Project Description:
The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University, a university center for excellence in developmental disabilities, is applying for federal funding to develop and implement a model of family to family support that can eventually be taken to communities across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Partnership?s Center for Family Involvement will house the greater Richmond Virginia Family to Family Network, a ?one-stop center? where families who have children ages birth to 26 years with developmental disabilities can receive:
 information and referrals regarding special education and early intervention services and placements, health care and related financing, disability services, and other community resources;
 a family assessment to identify needs and form the basis of an individual family empowerment plan;
 peer-to-peer support; and
 leadership training to support families in advocating for and participating in the design of more family-friendly, effective service systems.
These activities will support families and their children with disabilities as they exercise greater choice and self-determination, achieve their individual goals and objectives, and engage in leadership activities leading to systems change. Upon completion of the planning and initial implementation of the Richmond Virginia Family to Family Network, a similar process will be used to develop the Southwest Virginia Family to Family Network. Both of these areas of Virginia are characterized by high poverty populations with limited access to services, and they represent the spectrum of challenges posed in poor urban and rural communities in Virginia.
Families with children and youth who have developmental disabilities face many obstacles in meeting their child?s special health, education, and life needs. Often these families must deal with agencies whose policies conflict with each other, and who may not encourage family involvement. Families face additional challenges developing systems of support, when there is no one system that provides the forum for that.
As we have done in preparing this grant application, the Partnership will collaborate with individuals, families and community partners representing underserved groups and a range of developmental disability interests to plan a one stop that meets the needs of families. While completing the planning process and implementing the navigator model in both regions, we will document the differences between urban and rural populations as to needs, barriers, contributing factors and overall challenges. We envision outcomes that encompass:
 Virginia has an administrative structure in place to develop and support a sustainable and expandable model to assist families of individuals with disabilities.
 Family members of individuals with disabilities have someone to call on in their community for support in their efforts to identify and obtain needed information, services and community supports for them and their family members.
 Family members of individuals with disabilities have information regarding family needs and services and work as advocates (leaders) for policy development and systems change.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban
