Coordinated Family Support: Building a Support Plan

In an effort to more fully assist adults with developmental disabilities who choose to live in their family home, the California Department of Developmental Services ("DDS") created the Coordinated Family Support ("CFS") service. If you or your loved one receives care through Coordinated Family Support, building a support plan that accurately maps out everything you need will ensure you get comprehensive care.

What is a CFS Support Plan?

CFS services are available through DDS regional centers. These services aim to provide assistance with navigating complex service systems, coordinating medical and therapeutic supports, and connecting families to community resources. Put simply, CFS coordinates the services and supports that enable developmentally disabled adults to live in their family home while still receiving the full range of care they need.

Examples of the types of services CFS helps coordinate include:

• in-home support staff,
• transportation,
• respite care for family members and caregivers,
• help with assistive technology,
• support and training for family members involved in providing care,
• helping developmentally disabled adults develop skills for daily living.

Your CFS support plan specifies which services you need. It also identifies the vendors and caregivers who will provide those services. Because it functions as the roadmap for your care, it is a vital piece of CFS.

How to Build an Effective CFS Support Plan

Building a CFS support plan begins with your Individual Program Plan ("IPP") meeting. Families, the individual receiving DDS services, and care coordinators from your local regional center all work together to identify your goals, needs, and strengths. While your IPP maps out the big picture of what your overall care plan will look like, your CFS support plan coordinates how you will access and receive the various care and supports you need.

The key factors to consider when building your CFS support plan are:

• the exact services and supports needed,
• the vendors or caregivers who will provide them,
• methods for evaluating progress and quality of service.

By tailoring supports to each household’s unique circumstances, CFS ensures that individuals with developmental disabilities can thrive in their family homes. Importantly, the CFS support plan maps out how care will be administered. Ultimately, a robust support plan ensures personalized care tailored to each person's unique needs and life goals.