About Family Support: What is Family Support?

Family Support strives to provide a variety of options to individuals and their families that enable them to remain together and be contributing members in their communities.

When you have a family member with an intellectual or developmental disability living with you, family-support services and programs are available to help your whole family in many ways. You can get help in discovering resources, understanding systems, and connecting with other families. These supports will also provide a variety of goods and services.

Helping Families Discover Resources and Information, and Understand Service Systems

• Sharing Information with families about disabilities, services, and other community resources
• Helping families understand systems like health care, schools, public benefits, and more
• Helping families apply for DDS eligibility
• Helping families find a variety of public services and resources
• Providing trainings for families on special education, legal and future planning, healthy relationships, and more
• Helping families connect with resources in their communities
   

Helping Families and Individuals Connect with Each Other

• Providing social and recreational activities for the individual and the whole family
• Providing training in family Leadership and standing up for what you need
• Networking and support groups for individuals, parents, siblings, and the whole family
• Connecting families within their local communities for social and emotional support
   

Providing Goods and Services for Day-to-Day Caregiving and Supports

• Specialized programs for families of children with significant medical or behavioral support needs
• Information and access to technology and adaptive equipment
• Services in your home or community for skill-building, or to allow caregivers a break
• Flexible funding that families can use to buy allowable goods and services

Adapted from Charting the LifeCourse: www.lifecoursetools.com