By jmeddy on 3/27/2012 7:31 PM

Are you a sibling to an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities?

Did you know there’s a day set aside just for you?

The Arc will celebrate National Sibling Day on April 10 with a special opportunity for siblings to connect and learn online.

Join The Arc and the Sibling Leadership Network at noon Eastern Time for “Getting Started: How to Bring Brothers and Sisters of People with Disabilities Together,” a FREE Webinar overview of the paths to successful networking.

The FREE Webinar will address questions such as:  How do siblings learn about each other and meet? What issues draw people together? And, how do groups like The Arc’s National Sibling Council maintain momentum to keep siblings engaged and active? Join in to find out more from leaders and siblings involved in Chapters of The Arc across the country.

Mark your calendar to celebrate National Sibling Day and register now for:

Getting Started: How to Bring Brothers and Sisters of People with Disabilities Together
April 10, 2012 – Noon EDT
Registration is FREE

Click here to register online at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/prg1ncxn3no7

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By jmeddy on 3/21/2012 1:40 PM

Center for Indepedent Futures is excited to share a new partnership with Josh McCallister, a local Evanston artist specializing in watercolor portraits. Many of his portraits are meant as a form of advocacy, depicting underrepresented people. In his work, Josh strives to reflect the dignity and vibrancy of all his subjects. To view Josh's portraits, visit http://joshmacart.com.

Josh is interested in creating a new series of portraits of people of all abilities connected with the CIF community.  He is pleased to donate 10% of any portrait commission to the ongoing work of CIF.

If you would like to support CIF, become a patron, and gain a new heirloom for your home, please email Josh at mail@joshmacart.com.

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By jmeddy on 3/20/2012 5:52 AM

Quinn Zenner, a very expressive and creative man, has always been a prolific writer. Every Friday, you will find him frequenting cafés around Evanston, filling notebooks with his musings. He calls it “pursuing my passion.” So when Quinn expressed his dream to become a “Millionaire Poet” to Center for Independent Futures (CIF) staff members, we weren’t surprised. At CIF, we support the pursuit of dreams, and we were very curious about how this one was going to come to fruition for Quinn.

One spring day, Quinn told us that he had signed up to read one of his poems at a spoken word open mic night hosted by a local café. CIF staff, Quinn’s family and other members of his support network were excited for him, but definitely concerned as well. What if the crowd didn’t appreciate his poetry? What if he couldn’t be clearly understood? What if this turned out to be a negative experience that silenced his passion for poetry forever?
 

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By jmeddy on 3/17/2012 9:12 AM

Center for Independent Futures is celebrating 10 years of providing best practice products and services to support individuals with disabilities and their families! “It’s amazing to look back over these past 10 years and see how our vision has come to life," says Jane Doyle, Executive Director. “The dedication and hard work of staff and board members, partnerships with many incredible individual supporters, businesses and other organizations, and the commitment of our participants and families have been driving forces behind CIF’s successful expansion.”

In March, 2002, CIF was founded by Kay Branz and Jane Doyle in Evanston, Illinois. Kay and Jane came together out of a shared experience raising daughters with developmental disabilities. Because of the lack of services in Illinois, the founders of CIF decided they needed to create new ways to obtain needed services themselves.

“We are particularly excited that the best practice models and philosophies we have developed in our direct support of individuals and their families are now being implemented in schools, agencies and family groups throughout the state of Illinois,” says Doyle.  “We look forward to continued growth as we expand our ability to effect the lives of individuals with disabilities through these channels.”

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By jmeddy on 3/17/2012 8:57 AM

Center for Independent Futures is proud to announce its official charity partnership with MB Financial Bike the Drive in 2012.  On May 27th, 2012 at 5:30 a.m., bikers representing Team CIF will join thousands of other bikers to bike up to 30 miles on Lakeshore Drive. 

MB Financial Bike the Drive is the one day of the year when the length of Lake Shore Drive is open to cyclists and closed to auto traffic.  CIF is excited to be one of the first non-profits to form an official team in the event’s Charity Partners program.

Team CIF’s 30 bikers have committed not only to participating in the Bike the Drive event, but also to raising funds for Center for Independent Futures.  Anyone who would like to make a contribution to Team CIF can do so on the Team CIF fundraising homepage.  Each biker will soon have an individual fundraising page hosted by IMathlete.com.
 

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By jmeddy on 3/16/2012 5:59 PM

Center for Independent Futures is gearing up for its 6th annual Spark event, which is just over one month away on Friday, April 27th from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. This year’s event will be held at Galleria Marchetti in Chicago and will feature a delicious plated diner, exciting silent auction, overflowing open bar, and dancing with live music performed by Underwater People.

During the last few months, CIF and its Auxiliary Board and Advisory Council have reached out to hundreds of potential sponsors and auction item donors with great success. The event has already yielded several exciting auction items and event sponsors, including: CFP / Vine Mancini, AJ Feldman Financial, The Brinker Family, John J. Cahill, Inc., First Bank and Trust, Laner Muchin, Steve Lobacz, Make It Better, Theresa Nuccio & Associates, P.C. and State Farm.

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By jmeddy on 3/12/2012 12:13 PM

Since 2007, Center for Independent Futures has been fortunate to benefit from the efforts of Team CIF, an official Bank of America Charity Team. Five years later, Center for Independent Futures once again has its running shoes on to kick off its 6th Bank of America Chicago Marathon season! This year’s Team CIF is made up of seven dedicated runners and fundraisers who will run 26.2 miles in the Bank of America 2012 Chicago Marathon on October 7, 2012.

Team CIF members have each committed to raising at least $500 for Center for Independent Futures, which goes toward the CIF mission to form innovative partnerships and create service models that give individuals with disabilities and their families the skills and opportunities to realize full lives. Each Team CIF member has a fundraising web page hosted through ImAthlete.com. If you would like to make a donation in support of Team CIF, please visit the Team CIF fundraising site. Help us reach our goal of $10,000 by October 2012!
 

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By jmeddy on 3/10/2012 4:34 PM

Consider attending and help spread the word about two upcoming information meetings hosted by Linkages at 3003 W. Touhy Avenue in Chicago, IL.

Services for People with Mental Illness
Tucker Wilde, Thresholds
Thursday, March 22
10:30 am - noon
(Download a Flyer)

Planning for the Future
Attorney L. Mark Russell
Thursday, April 19
10:30 am - noon
(Download a Flyer)

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By jmeddy on 3/10/2012 4:06 PM

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will be holding astakeholder videoconference on its programs serving Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. Specific input is in regard to the proposal recently posted on the Medicare/Medicaid Alignment Initiative.

The Department is especially interested in input from clients and advocacy groups on the topics of Consumer Protection, Self Directed Care, Provider Networks and Care Coordination Models.

The videoconference will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. You may attend the videoconference at one of three locations, or if you are not able to attend in person, a dial-in option will be available.

Your continued interest and support of these two important programs is appreciated. If you have questions please feel free to contact our Bureau of Managed Care at 217-524-7478, or visit the Integrated Care Program Web site and the Care Coordination Innovations Project Web site.

Read more to get specific locations and dial in options.

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