W HO IS F.A.C.T.? F.A.C.T. (Family Advocacy and Community Training) is a family organization founded in 1987 by two mothers who were struggling to get their children’s needs met in the public school system. They wanted their children, who had disabilities, to have the same education that all typical children received. They also wanted parental voice to be included in the decision making process regarding their children. Today we serve over 1200 families a year providing support to parents that have children with disabilities. We have 31 employees with approximately a 2.6 million dollar budget.
F.A.C.T. M ISSION AND V ALUES Our mission is to mentor and empower families through advocacy and training to improve the quality of life and opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. Our vision is a community where all children and young adults are supported through their challenges, valued for their diversity, and fully included as they choose. We are strength based, culturally competent, and family driven. All staff in direct support positions have a child with a disability.
F.A.C.T.’ S P ROGRAMS Educational Advocacy and Transitions Partnership With Families Family Support Program People First
E DUCATIONAL ADVOCACY An Educational Advocate (nationally certified through COPAA) works with parents by assisting them in getting their children’s needs met at school. An Advocate will teach parents about their rights, information about educational law and school procedures, in an effort to empower parents to be able to effectively advocate on behalf of their children and youth. Advocates can attend school meetings with families to ensure the family voice is heard and considered in the IEP (Individual Education Plan) process. Advocates encourage parents to involve their children/youth in the decision making process in an effort to promote self- determination. This program is funded by the St. Charles DDRB and the Warren County Developmental Disabilities Resource Board. Eligibility requirements include being a child with a developmental disability living in St. Charles County or Warren County.
P ARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES The PWF Program uses a wraparound philosophy with System of Care Values and Principles to support families that have children with behavioral health issues. F.A.C.T. works in conjunction with the Crider Health Center to support these families in their homes. F.A.C.T. provides a nationally Certified Parent Support Partner (PSP) and uses a peer support model which means that all PSP’s have a child with a disability themselves. Because we have been through the process and “walked the walk” we are able to support other parents/guardians through their journeys. Our main goal is to help families navigate systems, empower them and build their resiliency so that they can handle any situation that may arise. We offer this program in Franklin , Lincoln, and St. Charles Counties. It is funded by the FCCRB, the LCRB, and the CCRB respectively.
P EOPLE F IRST F.A.C.T. is the lead agency for People First St. Charles. People First is a self-advocacy group run by and for adults with developmental disabilities. Johanna Wortman, Jennifer Floretta, and Representative Kurt Bahr (left to right)
F AMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM The Family Support Program is our newest program. It was implemented in 2014 after we received funding from the DDRB. Today we receive funding from DDRB, the state, PLB and JC DDRB to provide this program. The family support service has recently been added to the Partnership for Hope waiver. We are working on becoming a provider.
P ARENT /F AMILY S UPPORT P ARTNERS Who am I? Someone who will partner with the other organizations in the community in order to provide support. Someone who will work towards goals that the family has chosen. Someone who will encourage parents and build them up. Someone who will help each family identify their strengths. Someone who will assist and coach each family to increase their knowledge and awareness of their child’s needs. Someone who will enhance a family’s problem solving skills. Someone who will provide emotional support. Someone who will disseminate information. Someone who will link a family to services and resources. Someone who will offer parent-to-parent guidance. Who I am not: Someone that tells a family what to do. Someone who provides clinical services. Someone who is judgmental.
H OW DO WE GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS ? FSP’s/PSP’s visit with families in their homes or at a place of the family’s choosing. Advocates meet with families in the office. We use a web based database called FAMCARE to record all activities. Every time a staff member meets with a family, that time must be recorded. Staff are provided with a tablet, cell phone, and hot spot. We have a central office in St. Charles County.
S T . L OUIS S TATS J ULY 1, 2018-S EPT . 7, 2018 PLB DD PSP Information as of 9.7.18 # of referrals 56 Ages of consumers 0 to 5 6 to 17 18+ Unknown 13 27 15 1 Either families did not respond, chose not to Closed 22 pursue services, or were not eligible due to location Currently open 34 zip codes 63017 3 63042 2 63115 1 63130 3 63138 2 63021 4 63044 1 63119 1 63133 1 63141 1 63031 1 63074 1 63122 2 63134 2 63144 2 63032 1 63084 1 63123 2 63135 1 63146 3 63033 6 63109 1 63125 1 63136 3 65102 1 63034 1 63114 5 63129 1 63137 2 16 11 8 12 9 Customers with DMH eligibility so far 5 Other includes: Blindness, Fragile X, Langer-giedion Syndrome, Trisomy 18, Spinal Cord Injury, Young Child with a developmental delay, Myasthenic Syndrome, Arteriovenous malformation Angelman's Cerebral Intellectual Learning Diagnosis Autism Down's Syndrome Syndrome Palsy disability disability Other 24 2 2 3 8 2 15 Reached out via phone to 53 families Face to face meetings with 13 families Medicaid Eligible 15
Questions? Contact Information: Heather Lytle, M.Ed. Associate Director, F.A.C.T. 636-949-2425 hlytle@factmo.org www.factmo.org
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