Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change

CHAPTER 171 OF THE ACTS OF 2002

An Act Providing Support to Individuals with Disabilities

and Their Families.

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Purpose

Chapter 171 gives individuals with disabilities and their families a voice in crucial decisions being made about their lives. is about providing a variety of flexible home and community supports that help families stay together and live a life outside of institutions.

What Does it Do?

Chapter 171 requires each agency to develop an annual Individual

and Family Support plan with specific objectives using substantial consultation from individuals and families.

provides consumer developed guidelines for agencies to use when developing needed supports.

The seven (7) State agencies named in the Chapter 171 law

Department of Developmental ServicesDepartment of Mental HealthDepartment of Public HealthMassachusetts Commission for the BlindMassachusetts Commission for the Deaf and

Hard of HearingMassachusetts Rehabilitation CommissionMassHealth

Why is Chapter 171 Important?

Good supports are essential for people with disabilities to live in their own homes.

Individuals and families involvement in the planning and evaluation of supports will help eliminate inappropriate, wasteful or badly run services.

Current program structures are not flexible enough to meet unique needs.

Individuals and families must be involved in planning, development and implementation of supports.

What does Flexible Individual & Family

Support mean?

Flexible Supports are whatever it takes to…

help families live together. create a meaningful and enriching life for

the individual. help the individual develop relationships

and build friendships with people in his/her community.

FLEXIBLE SUPPORTS Examples of “Flexible supports” listed in the Chapter 171 Law: coordination and facilitation of support services; counseling and information; person-centered planning; home adaptations; assistive technology financial assistance; respite adaptive equipment and clothing; transportation, including vehicle modification; recreation and leisure activities; life planning; special dietary supplements and medical equipment and maintenance; mental health treatment; and advocacy training.

FLEXIBLE SUPPORTS What would flexible supports look like if they were truly flexible and met your individual/family needs?

Think “outside the box”, do not limit your ideas to currently available

services and supports!

CHAPTER 171 Requirements

Substantial Consultation

Annual Agency Individual & Family Support Plans (Action Plan)

Legislative Review and Monitoring

Substantial Consultation

Substantial consultation can be obtained from, but not limited to:Advisory BoardsSurveysFocus Groups-Listening SessionsMeetings with Individuals and Families

Annual Agency Individual/Family Support Plans (Action Plans)

Agency Action Plans

need to be written using the substantial consultation received throughout the year.

explain how the department intends to provide flexible supports.

Written in Chapter 171… “each department shall seek creative and

innovative ways to provide flexible supports..”

Interagency collaboration along with public and private partnerships.

Create opportunities for individuals and families to oversight of, input and development of policies and programs.

Specific long and short-term objectives, strategies for implementing accessible and flexible supports, as well as, ways for individuals and families to monitor progress of previous years plan.

Each action plan must include goals that address, at the “minimum”:

Each action plan must include goals that address, at the “minimum”:

Enable full participation of individuals and their families in community life – respecting all cultures. Expand the capacity of community services to include individuals by training and educating community service providers. Empower individuals and ensure their active leadership and advocacy through education, leadership development and training.

Legislative Review and Monitoring

Plans are written and submitted to the Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Joint Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs and House and Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Plans must be submitted by August 1st of each year.

Implementation of Chapter 171

Review this year’s Agency Action Plans

Contact the Agency Liaison to learn how you can participate in giving substantial consultation

Give feedback and comments on Agency Action Plans

Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change

Our Vision is one of empowerment for individual and family support that includes

planning, choices and decision-making.

www.mfofc.org