CIL Core Services:
Information & Referral
Description: CRI serves as an information bank. Staff gathers information on resources available in the community to serve people with disabilities. The first contact with CRI is with our Information & Referral Specialist. This person will ask you several questions to learn more about your needs. If you are looking for a service that CRI provides, your request will be forwarded on to a case manager to set up a meeting with you. If CRI does not provide the service, we will make a direct referral to the proper agency that does.
Counties Offered: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren.
Advocacy
Description: CRI provides people with disabilities both individual and systems advocacy.
Individual Advocacy is one-on-one advocacy between a consumer and a CRI Case Manager. The case manager will assist consumers to remove various barriers to services. Examples include: Social Security Income, Food Stamps, Transportation, Vocational Supports, Housing & Landlord disputes, Accessibility, Eligibility Issues, Individual Education Plans (IEPs) & school barriers and Area Agencies on Aging services.
Systems Advocacy is aimed at changing the policies and priorities which affect a large cross-section of the disability population. These efforts are directed at government officials at the municipal, state and federal levels, the legislatures, and commercial businesses and other policy-making bodies.
CRI sponsors several advocacy groups throughout our six CIL Counties. See Activities for further information and which group is closest to you be to become involved.
Counties Offered: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren.
Peer Support
Description: Peer support is a self-help support service in which a person with a disability that has acquired disability related experiences, knowledge, and coping skills, assists other people with disabilities to manage, remove, or cope with their barriers. The services that are provided are informal and are aimed at empowering the Consumer to help him-self or her-self. Together, the Consumer and peer supporter identify goals and develop a plan of action to reach these goals. Throughout the process, each goal is reviewed and modified as needed. In addition, the length and frequency of peer support meetings are determined by the Consumer and peer supporter. It is also understood that different Consumers may prefer different methods in which to receive services. Therefore, peer support services may be provided person to person, over the phone or in letter writing (email). Confidentiality is strictly maintained at all times.
Counties Offered: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren.
Life Skills Training
Description: CRI provides life skills training to assist people with disabilities to develop skills necessary to live independently in the community. Life skills could include budgeting, using public transportation, education/vocational/job hunting, attendant care management, self-care, communication, civil rights law/advocacy, housing and social/recreation activities.
Counties Offered: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren.
