Family Support Programs include: (click here to view video)

  • Home First - Children with Special Health Care Needs
  • Southeast DDS Region Respite House
  • Elder Services - Adult Children with Elderly Caretakers
  • The Autism Resource Center
  • IFFS - Intensive Flexible Family Supports

Home First–

Medically Complex Program that provides a family-driven model of care which supports families with children and young adults (ages 3-25) that have significant cognitive, physical and complex health care needs who are living at home. The goal is to provide comprehensive wrap-around supports, which consist of specialized case management activities (medical services, health care benefits, assistive technology, coordination of home nursing, educational services, assistance with home modifications and assistance with public benefits) that help families integrate the variety of resources and supports they are receiving in order to care for their family member at home. Referrals are made by the local DDS office for the following regions: Newton/South Norfolk, Metro Boston, Charles River West and Middlesex West.

HMEA's Home First program has developed a family-friendly newsletter with a lot of information that many families may find very useful. Please click on the links below to read past issues of this newsletter and as new issues are published we'll be providing the link here and under our "NEWSROOM" link on our home page:

Southeast DDS Region Respite Home – is available to DDS eligible adults 18 years or older throughout Massachusetts who meet the following criteria: Presently receive in-home nursing or eligible for MassHealth continuous nursing services (CNS) as authorized through the Community Case Management (CCM) Program and/or Diagnosed with chronic, potentially life threatening medical condition(s) requiring skilled nursing assessments and daily technological and/or medical interventions from trained family, support staff or health professionals.

The Autism Resource Center– The Resource Center is located in West Boylston and provides services to families throughout Central Massachusetts. The program provides information and referral to programs and professionals knowledgeable in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Center provides extensive community outreach to schools and community groups to help the community better understand autism. The Center maintains a library of books and videotapes for families and professionals. It also operates a summer camp and provides educational and social opportunities for families, siblings and children with autism. Families are urged to call the Center directly at (508) 835-4278 to inquire about the program in more detail. For information about the Autism Resouce Center of Central Massachusetts visit their website at www.arccm.org.

IFFS- Intensive Family Supports – IFFS program provides support to families with one or more members with a disability who are experiencing significant challenges, which are causing the child/individual to be at risk of out-of-home placement. This is time limited (6 – 12 months) and goal-orientated services providing more focused and intensive supports in response to identified areas of need and difficulty, and to build family capacity to support their child at home. Referrals are made by the local DDS office for the following regions: Worcester, North Central and South Valley.

Family Leadership - The Family Leadership Program is designed to provide education, leadership training and mentoring for families with children and adults with disabilities living in the community. One goal of these activities is to provide information on best practices and opportunities to support individuals and families to fully participate in all aspects of community life. Family leadership training and mentoring is developed and provided by family members who have a child or adult family member with a disability. HMEA sponsors a Family Leadership Series several times throughout the year. Below are the next Family Leadership Series:

The Family Leadership Series is organized into three, two-day workshops and the following dates are scheduled for the upcoming series: February 10 & 11, March 16 & 17 and May 4 & 5, 2012.
Family Leadership Series applications are available here

Session I of the Series will focus on initiative and leadership. Family members will be given information on leadership, its relevance to the life of families and the implications of using leadership to effect positive change in one’s life

Session II of the Series will focus on creating a vision for the future of our children and family members. The focus will also be on the advocacy and communication necessary to ensure that vision.

The focus of Session III of the Series will be policymaking at the local, state and federal level. Family members will receive information on how to develop networks with professionals and families and how to use legislative change to procure resources. Families will also learn a variety of strategies to decrease stress and increase satisfaction.

Food and overnight lodging for each participant will be paid for by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). There will be NO COST to you to attend this series!!

For additional information please email: FL@hmea.org

If you have questions or want more information about Family Supportl Services please don't hesitate to contact Jule Noack, Chief Operating Office and Senior Vice President of Adult Services at 508.298-1130 or email her at jnoack@hmea.org.

HMEA Administrative Office • 8 Forge Park East • Franklin, MA 02038
telephone: 508.298.1100 fax: 508.298.1400 email: hmea@hmea.org