Family Support Center
The Family Support Center (FSC) of People Incorporated is the family support center designated to serve the Greater Fall River area by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS). The Center provides assistance to children and adults with an intellectual or developmental disability who are living with their family in the community.
Our goal is to support individuals and their families with the information and resources they need to meet their goals for a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Family Support Center Services include
Information and Referral
Information about community services is available through phone and in-person consultation with a Family Support Advocate.
Service Navigation
Short-term service navigation is available to any family that feels they are in need of short-term individualized support for assistance with specific issues including guardianship and eligibility.
Extended Service Navigation
Requires a referral from the Department of Developmental Services and offers support over an extended period of time.
Family Support Groups & Networking
The FSC encourages supportive relationships between families through participation in support groups and networking opportunities.
Respite
Respite is intended to provide temporary relief to caregivers. Respite is available on a short-term, emergency, and planned basis. Respite has also been expanded to include a variety of community activities, classes, events, outings, camp, and hotel weekends. Caregiver respite is also available for caregivers themselves, where caregivers come together as a group for support and participate in relaxing and fun activities.
ASD Women's Group
Our ASD Women's Group organizes dinners, activities, and outings for women with DDS services.
Individual Supports
Individual supports are flexible and tailored to each individual, and can include assistance with: Tasks of daily living, budgeting and managing money, coordinating appointments and attending medical visits and arranging and attending leisure time activities.
Agency with Choice (AWC)
AWC is a self-direction service designed for individuals 22 years or older where the individual supported and their family work with a Family Navigator to build a program based on their vision and needs. The family Navigator partnered with individuals and their families to: Identify goals, recruit, hire and train staff, process payments and reimbursements for eligible goods and services, monitor budget spending and service delivery, identify community services and supports and provide updates to DDS on ISP goals and budget spending.
Family Training and Workshops
Family Training and Workshops are open to all families of children and adults with developmental disabilities. These educational opportunities provide information on a wide array of topics including educational rights, accessing benefits, and information on other areas of concern.
Family Advisory Council
We view families as the experts concerning the needs of their family members. The Council advises the Center on new programming and services, plans and provides support for events and recreational activities, and assists with outreach to other families and the community.
Social/Recreational Opportunities for Children, Adults, and Families
The FSC offers an array of activities and events for children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities, a recreational program for youth, and additional special activities for young adults.
Community Supports
Our Community Supports program has provided support for adults with developmental disabilities to participate in small group community outings for more than 30 years. Individuals choose from a monthly calendar of activities.
DESE Transitional
Our DESE Transitional program is for individuals who have turned 22 years old, will soon, or have graduated from high school with special education services. The individual should be DDS eligible or have been DDS child-eligible. The transition program offers free monthly events, advocacy, and service navigation for the Fall River Area.
The Day Trip Squad
The Day Trip Squad is a group of like-minded individuals who currently have DDS approval of ASD-only services. The squad participates in social outings in the community, encouraging healthy lifestyle habits and positive interactions.
DESE/DDS
This program is a collaboration between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) for eligible students ages 6-21 years. The primary goal of this program is to support families with the proper resources so that their child is able to remain in their family home and community, by ensuring that there is a continuation of supports provided to the child in the home, in school and out in the community. The program provides students and their families: opportunity to have in-home supports which may include senior level therapists and skills trainers, a dedicated navigator agency to identify and hire staff, life long skills development and opportunities to practice skills in their home setting and community.
For more information about this service, please contact:
1 Father DeValles Blvd
Suite 401
Fall River, MA 02723
(774) 488 5325 tel
(508) 679 6211 fax