Programs and Services
Talking Points - Background
Background
In 1972-73, Pennsylvania initiated a pilot program to provide family support services pursuant to section 301e(3) of the 1966 MH/MR Act relating to the authority of the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and County Administrators to "establish services or programs to prevent disability or the necessity of admitting or committing the disabled to a facility." The pilot program expanded and Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to have a statewide program, but limited only to those with a mental retardation diagnosis.
In 1987, the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PDDC) used its federal funds to initiate four pilot programs for providing such services to families who had children with developmental disabilities other than mental retardation. These projects continued for several years and were evaluated by an independent research organization with very favorable results. However, they were discontinued and services to families were terminated due to the limited authority of the PDDC to fund programs beyond a pilot basis and the lack of any statutory authority to fund such programs with state funds. Consequently, the PDDC proposed a new project to draft legislation using state funds for family support services regardless of the categorical nature of the disability ("cross-disability"), and to promote its adoption.
United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania (UCP of PA) was awarded the project and began in late 1996. United Cerebral Palsy created an Advisory Committee that brought together the views of parents of children with disabilities, adults with disabilities, state policy makers, representatives of disability organizations, and state and local elected officials. In addition to the Advisory Committee, nearly three dozen regional forums were conducted throughout the state to obtain additional input from persons concerned about children with disabilities and their families.
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