Programs and Services
Talking Points - Do Family Support Services Work?
YES. Pennsylvania's own program of family support services, limited to those families with a person with mental retardation, helps over 19,000 families each year. In an independent evaluation of the program, nearly two-thirds of the families reported that family support services helped keep the family together and made a positive difference in the life of the family. Over 20 percent of the families who received family support services had originally applied for out of home placement of their child and changed their mind with support services being available.
Pennsylvania was a leader in passing the Family Caregivers Act in 1990 providing grants to families who care for an older person in their home. The Commonwealth has steadily increased funding for this program since its inception.
Over 60 percent of the states have recognized the value of cross-disability family support services by adopting state statutes and funding services. This includes most of the states that border Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania needs to join their ranks!
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