Disability Support Center for Families (360 ON/OFF)

2010

Project Context: Individuals with developmental disabilities have a need for a wide range of services and supports in order to engage in activities of daily living. Many human service systems address primarily only one need, such as health, education, or employment. These systems usually focus on the individual, and not the person's family. With the right combination of services and supports, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families can meet their needs and help the individual to participate in the full range of community life The Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) at Utah State University, in partnership with the state Division of Services for People with Disabilities were designated by then Governor Olene Walker as the lead agencies for the Family Support 360 Implementation Proposal (CFDA: 93.631) in Utah. The families living on the west side of Salt Lake City, Utah are generally underserved by the existing formal service systems and face considerable economic challenges. Project Focus: The Disability Support Center for Families' (360 ON/OFF) mission is to improve the quality of life for children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. They provide a comprehensive one-stop family support center serving at least 50 families annually who have children or adult members with developmental disabilities. The Center empowers and strengthens families by addressing all of their varied needs by: 1. Increasing responsiveness to the needs of children with developmental disabilities and their families. 2. Promoting more public-private partnerships to assist people 3. Encouraging wiser spending of money 4. Reducing duplication of effort Service Navigators are employed to help families become aware of the supports or community activities that are available. The Service Navigator helps to organize the family's needs by developing an individual and/or family plan. The individual family plan includes the services and supports the family needs that may be provided by public human service agencies and/or private, community, and faith-based groups. Services and supports are provided for any family member as needed, not only the member with a developmental disability. Once the plan is completed, the individual/family and the Service Navigator work towards accomplishing the goals that have been set. Continued collaboration with the Coordinating Council for People with Disabilities helps the 360 ON/OFF Center address systemic issues at the policy level. Memorandums of Agreement are in place with key partners, such as the Workforce Services, the Department of Rehabilitation, the Division of Services for People with Disabilities, local schools, and neighborhood nonprofit organizations. Services: The Disability Support Center for Families helps community members with disabilities and/or their families learn more about available resources and community groups. Services include: -Providing information and referral assistance with completing paperwork for needed supports -Providing a one-to-one service navigator to develop a family plan and assist/advocate for needed supports -Attending meetings with governmental agencies and school personnel -Providing parent trainings and support groups -Providing Spanish interpreters Information about their services is available on their website at http://www.disabilitysupportcenter.org. FY '09: The 360 ON/OFF Center is continuing to provide services and training to families in the Salt Lake area.

360 Family Support, Developmental Disability, Support Center

Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology

Family Members/Caregivers

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Urban, Specific Groups

Single-County

N/A