Click here to view maps of where the Family Support 360 Centers are located.

Implementation Grantees Contact Information

Mission and Goals
Mt. View FS 360 provides assistance to families raising children who experience developmental disabilities. Wrap-around supports include assistance with prioritizing needs, parent navigation assistance for connecting to vital supports and services, medical appointments, and assistance with housing, public assistance, and State of Alaska Developmental Disability eligibility applications. Mt. View FS 360 strives to find the right balance between providing support and assistance and empowering families.

Accomplishments
Mt. View Family Support 360 has positively impacted the lives of many families, including families who come to us in crisis and families that need help navigating the maze of complicated systems of support. FS 360 has developed and enriched partnerships with community service providers and organizations, homeless shelters, special education educators, and faith-based organizations. Staff has provided trainings on a broad range of subjects, striving to empower families and increase advocacy skill levels.

Positive Impact
A teacher had concerns regarding three students in her resource class. She had each family contact our program, and we were able to provide assistance to all three families—one of which spoke only Spanish. Recent school assessments had related an IQ score for this family’s 6-year-old daughter in the range consistent with mental retardation. The child’s language skills tested as very delayed, and there was concern that she was somewhat isolated. FS 360 staff had meetings with the child’s father and a Spanish-language interpreter. Staff was able to secure summer camp scholarships, enabling the child to attend four week-long language programs. Staff also completed a State of Alaska Developmentally Disabled application for the child and she is now eligible for State services. Staff connected the family with a private speech therapist and the daughter now attends weekly speech therapy appointments.

Colorado
University of Colorado, Denver, School of Medicine/JFK Partners
Colorado 360°
13121 E. 17th Avenue, C234
P.O. Box 6511 Aurora, Colorado 80045
Contact: M. Kay Teel, Project Director, at (303) 355-8322, Kay.Teel@ucdenver.edu
Main Phone: (303) 724-7680
Main Fax: (303) 724-7664
Project Website

Mission and Goals
Colorado Family Support 360° is dedicated to connecting Colorado families receiving TANF with disability-related supports and services. Colorado 360° has developed a collaborative model to integrate TANF activities and disability-related supports and services for families who have children with developmental disabilities. The overarching goal of the project is to facilitate systems-level change to identify and address the disability-related needs of TANF families.

Accomplishments
1. Colorado 360° worked with Denver City and County, Denver Human Services, and Denver Options to develop a service collaboration model between the TANF and disability systems.
2. Currently, Colorado 360° is replicating the TANF and disability system collaboration model in three Denver metro area counties: Arapahoe, Adams, and Jefferson.

Positive Impact
Through Arapahoe FS360°, the combined advocacy efforts of the Service Coordinator for Early Intervention and the navigator, a mother was able to receive TANF benefits. She had initially been told she was not eligible for TANF because her infant daughter was receiving SSI. Having TANF allowed the mother to have Medicaid coverage for her own health problems.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities
Family Hope Center
P.O. Box 502565
Saipan, MP 96950
Contact: Antonio C. Chong at (670) 664–7040, tchong@cnmicdd.org
Main Phone: (670) 664-7000
Main Fax: (670) 664–7030
Project Website

Mission and Goals
To serve and support family members of children with disabilities from birth to 21 years in the CNMI. We provide resources and refer family members to service providers according to their Individualized Family Service Plan. We collaborate with service providers to gather information, resources, and training for families with disabilities.

Accomplishments

• Able to reach and serve more than 50 families each funding year on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota combined.
• Families served are very happy and grateful with the assistance and services extended to them by the Systems Navigators.

Mission and Goals
The mission of SC@N 360 is to create linkages among a network of human service agencies, service providers, and community resources in Springfield to better coordinate information and support to families who have a member with a developmental disability. Outreach is targeted to lower income, culturally diverse families. The SC@N 360 Family Center provides information and referral assistance to any family who contacts the Center, a resource library, connections to parent mentors, support groups and trainings. Case managers assist families from our designated priority groups to develop action plans to address identified needs and help these families navigate the service system to obtain needed services and resources.

