Collaboration of Hillside Family of Agencies & School of Social Work, University at Buffalo

Do you have a child with a developmental/intellectual disability?

Do you feel like you or your child could use more support?

Family Driven Planning is to help increase the support network for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their caregivers.  Hillside staff have been doing Family Driven Planning with youth to:

1. strengthen their circle of support
2. identify & engage family members/other caring adults to increase support to the youth and their caregivers
3. increase youth’s quality of life, support their interests and dreams

The project is for children and youth who:

• Have a developmental or intellectual disability
• Currently eligible for but not yet receiving residential services
• Between the ages of 8 to 25 years
• Receive Medicaid or are eligible for Medicaid 

The first 35 youth/families to enroll will participate in the Family Driven Planning with Hillside.  The next 35 will be placed on a waiting list to be a comparison group for the project.  A representative from the School of Social Work will talk with participants about relationships, quality of life, and Medicaid services at the start of Family Driven Planning and again 6 months later in a location convenient to the family.  Youth will receive $5 gift cards at both times and there is no cost to the family.

Interested? Questions? Please contact Annette Semanchin Jones, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo, 716-645-1862 or amsemanc@buffalo.edu.

For more information on Family Driven Planning at Hillside: Michelle Belge, Director of Hillside Institute for Family Connections, 315-935-6701 or Dan Lesinski, Hillside’s Director of Disability Services at 585-654-1465