CHAPTER 14. FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM
IC 12-8-14
Chapter 14. Family Support Program
IC 12-8-14-1
Establishment and purpose
Sec. 1. The family support program is established to develop a
family support policy state plan for the support of families of persons
with disabilities and for persons with disabilities, including children
with special health care needs or emotional disorders. The objectives
of the family support program include the following:
(1) Assist families to care for persons with disabilities in the
persons' own homes, including implementation of proposals
regarding personal attendant services.
(2) Assist persons with disabilities to make decisions for
themselves.
(3) Allow a person with a disability to live separately from the
person's family, if the person with a disability so chooses.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26.
IC 12-8-14-2
Requirements of family support policy state plan
Sec. 2. The family support policy state plan must do the
following:
(1) Focus on the family and the community of the person with
a disability, including the parents of the person with a disability.
(2) Encourage a partnership among families, consumers, and
professionals in the development of an individual family
support service plan that begins within a reasonable time and
that is periodically reviewed.
(3) Promote the participation of families of persons with
disabilities in local step ahead councils.
(4) Foster the involvement of families and persons with
disabilities in decision making, needs assessment, and providing
services.
(5) Provide for the establishment of a systematic process for
admission to participation in the family support program and
other programs that help individuals and families identify and
satisfy their health, education, social service, and other needs
and choices.
(6) Encourage program flexibility as unique family needs
change and provide flexible program funding for alternative
choices.
(7) Examine funding mechanisms, including sliding fee scales
and annual budgeting processes for the delivery of services.
(8) Promote a system of funding for family support services that
follows the person receiving the services.
(9) Encourage interagency collaboration among different
agencies and programs at the community level, with
coordination and review by the office of the secretary of family
and social services to ensure statewide coverage.
(10) Provide for the establishment of information and referral
systems to determine gaps in services in the state and to develop
a resource network that includes the public and private sectors.
(11) Encourage outreach to inform families and consumers of
services and public and private agencies about the family
support program. The outreach includes publishing a brochure
listing service options and defining family rights.
(12) Promote training of personnel providing individualized
support services and training of families and consumers on
consumer empowerment and service availability.
(13) Promote a community centered approach to include the
following:
(A) Available services.
(B) Public and private sector resources.
(C) Governmental agencies.
(D) Public and private agencies providing family support
services.
(14) Promote integration of a person with a disability into the
community.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26.
IC 12-8-14-3
Administration
Sec. 3. (a) The secretary of family and social services shall
administer the family support program to produce a state plan, based
on limits of appropriations, to promote the statewide availability of
services.
(b) The state plan required by subsection (a) must include the
following objectives:
(1) Implementing a fair, swift, and convenient process for
determination of family eligibility.
(2) Assuring that all organizations implementing individualized
support services will incorporate a family focus in providing
family support programs.
(3) Using existing local organizations as the single point of
entry for families seeking services.
(4) Using existing public and private local organizations,
including the county step ahead councils, parent advisory
groups, and natural and informal networks of family and
friends, to carry out the daily operations of the family support
program.
(5) Providing a method for contracting with agencies, grantees,
or vendors to provide individualized support services, especially
in regions of Indiana that are inadequately served.
(6) Developing a method for providing technical assistance to
agencies and organizations, including consumer groups, that are
developing or offering individualized support services to assure
the coordination of publicly funded programs and generic
services and to assure that other publicly funded programs and
agencies are not supplanted.
(7) Using available state, regional, and local media to support
outreach to families.
(8) Providing due process hearings on eligibility and other
decisions affecting services.
(9) Exploring sources of and opportunities for federal
participation in and funding of services for families of persons
with disabilities and persons with disabilities.
(10) Giving priority to programs preventing and ameliorating
the impact of disabilities on families.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26.
IC 12-8-14-4
Annual report
Sec. 4. The office of the secretary shall submit an annual report
on the family support program to the governor and to the general
assembly before July 1 of each year. A report submitted under this
section to the general assembly must be in an electronic format under
IC 5-14-6.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26. Amended by P.L.28-2004,
SEC.88.
IC 12-8-14-5
Services permitted
Sec. 5. Services to support families of persons with disabilities
and persons with disabilities may include services available within
the division of family resources, the division of disability and
rehabilitative services, the division of aging, the division of mental
health and addiction, the state department of health, the department
of education, the department of workforce development, and the
department of correction, including case management and service
coordination.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26. Amended by P.L.215-2001,
SEC.34; P.L.141-2006, SEC.30; P.L.145-2006, SEC.67; P.L.1-2007,
SEC.113.
IC 12-8-14-6
Family support council
Sec. 6. (a) The family support council is established. The family
support council consists of twelve (12) members. The governor shall
appoint the members of the family support council. A member may
be removed from the council by the governor and serves at the
governor's pleasure.
(b) At least seven (7) of the members of the family support
council must be individuals who are eligible for family support
services.
(c) The family support council must include a representative of
the governor's planning council on people with disabilities.
(d) The family support council shall meet at least quarterly to
monitor the family support policy state plan.
(e) The family support council shall:
(1) communicate information and recommendations concerning
family support to the secretary; and
(2) assist in developing state policies and programs that have an
impact on individuals with disabilities and their families.
(f) The secretary shall designate personnel to assist the family
support council in performing the functions authorized by this
section.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26.
IC 12-8-14-7
Majority of votes required for action
Sec. 7. The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
appointed to the family support council are required for the family
support council to take action on any measure.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26.