Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services: Family & Caregiver Training

 From INvision DDRS Newsletter 2.2021

As individuals, families and teams discuss their vision of a good life, increased independence is often a cornerstone of that conversation. Remote Supports can be an avenue for a person 14 years or older to increase their autonomy while building skills. Remote supports are generally considered to be video or audio monitoring support and can be implemented in countless ways to simultaneously support privacy and safety, leading to improved decision-making skills, encouraging independence and opportunities to enhance daily living and problem-solving skills. Both the Community Integration and Habilitation and Family Support waivers include remote support services that are provided by six vendors throughout the state. You can talk to your case manager about including Remote Supports in your Person-Centered Individualized Support Plan as a person-centered solution for increased independence. Building their competencies through family and caregiver training is another way families develop skills, leading to their vision of a good life and enhanced independence. Family and caregiver training services provide education and support directly to the family member of an individual to increase that caregiver’s confidence and stamina to support their loved one. This may include educational materials or training programs, workshops, and conferences. Caregivers work with their case manager to identify and assure these educational and training activities are based on the family/caregiver’s unique needs and are specifically identified in the PCISP. These opportunities can build the caregiver’s knowledge base in areas such as understanding the disability of the individual, achieving greater competence and confidence in providing supports, developing and accessing community resources and supports, developing advocacy skills, and/or supporting the individual in developing self-advocacy skills, to suggest only a few. Family and caregiver training is available as a support under the CIH and FS waivers.