Accomplishments
1. SC@N 360 has sponsored a variety of successful training programs for parents and professionals, including a 6-week intensive course in special education law and advocacy conducted by the Federation for Children with Special Needs. SC@N 360 also hosts a monthly support group for parents. It also held a vacation program during school vacation weeks for children receiving services through the Family Center to provide enrichment activities for the children and needed respite for the families.
2. With the involvement of the Community Partner Agencies, the project is providing services to about 90 families a year on average. The majority of families receiving services are Latino, with Spanish as their primary language. Educational advocacy services designed to assist in the development of more appropriate IEP services was provided to additional families.
3. SC@N 360 was able to secure new funding for the micro-stipend program from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. The assistance is available by request to address urgent needs of families for which there are no other resources. It is a great resource for our Family Navigators to have this available to them as part of their “tool kit” in working with families. Receipt of this funding also provides families an opportunity to “give back” to the Center in a variety of ways.
4. The SC@N 360 Family Center has expanded and is creating a new Family Resource and Learning Center. This additional space will enable the program to offer trainings and events that can accommodate larger groups of participants, will house an expanded resource center, and will provide opportunities to rent or share space with other organizations providing services to families which will strengthen our capacity as a network throughout the city.
5. SC@N 360 provided internship and community service opportunities for college students and parents of children with special needs.

Positive Impact
Project staff received a referral from the National Puerto Rican Coalition in Washington, DC, about a Latino family in Springfield with a child with Retts syndrome. The family needed an accessible van. The Action Plan that was developed with this family also included the following needs with which staff assisted the family: accessible bathroom equipment, applications for fuel assistance and other utility discount programs, and clothing for the family. The child with Retts syndrome lives with her single mother and has four siblings including a twin sister who is typical. Project staff completed an application with a local organization, the Brianna Fund, and the family was selected to receive funding for an accessible van and auto insurance. The local television station covered the family’s receipt of the van, which was very exciting for all involved. Project staff is still working on assisting the family to obtain a first-floor apartment. Although the home is ramped, the girl’s bedroom and the bathroom are on the 2nd floor of their present apartment. As the young girl gets older she will be heavier and harder to carry up the stairs.

Michigan
Developmental Disabilities Institute/Wayne State University
Detroit Family Support 360° Project
268 Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
Contact: Elizabeth Janks, Project Director, at (313) 577–6368, E.Janks@wayne.edu
Contact: Angela Martin, Project Coordinator at (313) 577–9470, Angela.M.Martin@wayne.edu
Tel: (313) 577–2654
Fax: (313) 577–3770
Grantee Website
Project Website

Mission and Goals
The Detroit Family Support 360° Project is a one-stop support center for families with children with developmental disabilities. Detroit 360° can help families in obtaining the supports and services they desire in order to enhance the health and well-being of their families. A Detroit 360° family receives education and mentorship as the family navigates the system of supports.

Accomplishments

• 137 families have received navigation support.
• Through an annual evaluation, families were asked about the extent to which their participation in the Detroit Family Support 360° Project has strengthened their family unit. The mean score for this question was 4.20 on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, where “1” is no extent and “5” is a great extent.
• Received two proclamations from the Detroit City Council for the Detroit Family Support 360° Project’s effort on improving the quality of life for Detroit’s families who have a child with a developmental disability.
• Received $100,000 from Detroit Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency to expand the project’s age and geographic eligibility requirements. These funds are for the expansion of the project and not sustainability of the project.

• The partnership with the Kansas City Regional Center (KCRC) continues to grow. KCRC is a regional office of the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Supervisors from KCRC and staff from Visions with Hope have had several meetings to discuss the work of both agencies. As a result of these meetings KCRC staff made an executive decision to assign specific case managers to work with the families from Visions with Hope.
• The involvement of fathers continues to grow. During this reporting period 12 fathers participated in two quarterly activities: Four fathers attended a 2-day workshop offered by National Center for Fatherhood. A total of six fathers participated of a “lunch and learn for fathers.” The fathers discussed the challenges of being a father of a child with a disability. The fathers feel more comfortable discussing issues related to the disabilities of their children among themselves. The Visions case manager, who is a father of a child with a disability, hosted both meetings. The fathers will continue to meet quarterly.
• Visions with Hope and Institute for Human Development staff have been studying sustainability options. Visions with Hope staff met with the Jackson County Board of Services several months ago to discuss some sustainability ideas with their staff. As a result of the meeting Visions with Hope staff responded to a request for proposals that was developed by the Jackson County Board of Services. The Jackson County Board of Services’ agreed to support the request for proposal that will focus on supporting the independent living of youth and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. This project will include several activities to increase meaningful experiences for youth and offer opportunities for the personal and social development of the youth being served.

