Generally under 18 years of age
The Family Support Services Program is a state-funded program that provides individualized support to families who are caring for a family member living in the home with developmental disabilities or delays with costs that are beyond those typically experienced by other families.
This long-running state-funded program provides individualized support to families by connecting them with a coordinator to navigate local resources and provide some limited financial support. The emphasis on the needs of each family makes this a unique and incredibly relevant service. Family Support Funds can be used toward respite for the family, professional services such as home health or therapy services, medical or dental services, transportation, assistive technology, home modification, and parent and sibling support.
How Do I Access the Family Support Program?
Family Support Funds Can Be Used Towards:
Respite Care
Families may need a break from time to time in caring for a child/adult child with disabilities. FSSP can pay a provider chosen by you to watch your child or adult child so you can leave and have a break outside the home.
Professional Services
Services that address the human condition, such as individual counseling, therapies, vision, and home health services provided to the family member with a developmental disability. A physician must prescribe any therapies for which you request funding assistance.
Medical and Dental
Some examples would be medications prescribed by a physician, syringes, feeding tubes, suctioning equipment, catheters, lodging and food expenses incurred during out-of-town medical treatment, or long-distance telephone calls to arrange or coordinate medical services.
Transportation
Travel costs related to providing care and support to a family member with a developmental disability are typically above and beyond those incurred by other families. For example, frequent medical appointments, therapy, or program appointments not covered by other sources.
Other Individual Expenses
Services or items necessary due to the person’s disability, including physical, medical, educational, or behavioral needs. Examples include particular diets, special clothing, developmental materials, and diapers for a child over three years old.
Assistive Technology
Equipment needed to support the person with a disability. Examples include wheelchairs, braces, special beds, switches, communication devices, glasses, hearing aids, special kitchen appliances, and vehicle modifications to enable access by the family member with a developmental disability.
Home Modification
Some examples include ramps, lifts, widened doorframes, and bathrooms. It can also include repairs to the home structure or furnishings due to damage caused by a family member with a developmental disability with aggressive behaviors.
Parent and Sibling Support
This category covers a variety of expenses for all other family members living in the household. Examples include family counseling, costs of memberships in support organizations, behavioral intervention or training, and recreation and leisure needs related to the stress or pressure placed on the family as a result of providing care for the family member with a developmental disability.
The Family Support Council
The Family Support Council is a group of parents, professionals, interested community members, and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in our service area who have been charged with the responsibility of providing guidance and assistance to the CCB for the implementation of the Family Support Services Program. Examples of the Council’s duties include making recommendations for overall policy direction of FSSP, recommending budget parameters for the program, and identifying community resources available to families. If you would like to learn more about the Family Support Council or are interested in becoming a member, please contact Angelica Busch at 303-396-5187 or a.busch@dpcolo.org