Family Support Centers
Family Support Centers across the state provide a local presence and act as a hub for offering a wide range of general family support services and activities to families of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is at least one Family Support Center in each DDS Area, with some Areas having more than one. Broad outreaches is the expectation for the centers and provide services to families from diverse cultural, ethnic and linguistic communities in the geographic area they are serving, which may involve creating partnerships with community organizations and other resources in order to provide culturally responsive services. Center staff are expected to be experts in generic resources and services in their respective areas and work with families to maximize natural supports. Centers are expected to encourage active family involvement and consultation to identify interests and needs in developing activities and service options.
Family Support and Autism Support Centers are able to assist families in submitting an application for eligibility and provide assistance and support throughout the intake process as requested by families. This includes helping families understand how to complete the necessary steps to apply for DDS eligibility (e.g., whom to call, paperwork). Families are able to access some of the general services of the Family Support and Autism Support Centers prior to their child or adult family member being found eligible for DDS services, such as Information and referral and trainings.
INFORMATION & REFERRAL
- Assistance to families in identifying resources and service options available in their local communities, as well as learning about other financial and/or state services for which families may be eligible (MassHealth, etc.), and provide guidance on how to navigate the service system. This can occur through phone contacts, 1:1 meeting at a variety of locations.
- Use of technology to provide a variety of ways to share information with families.
- A “library” of resources, such as helpful websites, fact sheets, community resources, information technology resource options, books, videos, etc.
FAMILY TRAININGS
Sponsor educational events and trainings on relevant topics of interest to families of both children and adults which are open to all families for participation.
PARENT NETWORKING
Promote parent networking and mentoring, such as parent support groups, parent connections (1:1 matching), and sibling support opportunities, as well as parental involvement in organizing or leading activities, etc.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS & RESOURCES
Foster community affiliations and connections to explore and maximize the use of natural and generic resources and other potential sources of funding.
SERVICE NAVIGATION
Comprehensive and individualized information, guidance, and support to families to address their needs, connect them to potential resources, assist with problem-solving, and help them navigate the service system. The level of involvement with each family will vary based on the needs of the individual and family. There are two types of Service Navigation:
- Short-Term Service Navigation The design is for families who will benefit from more individualized assistance for a period of time to obtain information, to receive assistance in accessing other services, or to receive guidance in addressing some specific problems. Development of an action plan with families occurs to focus on specific objectives.
- Extended Service Navigation The design is to provide ongoing support and coordination of services. Each Center has the capacity to provide Extended Service Navigation to an identified number of individuals/families. The Area Office must make referrals for this service, but the family, Family Support Center staff, or the Area Office can initiate the request. This service can also assist families to help plan and organize in-home supports they need to support their family member at home. Development of a Family Support Plan is an aid to remain focused on goals.
ADMINISTRATION OF FLEXIBLE FUNDING
The Department may provide individual, flexible funding allocations to families based on the priority of need of the family and available budget resources. This funding must be used for allowable supports, services, or goods as defined in the Department’s Addendum to the Family Support Guidelines and Procedures, January 2011.
Family Support Directory
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) provides funding for family support programs and services across the state designed to provide information, assistance, and an array of supportive services to families with children and adults with disabilities who are living at home.
Any family can contact one of the Family Support Centers listed in this Directory for information and referral services. However, to receive other DDS funded family support services, an individual must be found eligible for DDS services and must be living at home with their family.
Additional Resources
DESE DDS Program
The DESE DDS Program facilitates effective transitions from school life to more independent life within the community for students receiving publicly funded special education services who also meet the DDS eligibility criteria for services.
Additional Resources
DESE Transition Project / Coordinated Pandemic-Related Transition Services
This Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Transition Project is community-based groups developed to reflect the interests of the individuals who participate in them. The participating Family Support Centers will offer a variety of groups in the evenings and on weekends that are open to individuals who:
- Turned 22 between March 10, 2020 and September 30, 2022; and
- Participated in special education until they turned 22 years old; and
- Are DDS eligible.
