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EPILEPSY FOUNDATION HISTORY
In 1977, The Epilepsy Association of Southwestern Illinois (EASWI) was established. This was made possible through the combined efforts of a group of people whose lives were affected by epilepsy, the St. Clair County Mental Health Board and staff, former Governor Dan Walker, Roberta Nelson Walker and interested professionals. The goal of EASWI was to assist people with epilepsy and their families to lead the fullest, most productive lives possible.
EASWI became a not-for-profit corporation, established a board of directors, and elected Dr. Bruce Brubaker of SIU-Edwardsville as the first Board president. Initially, EASWI was strictly an information and referral agency. The St. Clair County Mental Health Board granted EASWI "seed" money, which was used to capture Title XX funds.
Services progressed on a small basis in St. Clair County and surrounding 6 other counties throughout the late 1970's and early 1980's. Funding was continued by Illinois Department of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities and the St. Clair County Mental Health Board. This allowed EASWI to hire a case manager and continue to serve people whose lives are affected by epilepsy and the community at large.
In 1986, the Association hired a full-time Executive Director/Case Manager. The Agency obtained funding from the Madison County Mental Health Board. In 1987, EASWI received funding from the Governors Planning Counsel for a School Alert Program. The agency continued to offer case management services to seven counties in the Southwestern portion of Illinois.
In 1990, the Association applied for provider status for the Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA), and in 1991 the agency opened its first 24-hour residential CILA home. Today, the agency operates three 24-hour residential CILA homes in East Belleville. Camp Roehr was also added to offer children with epilepsy the opportunity to attend camp. In the middle to late 1990's, the agency added the Community Supported Living Arrangement (CSLA) and Home Base Services (HBS) programs to serve consumers in their own homes.
The Association changed its name in 1998 to the Epilepsy Foundation of Southwestern Illinois (EFSWI) to more closely align itself as an affiliate of the Epilepsy Foundation of America. The organization grew again in 2006 when it formed a Parent/Subsidiary organization to oversee the operations of the Epilepsy office in Mt. Vernon. In 2007, the organization legally changed its name to reflect the new, much larger territory of 34 counties. The current organization is known as the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois.
Today, EFGSI has 27 employees and offers a wide range of services to include: information and referral, case management, public and professional education, advocacy, support groups, recreational programs, children's camp program, services through medical clinics, and 24-hour residential services.
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