Saving Families Strained to the Breaking Point
Families caring for a child, sibling or adult with developmental disabilities face a full spectrum of daily stresses—emotional, social, and economic. These families work valiantly to keep their disabled loved ones at home, but they’re in critical need of help —long-term, sensitive support designed to preserve the health and harmony of the entire family.
CFCS’ Developmental Disabilities (DD) program coordinates over 10,000 hours of respite care annually for individuals with disabilities and their families. Through direct care as well as case management and information and/or referral services, our DD program is helping over 250 families in the Greater Boston area to manage, even thrive, in trying circumstances.
Services of the DD Program:
Family Support: This program offers a range of flexible services to support families caring for a child or adults with disabilities. With the help of our case managers, families select services and goods that enhance their daily lives in meaningful ways. Aids may include respite care service (temporary in-home relief), selection of adaptive equipment and specialized clothing, and membership in community organizations such as the YMA. The program is not income-based and is available to families living in Cambridge, Somerville, and 15 other communities.
Specialized Home Care: This program is a residential alternative for adults who are unable to live at home or have outlived their family caretakers. This service provides community living opportunities in professionally supervised, long-term foster homes offering care and support in the least restrictive and most normalized setting possible.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Project: This program is funded by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) AKA Department of Education (DOE) and administered by the MA Department of Developmental Services (DDS) AKA Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) in order to maintain special education students who require an intensive level of supports in school, home and community within their homes and communities rather than placing them in more restrictive, more costly residential options.
What Makes Our DD Program a Success?
We faithfully adhere to the philosophy of inclusiveness, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are fully integrated into the community. Our goals include helping maintain the family member with disabilities in the home and maximizing his or her potential to function independently in the community; prevention of inappropriate or premature out of home placement; supporting the integrity of the family as a unit; and empowering family members to make decisions about their preferred lifestyles.
CFCS Family Resources
Click to download the CFCS Family Resource Directory. 