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Illinois Life Span Program

Residential Options

Last Updated September 2023

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There are two programs for adults with intellectual and/or developmental (I/DD) disabilities seeking residential options. The Home and Community Based Waiver program or the Intermediate Care Facilities for Adults with I/DD program (ICF/DD program). Private pay is always a separate option.

The Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver for adults with I/DD is administered by the Illinois DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities. The following information describes the types of residential services currently funded. From the DDD Waiver Manual-go to C. Residential Habilitation: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=144898 DHS list of CILA providers (does not specify which provider agency offers group homes, intermittent/family services or host homes): https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=56783.

  • Community-Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) – Adults with intellectual or development disabilities who are eligible for waiver funding have community-integrated living arrangements to choose from. These include group homes, Community Living Facilities (CLFs), host homes and intermittent/family CILA.
  • Twenty-Four Hour CILA – Group Home – These homes have on-site shift staff available during all times when participants are present. Staff provide both scheduled and unscheduled supports and services as needed by participants. Some CILAs require shared bedrooms and others have separate bedrooms for residents. There are more individuals seeking CILA group home placements than there are openings.
  • Twenty-Four Hour – Host Family CILA – Serves individuals with developmental disabilities in their own residence.  Host families consist of one or more persons who are unrelated to the individual with a developmental disability and who are under contract with the provider agency to provide host family services. No more than two individuals with developmental disabilities may reside with any single host family. The two support models are:
    • Traditional care: the full-time residence of the paid care givers. The paid care givers own, lease or rent the residence.
    • Shared living: may house either full or part-time paid care givers in which individuals other than shift staff employees provide more than 50% of the residential coverage. The individuals, care givers or provider agency own, lease or rent the residence.
    • The difference between traditional care and shared living models is shift employees (provider agency personnel) routinely share supervision, care and training responsibilities with the host family care givers in the shared living model.
  • Less than 24/7 Care – Intermittent CILA – Serves individuals whose service plan documents that they do not require 24-hour, on-site staff presence and documents the situations in which individuals may safely be away from direct staff supervision. Intermittent Residential services in apartments or family homes have staff available on call 24 hours per day. On-site shift staff are available to provide both scheduled and unscheduled supports and services as needed by the participants served and as specified in each participant’s service plan.
  • Less than 24/7 – Family CILA – Similar to Intermittent CILA, except that individuals are provided support in the family home.
  • Community Living Facility (CLF) – Serves Adult Waiver participants in a licensed residential setting. A Community Living Facility is not a nursing or medical facility and, to be eligible under the waiver, serves no more than 16 adults. There are nine CLFs in the state. See: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=60313

The following options are copied from DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Program Manual: DHS list of ICF/DD providers: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=58023

  • ICF/DD – An ICF/DD is a residential facility of three or more persons, or a distinct part thereof, serving residents of which more than 50 percent have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or a related condition. Such facilities are licensed by the Department of Public Health as an Intermediate Care Facility for individuals who have a developmental disability or as a MCDD (Medically Complex for Developmentally Disabled). The ICF/DD is a continuous program of specialized and generic training, treatment, health services and related services that is directed toward the acquisition of the behaviors necessary for the individual to function with as much self-determination and independence as possible and the prevention or deceleration of regression or loss of current optimal functional status. It does not include services to maintain individuals who are able to function with little supervision or in the absence of a continuous program. Medicaid pays for services received in an ICF/DD. Most are large group settings of 9 or more individuals with I/DD, and there is no need to be on the PUNS to access.
  • SODCs – State Operated Developmental Centers – SODCs are large group facilities funded by the State of Illinois. Note that admission is subject to careful evaluation of need. State Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs) are specialized Intermediate Care Facilities/Developmental Disabilities (ICFs/DD) for persons with developmental disabilities who are unable to be served in a community setting due to intense behavioral and/or medical difficulties. Admission to one of the seven SODCs occurs only after a careful screening by the Independent Service Coordination (ISC) agency and review by a team that includes the individual, guardian, family, current and prospective service providers, Region/Transition staff from the Division and representatives from the SODC. Intensive services will be provided to the individual with the goal of restoring a community living situation for the person as quickly as possible. Essential to successful habilitation (living) in an SODC is the participation in transitional services by the appropriate PAS agency and community service providers.

Additional Resources for Residential Options

  1. Center for Independent Futures:  https://independentfutures.com/housing-options/
  2. Corporation for Supportive Housing: https://www.csh.org/resources-search/?c=intellectual-and

Please contact your Independent Service Coordination Agency for additional information/details about Residential Services options.

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