State Plan for Independent Living Committee Meeting
October 20, 2025
DRAFT Meeting Minutes

Action items: 
•	Ms. England and Ms. Harris will meet to discuss reporting outcomes of the use of Title VIIB funds on Systems Change. 
•	SILC will share a video of the funding formula demonstration with the IL Network. 

1.	Call to Order 

2.	Introductions
Brandi Bluel – SPIL Chair/SILC Member (Pending)/Executive Director, Resources for Independent Living (RIL) 
Jose Solorzano – SPIL Vice-Chair/Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)
Tink Miller – Executive Director, Placer Independence Resource Services (PIRS)
Susan Rotchy – SILC Member/SPIL Member/Executive Director, Independent Living Center of Solano and Contra Costa County (ILCSCC)
Hector Ochoa – Adjunct SPIL Member/California Resource Services for Independent Living (CRS-IL)
Sheri Burns – Executive Director, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) 
Shapree Butler – Independent Living, Assistive Technology, and Traumatic Brain Injury Section (ILATS) Manager, Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) 
Gabby Gabinete – Executive Director, Independent Living Center of Southern California (ILCSC)
Sarah Harris – Chief, Independent Living, Assistive Technology, and Traumatic Brain Injury Section (ILATS), DOR 
LaCandice Ochoa – Deputy Director, Independent Living and Community Access Division (ILCAD), DOR
Lily Sanchez – Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF) 
Carrie England – SILC Executive Director 
Danielle Hess – SILC Office Manager

3.	Public Comment
None

4.	SILC Member Updates
None

5.	Approval of Minutes from September 15, 2025, SPIL Committee Meeting
Ms. Miller motioned for approval of the Draft Minutes from September 15, 2025, and Mr. Solorzano seconded the motion. This passed unanimously through a roll call vote, with Mr. Ochoa abstaining.

6.	Update on Appointment of Independent Living Center (ILC) Representative
The Governor’s Office is working to appoint Brandi Bluel as the ILC Representative member on the SILC, and this is expected to go through at any time. Until this is complete, Ms. Miller will continue to act as the ILC representative. 

7.	2025-2027 SPIL Update
a.	SPIL Funding Formula and Equity Work Group Updates from SILC Staff
Ms. England shared that Ms. Viramontes-Nhan had worked with Robert Jeromin, who created the calculation spreadsheet, to record a demonstration of how the formula works. This will be edited down to about an hour and then shared with all ILC Executive Directors for review, questions, and comments. They will be invited to attend the next Funding Formula and Equity workgroup meeting on November 17. At that meeting, the network will decide if they will be moving forward with directing DOR to find a consultant to bring this formula into reality or if they will make changes to the goal. 

Ms. Hess shared that she has completed editing the video, so it is ready to send out after a final review. 

b.	DOR Updates 
i.	Transition and Diversion
The Transition and Diversion Fund is fully encumbered, with $100,253 invoiced out of the $238,943 authorized for this grant. 

ii.	Systems Change 
The Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL) Systems Change Grant started on February 1st with a total of $233,333 for the remainder of FY25. So far $118,905 has been spent.

Ms. England asked about any updates or progress reports for the Systems Change. Sarah Harris recommended getting together to meet with the Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL) Staff to clarify expectations and ensure that the SILC receives written reports on their activities. 

iii.	Tier Augmentation 
Six grants, with amounts ranging from $43,000 to $291,000, have been awarded to Community Resources for Independent Living, Inc. (CRIL), Disabled Resource Center, Inc. (DRC), FREED Center for Independent Living, Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL), Service Center for Independent Life (SCIL), and Tri-County Independent Living, Inc. (TCIL). $619,508.61, or 82.44%, has been spent to date out of a total of $920,000. Reported priorities include housing, transition and diversion, and youth services. 

iv.	Other DOR Updates
Ms. Ochoa reported that DOR is monitoring the Federal Shutdown and asks that if any centers experience barriers or difficulties due to this, they reach out to their grant manager at DOR. Mr. Solorzano asked about any impacts on DOR, and at this time, they are moving forward with business as usual. If the shutdown continues past November, there may be significant impacts to consumers. DOR is exploring implementing an ‘Order of Selection’ process, prioritizing service to the applicants with the most significant disabilities, as a response to cuts, but they have not yet received approval to implement this. 

Ms. England will be providing training to DOR staff on their responsibilities and expectations as the Designated State Entity (DSE) for the SPIL. 

8.	2028-2030 SPIL Development
a.	Timeline
Ms. England shared the draft timeline, which can change in response to network and agency needs. This is especially important with proposed changes to SILC’s Federal oversight agency, which is currently the Administration on Community Living (ACL). There are five phases.

Phase 1: Planning and Preparation
This will be from October to December 2025 and includes reviewing current SPIL performance and evaluation data, developing the Needs Assessment Plan and tools (surveys, focus groups, data requests), and approving the SPIL timeline and strategy 

Phase 2: Needs Assessment & Data Collection
This will be from December 2025 to January 2026 and includes conducting statewide surveys, collecting demographic, service, and outcome data, identifying unserved and underserved populations, and summarizing findings and emerging priority themes. 

Phase 3: Drafting the SPIL
This will be from January 2026 to February 2027 and includes drafting SPIL goals, objectives, indicators, and funding allocations (may need to form workgroups), ensuring compliance with Title VII statutory requirements, and circulating the draft for internal review (SPIL and Executive Committee).

Phase 4: Public Comment & Revision
This will be from February 2027 to March 2027 and includes holding a 30-day public comment period and public hearings, summarizing and responding to public comments, revising SPIL based on feedback, and presenting the final SPIL draft for SILC approval at the March 2027 meeting. 

Phase 5: Signature Collection & Submission
This will be from May 2027 to June 2027 and includes obtaining signatures from the majority of ILC Executive Directors, DSE, and SILC Chair, verifying formatting and completeness, submitting the final SPIL electronically to ACL by the June 30, 2027, deadline, and confirming receipt and archiving. 

b.	Needs Assessment
Ms. England shared the needs assessment survey that has been used in the past, alongside the results of consumer satisfaction surveys and feedback provided at meetings. This will help guide the members in choosing the goals for the next SPIL. She asked that members review the survey document and provide feedback at the November SPIL Meeting and provided an overview of the survey contents.

Mr. Solorzano shared some ideas for additional things that could be captured by the survey, including people living on their pension, and those who have stable housing, such as owning a home, but need access to assistive technology and home modifications to live independently in their home.

9.	Summary of Activities Requiring Follow-Up at Next Meeting
a.	Next Meeting November 17, 2025 

10. Adjourn