Family Directed Support Services

In the Family-Directed Supports option, if your child is determined eligible for services, they will be assigned an individualized budget based on their their strengths and assessed needs. Using this individualized budget, you can plan a year of supports, therapy, services and goods to enable your child to live a full and inclusive life. The flexibility in this model allows you to choose, design and direct services outside of the traditional menu of services.

For example, you would be able to contract with non-traditional providers or with traditional service providers that have the skills and experience desired by your family. This pathway allows for creative and innovative ways to access services that the traditional pathway doesn't, while still maintaining accountability required by federal authorities.

The Family-Directed Supports pathway is designed to give you a more hands-on and flexible approach in determining the types of services and supports your child receives and more control over who provides them.

By choosing family-directed services, you can:

• Hire people you know and decide the qualifications you want to require
• Decide how much to pay for services and supports
• Supervise and direct your child’s support workers
• Decide when and where your child will receive services and supports
• Manage your child’s individual budget

When you choose to family direct, you must:

• Agree to the principles of self-direction
• Be part of a family-centered planning meeting and help write your child’s plan
• Review timesheets and invoices to ensure services are delivered according to the plan
• Write, sign and follow employee agreements
• Work with a Fiscal Employer Agent to help keep track of your child’s budget