The participating Family Support Centers are listed below, along with the towns where they are offering in-person groups. If your town isn’t listed, please contact The Federation for Children with Special Needs at 800-331-0688 or at https://fcsn.org/transition-support/ to learn about how to be added to an interest list, as well as other agencies who may be able to provide services under this Project.
Berkshire County ARC
46 Elm Street
Pittsfield MA 01201
Serving the Berkshire County Area: ADAMS, BECKET, DALTON, GREAT BARRINGTON,LANESBORO, LEE, LENOX, NEW MARLBORO,NORTH ADAMS, PITTSFIELD, SHEFFIELD
Contact:
Dr. Sonja Haecker
413-499-4241
bcarc.org
email: SHaecker@bcarc.org
Better Community Living
5 Ventura Dr.
Dartmouth, MA 02747
Serving the Cape and Islands: Barnstable, BOURNE, BREWSTER, DENNIS, EDGARTOWN, FALMOUTH, HARWICH, MASHPEE, OAK BLUFFS, ORLEANS, SANDWICH, WELLFLEET, WEST TISBURY, YARMOUTH
Serving the New Bedford Area: ACUSHNET, DARTMOUTH, FAIRHAVEN, MATTAPOISETT, NEW BEDFORD, ROCHESTER, WAREHAM
Contact:
Cathy Tremblay
508-999-4300 x155
508-542-1247 (cell phone)
bettercommunity.com
email: cathy_tremblay@bettercommunity.com
ARC of Greater Brockton
1250 West Chestnut Street
Brockton, MA 02301
Serving the Brockton Area: ABINGTON, AVON, BRIDGEWATER, BROCKTON,
East BRIDGEWATER, EASTON, HOLBROOK, ROCKLAND, STOUGHTON, West BRIDGEWATER, WHITMAN
Contact:
Nelson Cordeiro
508-583-8030 x241
arcofgreaterbrockton.org
email: info@arcofgreaterbrockton.org
Communitas
60 D Audubon Road
Wakefield, MA 01880
Serving the MetroNorth Area: EVERETT, LYNNFIELD, MALDEN, MEDFORD, MELROSE, NORTH READING, READING, SAUGUS, STONEHAM, WAKEFIELD
Serving the Greater Boston Area: CHELSEA, REVERE
Contact:
Judy Santamaria
781.587.2314
communitasma.org
email: jsantamaria@communitasma.org
Charles River Center
59 East Militia Heights Drive
Needham, MA 02492
Serving the Middlesex West Area: ASHLAND, DOVER, FRAMINGHAM, HOLLISTON,
HOPKINTON, HUDSON, MARLBOROUGH, NATICK, NORTHBOROUGH, SHERBORN, SOUTHBOROUGH, SUDBURY, WAYLAND, WESTBOROUGH
Serving the Charles River West Area: BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE, SOMERVILLE, WALTHAM, WATERTOWN
Contact:
Kirsten Fetter
781-972-1000
charlesrivercenter.org
email: kfetter@charlesrivercenter.org
email: familysupport@charlesrivercenter.org
Plymouth County Family Support
118 Long Pond Rd #100
Plymouth, MA 02360
Serving the Plymouth Area: CARVER, DUXBURY, HALIFAX, HANOVER, HANSON,
KINGSTON, MARSHFIELD, PEMBROKE, PLYMOUTH, PLYMPTON, SCITUATE
Serving the South Coastal Area: BRAINTREE, HINGHAM, MILTON, NORWELL,
QUINCY, RANDOLPH, WEYMOUTH
Contact:
Jessica Gonsalves
508-927-4520
pcfamilysupport.org
email: JessicaG@pcfamilysupport.org
email: info@pcfamilysupport.org
People Inc.
4 South Main St.
Fall River, MA 02721
Serving the Fall River Area: FALL RIVER, FREETOWN, SOMERSET, SWANSEA,
WESTPORT
Serving the Taunton Area: ATTLEBORO, BERKLEY, DIGHTON, MANSFIELD,
MIDDLEBORO, NORTH ATTLEBORO, NORTON, RAYNHAM, REHOBOTH, SEEKONK, TAUNTON
Contact:
Melanie Fragoza Almedia
774-488-5334
peopleincfr.org
email:mfragozaalmeida@peopleincfr.org