Recently, ACL awarded a two-year cooperative agreement to Memorial Hermann Health System to operate a Statewide Independent Living Council Training and Technical Assistance Center (SILC T&TA Center). The training and technical assistance center is authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and will strengthen ACL’s ability to provide important training and technical assistance.
The SILC T&TA Center will provide training and technical assistance to improve the performance of the State Independent Living Council (SILC) program and its 55 projects nationwide through access to timely and relevant training and technical assistance regarding SILC operations, duties, and responsibilities. States are required to establish a SILC in order to receive federal funding to support and coordinate independent living (IL) services in the state.
Through statutorily established activities and responsibilities, it is the goal of SILCs to improve independent living outcomes for persons with significant disabilities statewide. The purpose of independent living services is to maximize the independence, productivity, empowerment, and leadership of individuals with significant disabilities and to integrate these individuals into the mainstream of society. SILCs provide a forum for all independent living stakeholders in the state to set policy for the state’s independent living program.
Key functions of the SILC T&TA Center will include:
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Providing technical assistance, training and information to SILCs to enhance their overall efficiency and effectiveness in performing SILC duties and responsibilities.
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Providing standardized expert information and access to resources that assist SILCs in obtaining and/or maintaining competency in the areas of basic member and board of director duties and responsibilities, SILC duties and responsibilities and other related independent living information.
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Facilitating communication and peer-to-peer learning between the SILCs on a national level.
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Continually assessing SILC needs and special capabilities, and evaluate effectiveness of SILC T&TA Center activities in meeting SILC needs.
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Developing and maintaining a state-of-the-art SILC website.