What are Family Support Services?

Family Support Services will help families who have children (either biological or adopted) who have been diagnosed with developmental disabilities (including adult children still living at home). Family Support Services offer many family activities, development of family skills, education and consultation services. All services are geared toward maintaining the children in the family home. Services may include financial support to the family or reimbursement for respite care. Services may also vary from family to family and are based on individual family need.

Who can benefit from Family Support Services?

Family Support Services are extended to families who have developmentally disabled children living at home.

How do Family Support Services help an individual or family?

In most cases, the healthiest option for families who have children with developmental disabilities is to keep them living in the family home. The family may be headed by a natural parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian. Services are based on each family's specific needs. Services may include: Family Support Subsidy: Can help you successfully maintain your child in your home by financially subsidizing some of the additional expenses required in caring for your child. Children must be diagnosed as severely mentally impaired (SMI), severely multiply impaired (SXI), or autistically impaired (AI) and be under the age of (eighteen) 18. Family Skills Development: Education and counseling for families who are caring for and/or are living with a family member who has a developmental disability. Respite Care Services: Provides families with temporary relief from caring for their developmentally disabled child or family member.

How can you access Family Support Services?

You may call (989) 895-2300 or 1-800-327-4693 for additional information about this program. To request a service or make a referral, call the Access Alliance of Michigan (a division of Bay-Arenac Community Mental Health) at 1-800-448-5498.