SPIL Process and Requirements
The purpose of the State Plan for Independent Living is to:
• Govern the state independent living services program and any center for independent living (CIL) programs funded under Title VII, Chapter I, Part B of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended (The Act) and the West Virginia Independent Living Act. The SPIL also governs the activities of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC).
The purpose of Title VII, Chapter I of the Act is to promote a philosophy of independent living (IL), which includes consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and system advocacy, to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society.
To implement this purpose, Chapter 1 authorizes financial assistance to States to:
- provide, expand and improve the provision of IL services
- develop and support statewide networks of CILs that comply with the standards and assurances in the Act and in the Code of Federal Regulations (The design of the network must identify unserved and underserved areas and must provide an order of priority for serving these areas)
- improve working relationships among state independent living services programs, CILs, the SILC, programs funded under other titles of the Act, and other programs that address issues relevant to individuals with disabilities funded by Federal and non-Federal authorities
SPIL Development Process
For a State to participate in the programs under Chapter 1, the designated state unit (Division of Rehabilitation Services or DRS) and the SILC must jointly develop and sign an approvable State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The SPIL must be submitted to the RSA by July 1, 2007, and be approved by RSA Central Office.
No Federal funds or other benefits can be made available under this Chapter unless the SPIL conforms with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. The SPIL reflects the State's commitment to carry out the programs in compliance with the provisions in the plan, the application for funds under the part B, Chapter 1 program, and also the State's planning and implementation activities related to various administrative and operational considerations associated with the plan. As such, the approved SPIL will serve as one of the key elements in RSA's monitoring of the State's performance in carrying out the assurances to which the State commits itself in submitting the State plan.
The SILC and DRS have established a SPIL Team to handle the development of the SPIL. The process we will use includes the following steps:
- conduct public meetings around the state targeting unserved areas to get input from people with disabilities, family members, advocates, and other about what the SPIL should include
- review all the input gathered at the public meetings and develop the work plan and the design for a statewide network of CILs
- provide the draft SPIL to the SILC and DRS for their input
- conduct public meetings to gather public comment on the draft SPIL
- present the final SPIL to the SILC and DRS for approval
- submit the SPIL to RSA
History and Evolution of IL in West Virginia
Independent living services in West Virginia began in 1981 when the first center for independent living (CIL) was funded and began operations in Huntington , WV October 1, 1981 serving Cabell and Wayne counties. Additional CILs came along in 1982 as more federal funding became available with a CIL established in Charleston (Appalachian CIL) serving Boone, Clay, Kanawha, and Putnam counties and one in Morgantown (North Central WV CIL) serving Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur counties.
The Huntington CIL received an additional grant to open a CIL in Beckley in 1988, to serve Raleigh County , operated by the same non-profit corporation and board.
When the Rehabilitation Act was reauthorized in 1992, the organizations operating the CILs in Charleston and Morgantown were no longer eligible to receive funds so those 2 CILs spun off and became free standing, non-profits and the Morgantown CIL became the Northern WV CIL. Around that time, the CILs in Huntington and Beckley took on a new name Mountain State CILs.
Since that time, Northern WV CIL established a satellite office in Elkins , WV to provide more local service to Lewis, Randolph, Tucker, and Upshur counties.
In 1996, the SPIL began providing funding for grants for expansion of CIL services into unserved areas of the state. Current projects include:
- Eastern Panhandle Advocacy Project of the Northern WV CIL serving Berkeley , Hampshire, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties
- Roane, Jackson, Calhoun Counties Expansion Project of Appalachian CIL
- Web-based, Virtual CIL Project of Mountain State CILs
In 1985, during the development of the CILs, the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) began receiving a small pot of additional federal IL funding. That funding was initially used to provide direct services through the IL field program such as home modifications, durable medical equipment, adaptive equipment, and rehabilitation technology and to provide small grants to non-profit organizations to provide independent living services. The IL field program was available statewide but the funding was so limited that a long waiting list was maintained. Most people had to wait 18 months to 2 years to receive services from the IL Field Program.
In 2003 DRS proposed a change in the SPIL to grant the IL field program funding to the CILs. The rationale was that DRS should focus on vocational services and let the CILs handle IL services. Additionally, granting the funds to the CILs would reduce the administrative costs. The biggest drawback to the change was that the program was no longer statewide and now only serves the counties covered by the CILs and the expansion grants (27 counties total). A waiting list still exists but is not as long as before and we were able to get independent living funding in the state budget to supplement the program.
The SILC continues to struggle with how to get IL services, particularly the four core services required by the Rehab Act, to all West Virginians with disabilities. To that end, we have established a 3 pronged effort to increase IL funding:
- Work with state and national advocates to make a change in the federal funding formula so that when additional federal funds are allocated, all states will get a share including West Virginia .
- Work with state advocates and the CILs to secure an increase the state independent living services line item.
- Implement a resource development initiative to develop private funding for independent living through direct mail, fundraising activities, and potentially a capital campaign.
Current Uses of IL Funds
West Virginia currently receives funding for independent living (IL) from both the state and federal government as follows:
- Federal Title VII, Chapter 1, Part B $338,358
- State Independent Living Services Line Item $24,000
- Federal Title I, Innovation & Expansion Funds $145,364
The funding is currently being used as follows:
- Federal Title VII, Chapter 1, Part B $338,358
- $114,000 to CILs to expand their services to unserved areas of the state:
- Roane, Jackson Calhoun Counties Expansion Project
- Eastern Panhandle Advocacy Project (Berkeley, Hampshire, Jefferson, and Morgan counties)
- Web-based, Virtual CIL Project (statewide)
- $207,440 to CILs to provide independent living services in 27 counties including:
- independent living services
- rehabilitation engineering
- environmental modifications
- assistive technology devices and services
- $16,918 (5%) to the SILC for administrative costs
- State Independent Living Services Line Item $24,000
- $22,800 to CILs to supplement federal funding for independent living services in 27 counties
- $1,200 (5%) to the SILC for administrative costs
- SILC Operating Expenses from Title I, Innovation & Expansion Funds $145,364
Click here for current SPIL PDF
