Individual and Family Support Project

TN-Vanderbilt University, UCEDD/LEND
Program Type	UCEDD	Fiscal Year	2013
Contact	Carol Rabideau, L.C.S.W.
Email	[email protected]
Phone	615-936-5122
Project Description
According to the US Census's 2005 American Community Survey, 685,339 (15.8%) of Tennessee residents between 5 and 64 years of age (4,332,650) have one or more disabilities. In Davidson county 50,677 (14.5%) residents between 5 and 64 years of age (346,588) have one or more disabilities. Since a disability affects the entire family unit, an even larger number of individuals in Middle Tennessee are affected by the disability. In Middle Tennessee, the families find an unfunded or under funded, complicated system of supports and services for individuals with disabilities and their families. And often the connections to those agencies are not made because of language barriers, a lack of transportation or a lack of understanding about the importance of these services. Families whose member with a disability qualifies for our State's Medicaid waiver program benefit from having an Independent Support Coordinator. The Independent Support Coordinator would provide some of the same type of proposed follow-up contacts we are proposing in this program. However, there is currently a waiting list of more than 5,200 people to receive Medicaid waiver services. Only those in crisis situations will receive these services. The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) will expand social work support for families trying to navigate the complicated and confusing world of services and supports.In hospitals and medical clinics, families frequently meet with a team of providers, including a social worker who provides psychosocial assessments, brief counseling, and information and referrals. Families often report that when they receive a diagnosis of a syndrome that could or does result in a family member having developmental disabilities, they feel overwhelmed emotionally and do not know where to start in finding medical and education services. Families are often stressed to juggle family life, careers, financial stress, and medical appointments and these challenges are faced by families across cultures and economic status. The VKC is implementing a specifically designed follow-up procedure. This additional support will be provided by the VKC licensed social worker and social work trainees from the UT School of Social Work. Follow-up and support phone calls are expected to result in more families connecting with needed resources that will promote optimum development for the individual with the disability and improved coping abilities for family members. Research shows that if children with disabilities and their families can connect to interventions, supports, and services early, they can lead productive lives.