in the drop down menu, add county (and zipcode if in Cook): htps://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12

Services of the waiver include:

  • Behavior Intervention and Treatment: Includes ongoing behavioral assessment, functional analysis, development of positive intervention strategies and techniques, participation in individual support plan development, training of family and other workers on the specifics of the customer’s plan and monitoring the effectiveness of the interventions.

In addition DHS-DDD offers a Children and Young Adults Developmental Disabilities Residential Waiver – ages 3-21 https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/hcbs/cyadd.html that includes among services provided, Behavior Intervention and Treatment as defined above.

DHS-DDD Home and Community Based Waivers – Adults

Adults with IDD age 18 and older, enrolled in the Adults with Developmental Disabilities Waiver, with mental health/behavioral health concerns may choose among the array of services of this Waiver. Contact your ISC for assistance. To find the ISC agency in your area use the IL DHS Office Locator, for “Office Type: choose “Developmental Disability Services” in the drop down menu, add county (and zipcode if in Cook): htps://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12

  • Behavior Services (Psychotherapy and Counseling): Psychotherapy is a treatment approach that focuses on a goal of reducing symptoms of emotional, cognitive, or behavioral disorder and promoting positive emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development. Counseling is a treatment approach that uses relationship skills to promote the customer’s abilities to deal with daily living issues associated with their cognitive or behavioral problems using a variety of supportive and educational techniques.
  • Behavior Intervention and Treatment: Includes ongoing behavioral assessment, functional analysis, development of positive intervention strategies and techniques, participation in individual support plan development, training of family and other workers on the specifics of the customer’s plan, and monitoring the effectiveness of the interventions.
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