How are CILs funded?
The 1978 reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act included funding for Independent Living and the establishment of Centers for Independent Living throughout the country. Signed into State law in 1994, the INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES ACT (ACT 139 of 1994) established the Statewide Independent Living Council as the chief planning body for Independent Living programs in the State. This legislation mandates the same standards and assurances for State-funded CIL’s as are required by the Federally-funded Centers, in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1992. In Pennsylvania, nine CILs are federally funded and nine are state-funded. The funding provided assists each CIL in providing the four core services which include: independent living skills training, peer mentoring, information and referral and advocacy. Each CIL also obtains a mix of public and private funding from government, foundations, corporations, and individual contributions, which allows each to offer additional
