The Developmental Disabilities Council oversees the implementation of the Community and Family Support (CFS) System Plan developed in accordance with Act 378 of the 1989 Legislative session. The plan called for a system of supports and services to be available for families of children and adults with disabilities in their own homes based on their individual needs in order to avoid out-of-home placement.
Current Community and Family Support Services offered through the Department of Health are below.
Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities:
- Individual and Family Support provides an array of flexible supports and services to allow people with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes or with their families in their own community. These supports are available based on priority of need, rather than first-come, first served. There is no menu of services, but rather the supports are flexible to meet individual needs.
- Flexible Family Fund provides a monthly stipend of $258 to families of children with the most severe developmental disabilities to help offset the cost of maintaining their child in their own home.
- Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver Services allow people the flexibility to decide where they want to live and to access supports and services that best meet their individualized needs. Louisiana has four DD waivers, each with a specific service package and eligibility requirements: the New Opportunities Waiver, the Children’s Choice Waiver, the Residential Options Waiver, and the Supports Waiver.
For more information about these services, call or visit your Regional Human Services District/Authority.
Office of Behavioral Health/Office of Aging and Adult Services/Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
- Consumer Care Resources provides an array of family support services to children with emotional/behavioral health needs to assist in keeping the child in the home with their family.
- Flexible Family Fund provides a monthly stipend of $258 to families of children with the most severe emotional/behavioral health needs to help offset the costs of maintaining their child in their own home.
- Supported Living for adults with behavioral health needs is available in five regions of the state (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houma/Thibodaux, Alexandria and Shreveport). Limited funding is available to assist individuals who are making/have made the transition from institutional settings to the community. Support coordination, rental assistance, furniture, transportation, etc. are the types of assistance available.
- Supported Living services are available for a very small number of adults whose disability occurred after the age of 22 but before the age of 55. Limited funding is available to assist individuals moving out of nursing homes into the community or to those at risk of institutionalization. Support coordination, rental assistance, furniture, transportation, etc. are the types of assistance available. For more information about these services contact the Arc of LA at (225) 383-1033.
- Families Helping Families are family-directed regional resource centers that provide information and referral, peer support and education and training to individuals with disabilities and families. To find your local Families Helping Familes Center click here.
Implementation Status of the Community and Family Support System Plan