Munroe-Meyer Institute and Arc of Nebraska Receive $266,000 Grant to Create Service Model for Families with Disabled Children

The Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation (MMI) at

the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Arc of Nebraska have

been awarded a $266,000 federal grant to design and create a collaborative

services model for families with children with developmental disabilities.

The 18-month grant, which runs from Sept. 1, 2000 through Jan. 31, 2002,

was awarded by two agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services.

The HHS agencies were the Administration on Children, Youth and Families

and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

Under the terms of the grant, the HHS agencies provided $200,000, or

two-thirds of the funding, while MMI and Arc of Nebraska provided one-third

of the funding with MMI contributing $45,977 and Arc of Nebraska $20,689.

The grant — called Project Families UNITE (Unified Networking, Involvement

and Technical Experience for families with disabled children) — will be

directed by Deborah Reay, director of social work for MMI, and coordinated

by Deborah Weston, immediate past president of the Arc of Nebraska and

project director of Nebraska’s Waiting List Initiative, an assistance program

for families with children with developmental disabilities.

Reay said the grant will focus on four areas of need in the state:

–establishment of a council comprised of families of children with

developmental disabilities and persons with disabilities;

–creation, distribution and analysis of a needs assessment for families

with disabled children;

–education and technical assistance to family members and service

providers;

–and development of a model individualized flexible system of supports

and services that meets the needs of families of children with developmental

disabilities.

“We’re thrilled to receive this funding,” Reay said. “We think it will

provide the opportunity for much-needed involvement of families with children

who have disabilities in determining family service needs and creating

a model of a system of family directed supports based on those needs. What

is so unique about this grant is that families of children with disabilities

will serve on the grant’s Policy Council. Members of this council will

direct the course of the project and develop a family support model to

serve the needs of Nebraska families with children with disabilities. Our

long-term goal is to identify the wide-range of services required to meet

the individual care needs of all children in Nebraska with disabilities.”

Project Families UNITE was developed by MMI and Arc of Nebraska in cooperation

with the Nebraska Governor’s Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities.

“This project will change the role of young adults and families of children

with disabilities from recipients of services to active decision makers.

These families are best qualified to analyze current practices and design

a family focused system of supports and services,” said Weston, who is

the parent of a young adult with autism. “Collaborative efforts are essential

to success in this project. Technical assistance from the Nebraska Health

and Human Services and its Developmental Disability System and other supporting

agencies and organizations will enhance the potential for producing a system

of supports that will be effective across Nebraska.”

The Arc of Nebraska has a long history of advocating for the rights

of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This

year, the Arc of the United States celebrated its 50th anniversary of individual

and family directed advocacy and support. The Arc of Nebraska with the

Governor’s Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities has coordinated

the Nebraska Waiting List Initiative and is beginning the Nebraska Waiting

List Campaign to eliminate the waiting list for services for people with

developmental disabilities.

In addition, the Arc of Nebraska coordinates two projects to monitor

and increase quality in services for people with disabilities. Aim for

Excellence, a nationally acclaimed project, establishes and maintains quality

review teams to evaluate services provided to people with disabilities

and their families.  The Arc Provider Profile offers data on services,

providers, and information on the quality of life of people with disabilities

who use services. The Arc of Nebraska works through 20 local Arc chapters

and 1,800 members across the state of Nebraska.

MMI provides a unique range of interdisciplinary family-centered health

care services for individuals, with disabilities or special health care

needs and their families. These services are provided in a variety of settings

including schools, homes, hospitals and clinics throughout the Omaha area

and the state of Nebraska. MMI’s main focus areas are clinical services,

interdisciplinary education and research.