Independent Living Facts
What is a Center for Independent Living (CIL)?
A CIL is a non-profit corporation which assists people with significant disabilities who want to live more independently. CILs are managed and staffed by people with disabilities, are always located in the communities they serve, and assist people with all types of disabilities.
How do CIL's Assist People?
The foundation of CIL services is the peer relationship - people with disabilities assisting other people with disabilities as role models and mentors. Each center is unique because it offers services based upon the particular needs of its community.
At the same time, centers are alike in that they all offer core services: information and referral, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, independent living skills training, and nursing home transition.
How many centers are there in the US?
Currently, there are 340 centers for independent living, with more than 224 satellite locations. Of these, 229 center and 44 satellites are funded through Title VII-Part C of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).
A center's service area may be one county or a dozen. According to the Rural Institute on Disabilities, CILs cover an average of 5.7 counties. Today, 60% (1,911) of our nation's counties receive service from a CIL.
What role do satellites play in the CIL network?
Satellites, sometimes called branch offices, are administered by an existing center and fill a critical need in the independent living network. Satellites make it possible for services and programs to be provided in outlying areas while avoiding the overhead of a free-standing, non-profit corporation.
Some satellites have only one or two staff while others have more to address the needs of their communities. Costs for satellites vary, therefore, from state to state and community to community.
What must CIL's do to receive Title VII Part C Funds?
In addition to submitting a viable application in a statewide competition, CILs must meet standards and assurances set by Congress, as well as goals and objectives which address the needs of their communities. The assurances are fiscal and programmatic reporting requirements, while each standard has indicators of compliance which address the day-to-day operations of the center. Centers report annually on their progress and are visited periodically as part of a state and federal oversight process.
What is the current funding level for Federally funded centers?
Current funding for Title VII-Part C of the Rehabilitation Act is $43,692,495. This is an average of $163,285 per center and $97,821 per satellite.
Are CIL's a good investment?
You bet! Last year the Department of Education gathered information from 295 of the centers. In addition to responding to almost 340,000 requests for information and referral, these centers provided over 54,000 individuals with peer counseling services; 50,000 received assistance finding housing; 34,000 acquired personal assistance services; 33,500 attained transportation services; and over 54,000 individuals received independent living skills training. In addition, literally tens of thousands of individuals received dozens of other services from centers, including assistance in moving out of costly institutional settings such as nursing homes.
