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 afamily support policy state plan for the support of families of personswith disabilities and for persons with disabilities, including childrenwith special health care needs or emotional disorders. The objectivesof the family support program include the following:
(1) Assist families to care for persons with disabilities in thepersons' own homes, including implementation of proposalsregarding personal attendant services.
(2) Assist persons with disabilities to make decisions forthemselves.
(3) Allow a person with a disability to live separately from theperson'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 thefollowing:
(1) Focus on the family and the community of the person witha disability, including the parents of the person with a disability.
(2) Encourage a partnership among families, consumers, andprofessionals in the development of an individual familysupport service plan that begins within a reasonable time andthat is periodically reviewed.
(3) Promote the participation of families of persons withdisabilities in local step ahead councils.
(4) Foster the involvement of families and persons withdisabilities in decision making, needs assessment, and providingservices.
(5) Provide for the establishment of a systematic process foradmission to participation in the family support program andother programs that help individuals and families identify andsatisfy their health, education, social service, and other needsand choices.
(6) Encourage program flexibility as unique family needschange and provide flexible program funding for alternativechoices.
(7) Examine funding mechanisms, including sliding fee scalesand annual budgeting processes for the delivery of services.
(8) Promote a system of funding for family support services thatfollows the person receiving the services.
(9) Encourage interagency collaboration among differentagencies and programs at the community level, withcoordination and review by the office of the secretary of familyand social services to ensure statewide coverage. (10) Provide for the establishment of information and referralsystems to determine gaps in services in the state and to developa resource network that includes the public and private sectors.
(11) Encourage outreach to inform families and consumers ofservices and public and private agencies about the familysupport program. The outreach includes publishing a brochurelisting service options and defining family rights.
(12) Promote training of personnel providing individualizedsupport services and training of families and consumers onconsumer empowerment and service availability.
(13) Promote a community centered approach to include thefollowing:
(A) Available services.
(B) Public and private sector resources.
(C) Governmental agencies.
(D) Public and private agencies providing family supportservices.
(14) Promote integration of a person with a disability into thecommunity.
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 shalladminister the family support program to produce a state plan, basedon limits of appropriations, to promote the statewide availability ofservices.
(b) The state plan required by subsection (a) must include thefollowing objectives:
(1) Implementing a fair, swift, and convenient process fordetermination of family eligibility.
(2) Assuring that all organizations implementing individualizedsupport services will incorporate a family focus in providingfamily support programs.
(3) Using existing local organizations as the single point ofentry for families seeking services.
(4) Using existing public and private local organizations,including the county step ahead councils, parent advisorygroups, and natural and informal networks of family andfriends, to carry out the daily operations of the family supportprogram.
(5) Providing a method for contracting with agencies, grantees,or vendors to provide individualized support services, especiallyin regions of Indiana that are inadequately served.
(6) Developing a method for providing technical assistance toagencies and organizations, including consumer groups, that aredeveloping or offering individualized support services to assurethe coordination of publicly funded programs and genericservices and to assure that other publicly funded programs andagencies are not supplanted. (7) Using available state, regional, and local media to supportoutreach to families.
(8) Providing due process hearings on eligibility and otherdecisions affecting services.
(9) Exploring sources of and opportunities for federalparticipation in and funding of services for families of personswith disabilities and persons with disabilities.
(10) Giving priority to programs preventing and amelioratingthe 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 reporton the family support program to the governor and to the generalassembly before July 1 of each year. A report submitted under thissection to the general assembly must be in an electronic format underIC 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 disabilitiesand persons with disabilities may include services available withinthe division of family resources, the division of disability andrehabilitative services, the division of aging, the division of mentalhealth and addiction, the state department of health, the departmentof education, the department of workforce development, and thedepartment of correction, including case management and servicecoordination.
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 familysupport council consists of twelve (12) members. The governor shallappoint the members of the family support council. A member maybe removed from the council by the governor and serves at thegovernor's pleasure.
(b) At least seven (7) of the members of the family supportcouncil must be individuals who are eligible for family supportservices.
(c) The family support council must include a representative ofthe governor's planning council on people with disabilities.
(d) The family support council shall meet at least quarterly tomonitor the family support policy state plan.
(e) The family support council shall: (1) communicate information and recommendations concerningfamily support to the secretary; and
(2) assist in developing state policies and programs that have animpact on individuals with disabilities and their families.
(f) The secretary shall designate personnel to assist the familysupport council in performing the functions authorized by thissection.
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 membersappointed to the family support council are required for the familysupport council to take action on any measure.
As added by P.L.272-1999, SEC.26.