Mission and Goals
Develop Family Support Centers in four of the pueblos in Sandoval County, NM. Family support centers assist individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to access services and supports.

Accomplishments
1. The Project Coordinator recently represented Pueblo Connections and Native American families at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Community meeting, held in Chicago. The Project Coordinator was able to raise AAP’s awareness of issues facing families who have children with disabilities, as well as issues facing Native American families.
2. Project Pueblo Connections recently hosted a Family Leadership Institute. The 1-day Institute was the first in a three part series focused on teaching families and emerging leaders skills to become stronger influences in their communities and in the state.

Positive Impact
Through the Pueblo Connections Family Support grant, one family was able to purchase traditional clothing for their son so that he could take part in Pueblo dances and ceremonies. The young man has had to borrow the traditional clothing in the past due to the family’s limited finances. The young man now has greater self-esteem and sense of belonging to the community.

North Carolina
Family Support Network of North Carolina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Strengthening Families with Children Who Have Developmental Disabilities: One Stop for Family Support
CB #7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Contact: Irene Zipper, Principal Investigator/Project Director, at (919) 966–6395, izipper@unc.edu
Main Phone: (919) 966–2841
Main Fax: (919) 966–2916
Project Website

Mission and Goals
The mission of the Strengthening Families OneStop Project is to support the development of a culturally responsive, integrated community-based system of information and referral, service delivery, and follow-up to support families with children who have developmental disabilities.

The goals of the project are to strengthen linkages among State and local level organizations to benefit families with children with developmental disabilities; to establish a model of service coordination that involves parents as service coordinators for other families; to pilot an information and referral system to serve as a single point of entry for families; and to facilitate statewide replication of the model.

Accomplishments
The OneStop Project is especially proud of the following:
1. Effective State and local efforts to integrate and coordinate services and supports for families with children who have developmental disabilities.
2. The development of strong local community connections to serve families.
3. The establishment of State and Local Collaboration Teams to identify unserved and underserved families; define challenges and facilitators in supporting and preserving families; identify gaps and inconsistencies in policies, services and resources; and generate solutions to address these challenges, while working toward sustainability.
4. The collaboration with the Aging & Disability Resource Center to link diverse databases to establish a statewide, centralized, web-based information and referral data repository to provide statewide resources for families with children who have developmental disabilities.

Positive Impact
A family with two children with developmental disabilities was having difficulties understanding the tests and procedures used to develop their children’s IEPs. The OneStop Project was able to pay the registration fee for the mother to attend a Wrightslaw conference. Information gleaned at the conference gave the mother a better understanding of the implications of her children’s psychological and educational test results. As a result, she was better prepared for the children’s fall IEPs and for continuing negotiations with the school district. The mother has since sought independent tutoring for one of the children. The Project nominated this family to receive corporate sponsorship for financial assistance when the mother had to take medical leave from her job due to her own health needs and those of her children.


Oklahoma
Center for Learning and Leadership University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma's Family Support 360° Project
P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
Oklahoma City, OK 73190
Contact: Tara Lozano at (405) 271–4511, ext. 41016, tara-lozano@ouhsc.edu
Main Phone: (405) 271–4500
Main Fax: (405) 271–1459

Mission and Goals
Goal: Establish a 360° family resource center within a primary healthcare clinic that will serve at least 50 families per year whose children have developmental disabilities and are eligible for Medicaid. Our purpose is to provide a family-centered resource center to help families meet the unique challenges of raising children with developmental disabilities and to increase providers’ knowledge about family support practices, community resources, and a medical home approach to healthcare services.

Accomplishments

• Provided Christmas gifts to 21 families and Christmas dinner and groceries for 13 of those families through a local church and individual toy donations.
• Increased families’ knowledge of community and healthcare services available to them.
• Provided training to 44 pediatric residents who work with children with disabilities.
• Increased families’ knowledge and participation in planning services for their child in the public schools and in healthcare services.

