Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 405 - MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
405 ILCS 85/ - Home Environment Living Program Act.

(405 ILCS 85/1) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2001)
Sec. 1.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the Home Environment Living Program Act.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(405 ILCS 85/2) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2002)
Sec. 2.
Purpose.
The purpose of this Act is to create a program which
provides services and care in substitute family homes for persons with a
developmental disability and which allows individuals who have skills in
parenting, and who are recipients of public assistance, to apply those
skills in caring for persons with a disability.

(Source: P.A. 86-1385.)

(405 ILCS 85/3) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2003)
Sec. 3. Definitions. In this Act:
(a) "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
(b) "Project HELP" means the Home Environment Living Program.
(c) "Home caregiver" means a substitute family home which provides
services and care to a child or adult who is a person with a severe disability.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(405 ILCS 85/4) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2004)
Sec. 4.
Powers and duties.
The Department shall have the power to
promulgate rules to effectuate the policies of this Act and shall:
(a) administer Project HELP.
(b) assure that any individual who serves as a home caregiver receives
adequate training prior to and during the employment period.
(c) provide support services and monitoring to assure quality services
are provided which promote long term, stable placements.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(405 ILCS 85/5) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2005)
Sec. 5.
Agencies.
The Department shall endeavor to
identify recipients of public
assistance who have demonstrated expertise in caregiving. The Department shall
ensure that home caregivers are provided with
necessary public assistance benefits during the training and transition period.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(405 ILCS 85/6) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2006)
Sec. 6.
Home caregivers.
Prospective home caregivers shall be
selected from among recipients of public assistance according to their
capacity to provide a safe, healthy, nurturing home environment and to
assure reliable quality care. No individual shall be required to
participate nor may any individual's public assistance benefits be denied
due to declining to participate in this program. Each home caregiver who
serves a child shall be licensed as a foster home by the Department of
Children and Family Services or a designated Child Welfare Agency prior to
placement of any individual in the home. Each Project HELP home shall
serve one individual; the Department may waive this provision in
exceptional circumstances, but in no case may more than two individuals be
served in the same Project HELP home.

(Source: P.A. 86-1385.)

(405 ILCS 85/7) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2007)
Sec. 7.
Individuals to be served.
Individuals to be served in
Project HELP homes shall be children or adults with a severe disability who
would benefit from a family home environment. The primary target
population is persons residing in State operated developmental centers
prior to placement in a Project HELP home. Clients shall exercise choice
in determining whether they wish to participate in Project HELP and in
selecting the individual who will serve as the Home caregiver.

(Source: P.A. 86-1385.)

(405 ILCS 85/8) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2008)
Sec. 8.
Implementation.
Implementation of this program is subject to
the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose. Actual placement
of individuals shall not occur earlier than 180 days after the effective
date of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1385.)

(405 ILCS 85/9) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 2009)
Sec. 9.
This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 86-1385.)