NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council Announces Grants

ALBANY, NY (03/24/2008)(readMedia)-- New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) awards $49,000 to the Consortium on Innovative Practices.

George E. Fertal, Sr., Chairperson, today announced that on March 13th, 2008 the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) awarded funds to the Consortium on Innovative Practices for the second of a potential three years to conduct a technical assistance project to support and evaluate the congregational inclusion effort in the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office (CNYDDSO) region of New York State.

Over the past ten years, there has been a good deal of research indicating individuals with developmental disabilities both value and benefit from religious practice and participation in a faith community. The CNYDDSO has committed to identifying information about a person’s spiritual and/or religious desires through the individualized planning process. If a spiritual/religious valued outcome is identified, the service delivery system will develop the necessary supports. Service coordinators will receive training in how to effectively assist individuals who choose congregational inclusions to achieve this valued outcome.

The DDPC contracted with the Consortium on Innovative Practices to research, support and evaluate the Congregational Inclusion project in the CNYDDSO catchment area to assess the impact of including participation in congregational life in the individualized planning process for individuals who wished to do so. This project will evaluate the impact on three separate and distinct groups: individuals with DD (and their families), Service Delivery System, and Religious Congregations.

Marcey Dolgoff, Project Director Spirit Project, Consortium on Innovative practices, states, “The enthusiasm and interest in the Spirit Project has been energizing and makes for a very conducive environment as we prepare to implement the pilot. We witnessed this first in the 200+ attendees at the Religious Needs Conference last fall. Probably the best reflection of this is that we had received over thirty referrals of individuals interested in participating in the pilot before we were officially accepting referrals!”

“What is as equally exciting is knowing that we have the opportunity to ultimately create change in the system that not only will enhance the quality of life for individuals, but will also establish a model for enhanced collaboration between those who professionally and informally support individuals receiving services from the system. While we are not in totally uncharted waters, the innovation of the model is centered in the conviction of Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and DDPC leadership that the inclusion and support of faith-based activities is just as natural and valuable in an individual’s service plan as activities that promote health and safety. We believe this will be key to the success and replication of the Spirit Project across the state and potentially across the country. “

The DDPC is a federally funded state agency dedicated to designing and implementing new programs that serve New Yorkers with Developmental disabilities and their families in the most effective way possible. Sixty percent of the Governor-appointed membership of the DDPC is parents and people with developmental disabilities. For more information on the DDPC, go to: www.ddpc.state.ny.us.

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