First In Families of North Carolina

FIF Chapters providing family support through Alliance Health (AH) are Cumberland FIF, Central Carolina FIF, Johnston FIF, Mecklenburg FIF, and Wake FIF. All the FIF local Chapters help people with developmental and other disabilities to create the lives they aspire to now and for the future. Families or individuals apply for assistance to meet a short-term or long-term goal or obtain needed goods or services. Most of those assisted do not receive formal services; 1,463 families [or 78% ] this year did not get help through the Medicaid waiver. Families are offered opportunities to give back to other families at the time they apply for assistance or later on; reciprocity by families served ("gave back") for FY21-22 was: 17 families donated goods; 55 families donated time, and 2 families donated money. FIF partners with the business community and other families previously served, to meet the need of the applicant at the lowest possible cost. Through such assistance, the need is met, and public awareness is developed as well. Each Chapter is governed by a grassroots local Management Team comprised of people with disabilities, their family members, and invested community members. Requests fulfilled fall into and are measured within 35 categories of support, for example, Adaptive Equipment and Parts, Sensory Support, Camp, or Assistive Technology. Requests are met through the matching of public funding with additional support from private local businesses, foundations, or private citizens. The Central Carolina, Wake, Cumberland, Johnston, and Mecklenburg chapters met 1,080 requests from 725 (unduplicated) families last year, including 232 of whom were completely new to FIF (never previously assisted).

FIF received new funding from NC DMH to start a completely new chapter, called FIF- Eastern NC, covering 17 counties in the Northeast and 11 counties in the Southeast. The new chapter launched in April, and in three months met 104 requests for 83 families.

The Statewide Cross-Area Special Program includes the Quality Assurance and Technical Assistance program (QATA), the Lifeline Project, and the Lifetime Connections program. QATA provides oversight and guidance, technical assistance, strategic planning, maintenance of strong management teams, new staff training, an annual assessment through Core Indicators of Chapter Health, and a comprehensive family support database to all 13 FIF Chapters statewide, including the 10 managed directly by FIFNC. This assistance ensures high-quality, customer-led family support and adherence to the FIF model. QATA support in FY21-22 included 15 on-site Chapter visits to meet with staff and management teams (policy-setting group), 12 monthly calls with all chapters, 164 one-to-one Technical Assistance requests resolved, and 1 chapter staff training event. The Lifeline Project provides family support to individuals and families who live in NC Counties not covered by an FIF chapter (35 at beginning of FY, reducing to 10 by end of FY with the incorporation of 25 counties into brand new or existing chapters). All 13 Chapters scored over 80% on Core Indicators of Chapter Health (benchmark is 75% of the chapters scoring over 80%). In FY21-22, Lifeline Project helped 100 families with 109 requests, statewide. Lifetime Connections provides future planning support to families who are planning for their child's or sibling's well-being when they are no longer able to provide the support and advocacy needed for successful community life. This includes two core services, Future Planning meetings, and a Personal Network for each member family. Families are assisted to put a comprehensive plan in place, including will(s), special needs trust, and letter of intent, and to develop Personal Networks for current (and future) quality of life and peace of mind. In FY21-22, due to Covid, the Lifetime Connections program provided meetings or direct conversations with member families via phone or zoom meeting. Lifetime Connections actively supports 23 volunteers who support Personal Networks for 6 member families in 4 counties. These volunteers provide advice, goal-setting, and friendship.

Triad and Foothills Chapters funded through Partners LME/MCO assisted 158 families in 12 counties last year, fulfilling 141 requests. 50 of these families were completely new to First In Families. The Blue Ridge, Five County, and Southern Piedmont Chapters funded through Vaya LME/MCO assisted 313 families last year, fulfilling 379 requests. 117 of these families were completely new to First In Families. These three Chapters assisted residents across 32 counties.