Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities

06/10/2026

“Some people always drop their coverage after open enrollment, but this year the disenrollment rates were two to three times higher than at any time in the last six years, Winters said”

More than 92,000 Illinois consumers lost or dropped their Affordable Care Act health insurance in recent months following the expiration of generous tax credits.

06/09/2026

🏡💙A New Vision for Inclusive Living💙🏡
We’re excited to give you a first look at something truly transformative: Heritage Homes, a new development that represents the future of inclusive, supportive living in our community.
Recently featured by Brady Johnson and WVIK, Quad Cities NPR, this project is gaining momentum; and for good reason. 💙A huge thank you to Brady and WVIK for helping share this vision and bring awareness to what’s ahead!
✨What is Heritage Homes?
• A 24‑unit supportive housing community in Moline, IL
• Designed for individuals with disabilities and others needing support
• Combines affordable housing with on‑site services and community connection
This project goes beyond housing; it’s about creating stability, independence, and belonging. Residents will have access to wrap‑around supports, including case management, employment resources, healthcare coordination, and social opportunities—all designed to help individuals thrive and live independently.
💙Heritage Homes will serve individuals with disabilities, those needing mental health support, and others at risk; creating a safe, supportive environment designed around real needs.

👉Here’s where YOU come in…
This vision is becoming a reality, but we still need community support to get there.
🔹Share this post to help spread awareness
🔹Talk about the project with your network
🔹Consider supporting The Arc and this initiative
Together, we can help build a space where individuals can live with dignity, stability, and opportunity.
💙A home is more than four walls; it’s the foundation for everything that comes next.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to bring Heritage Homes to life!

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

Congratulations to Glenkirk on the ribbon cutting of their new building on Dundee Road - what an incredible location for a great organization! Further - a heartfelt congratulations to State Senator Julie Morrison on being recognized by Glenkirk for her leadership on disability policy and support of the organization!

06/09/2026

06/06/2026

“This is an untapped workforce for us and whether these students go on to work in direct care or something adjacent, the skills they learned here will absolutely have a positive impact on the service system,” Baer said. “I hope they stick around and develop a passion for direct support …We always need skilled humans helping other humans.”

Illinois has laws on the books to establish a credentialing pilot and both a high school and community college level partnership to bring DSP curriculum & classes into schools. IARF has both led the charge and supported advocates to put these laws in place to secure our workforce for the future.

However, we continue to wait on updated curriculum for DSP training……

Parents, advocates, educators, and leaders in the disability community applauded the state’s inaugural group of high school students who graduated in early June from a first-of-its-kind program designed to help address the shortage of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). A dozen students from Sanf...

06/01/2026

"At a time when Illinois faces significant fiscal pressures and competing budget priorities, the FY 2027 budget reflects a recognition that stability and investment in community-based services remain essential. We are particularly grateful that lawmakers included both a 60-cent-per-hour wage increase for Direct Support Professionals and the zero-hour staffing model that IARF supported in the Governor’s introduced budget. The increased investment in the Illinois Behavioral Health Care Loan Repayment program is a testament to the efficacy of this workforce development tool. These investments will help providers continue addressing workforce challenges while strengthening services for individuals who rely on community-based supports."

06/01/2026

“By continuing investments into our health care system, bolstering law enforcement recruitment and increasing wages for direct service professionals, it is clear that we are putting Illinoisans first.”

We passed the Fiscal Year 2027 spending plan - continuing investments into our health care system, bolsters law enforcement recruitment and increasing wages for direct service professionals.

Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/2tvhdad7

05/31/2026

The Governor’s proposed $0.60/hr DSP wage rate increase - which would bring the rate to 146% of the minimum wage, remains intact in this latest proposal.

With one day left until the Illinois General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment, lawmakers worked to find tax increases and revenue diversions to finance a new state budget while a plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois hit a…