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Family Support Program

ISSUE:

The goal of the Family Support Program is to help families with children with severe disabilities stay intact and prevent out-of-home placements by providing flexible funding for needed services, support and information.

Reports by the Counties to the State for 1999 indicate that 8,053 children are estimated to be eligible for the Family Support Program.

Of these:

• 2,148 families are fully served by the Family Support Program.
• 540 families are reported by the counties to be underserved. Underserved means that the family requires more than the amount they are receiving for an eligible child. Although a family can receive $3,000 for each eligible child, the 1999 average amount given for an eligible child is $1,612.
• 2,333 families are cur rently on the waiting list for Family Support.
• 3,032 families are estimated to be eligible and in need yet have not applied for the Family Support Program.

POSITION:

WCDD supports full funding to end the Family Support Program waiting list and to enable all eligible families to participate at the level identified in their Individualized Family Plan.

LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES:

WCDD supports the following legislative initiatives:

• Increase state funding by $2.5 million in the first year and $5 million in the second year to phase-in the elimination of the Family Support Program waiting list and to increase funds to underserved children.
• Change the annual ceiling per family from $3,000 to $4,000 to reflect the impact of inflation and the higher needs of some families.
• Add one new Family Support position at the Department of Health and Family Services to provide increased technical assistance, coordination, and quality assurance.

Back to WCDD Home Page > Introduction

1. Introduction
2. Birth to Three
3. Campaign Finance Reform
4. Children's Long Term Care Redesign
5. Community Aids
6. Community Integration Program
7. Community Options Program
8. Dental Care Access
9. Direct Service Workforce Shortage
10. Education of Students with Disabilities
11. Employment
12. Family Care Program
13. Family Support Program
14. Independent Living Assistive Technology
15. Medicaid Card Services
16. Mental Health: Fairness in Insurance
17. Mental Health: Services & Supports
18. Protecting People with Disabilities from Abuse
19. Respite Care
20. Specialized Transportation
21. State Centers for the Developmentally Disabled
22. Voting Reforms
23. Welfare Reform & People with Disabilities