Oregon
Human Services Research Institute
Juntos Podemos (Together We Can): A One-Stop Family Support 360 Center
2475 Lancaster Drive, NE, B–9
Salem, OR 97305
Contact: Morgan Garcia at (503) 566–7727, mgarcia@hsri.org
Contact: Kerri Melda at (503) 924–3783, melda@hsri.org
Contact: John Agosta at (503) 924–3783, agosta@hsri.org
Main Fax: (503) 566–7726
Project Website

Mission and Goals
Staff at Juntos Podemos offers families of children with developmental disabilities a place where they will be welcomed and heard, and linked to the services they need whenever possible. The Center also offers families opportunity to offer mutual support and partner with community organizations and businesses to support families. While the Center focuses on Latino families, all families are welcome.

Accomplishments
We have excited families and the community about the project. Our last family get-together was well attended, with community businesses pitching in. Families are doing more together, helping each other out, and volunteering to help the Center. Meanwhile, State and county agencies are taking notice and want to participate more.

Positive Impact
It has helped more than one in a similar way. For the first time families feel that they have a place of their own where they are welcomed and heard, can get some of the support they need, and get information and guidance about other agencies that can help them too.


Rhode Island
Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disability at RI College
Family Support 360 Transition from School to Adult Life/360 Local Supportive Parenting Project
600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
Contact: John B. Susa, Ph.D. at (401) 444–5540, john_susa@brown.edu
Main Phone: (401) 456–8072
Main Fax: (401) 456–8150
Grantee Website
Project Website

Mission and Goals
This project has two parts. One part helps families of youth with the most challenging disabilities plan a meaningful adult life. The second part helps parents with learning challenges become better parents and self-advocates.

Accomplishments
The project has helped form a parent-to-parent support group. This group provides nutrition and menu-planning training, as well as peer support for parents. The project has helped families become aware of all the options for their youth with disabilities as they move toward adult life. Families have been able to dream bigger and make more informed choices with and for their family members.

Positive Impact
When we met G. and her family, they were living in poor housing. They could not afford utilities. Our bilingual staff person helped the family move to a nice, affordable apartment. She worked with the mother, who was unhealthy, to apply for SSI and widows benefits. This increased the family income and provided the mother with medical insurance. G. graduated from high school, but was attending a program that could not communicate with the family in Spanish. We helped the family change G.’s supports to a day program with bilingual staff.


South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Human Services
Family Support 360 People Leading Accessible Networks of Support (PLANS)
Hillsview Properties Plaza
3800 East Highway 34
Pierre, SD 57501
Contact: Deb Petersen at (605) 773–3438, Deb.Petersen@state.sd.us
Main Phone: (605) 773-3438
Main Fax: (605) 773–7562
Grantee Website
Project Website

Mission and Goals
The PLANS Family Support 360 mission is to empower people to achieve their dreams through choice of services and supports. The goals of the project are to support each person to make decisions, to support each person’s choices to live and work in their community, and to assist each person to explore available community resources and services.

Accomplishments

• Project Coordinators have developed plans of care with 177 adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
• Four Programs have been started, with a fifth expected to begin in August 2008, making services available statewide.
• Project staff developed numerous collaborative relationships on a statewide and local basis to obtain necessary services and supports for the families. One recent example is the Christian nonprofit group Re-Member. Re-Member will install ramps in homes and assist with home remodeling projects for those in need.

Mission and Goals
Parents with disabilities in Vermont will receive adequate supports to raise their children successfully at home. People with disabilities and their families will be part of the transformation of the Agency of Human Services. Peer Navigators will connect families to communication support for court situations, service coordination, and formal and informal supports in their communities.

Accomplishments

• Of the 541 families we have served over 4 years, only 11 have lost their parental rights (1.7%).
• Language about supports to parents with disabilities was added to two child welfare bills that passed the legislature this year.
• Training has been completed for 10 out of 12 DCF Regions on Supporting Parents with Disabilities; 11 new Communication Support Specialists have been trained; 8 new Parenting Skills Assessors have been trained.

• Develop and implement a One Stop Family Support Center that will connect families with comprehensive, community-based, family-directed information, supports and services to children with disabilities and their families.
• Make resources and training available so that providers and families are knowledgeable and effective navigators of the Children’s Long-Term Support System (CLTS).
• Increase the coordination between existing State and county-funded information and assistance activities.
• Implement measures of quality, as well as the process to review quality of services and supports, in partnership with families.