Family Support

Volunteers of America, Dakotas serves as the fiscal agent for six family support programs in Sioux Falls and collaborates with the Division of Developmental Disabilities to provide these services. Family support programs provide service coordination and financial assistance to families with individuals with developmental disabilities living at home. Each program serves approximately 40 families. The family support coordinators assist families in developing their individualized plans and assist in accessing a broad range of service supports to meet the families' needs. The coordinator also provides follow-along support and is available to assist during crises or when the needs of the family change. Often times, the coordinator will act as an advocate for the family, reducing stress that accompanies this task.

In addition to service coordination and advocacy, families also receive financial assistance with extraordinary expenses as identified in their plan. These supports are centered on the entire family, not just the individual with the disability.

Application

CHOICES Residential Services

CHOICES service components include:

• Residential services
• Independent living training
• Educational services
• Therapeutic and psychiatric services (individual, group, and family)

Volunteers of America, Dakotas - CHOICES residential program serves adolescents and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral/emotional or psychiatric disorders. The South Dakota Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities has certified the program as a Community Support Provider. As such, the division periodically reviews CHOICES for home- and community-based services certification and compliance with the administrative rules of South Dakota. In 2022, CHOICES once again received the highest level of national certification available from The Council on Quality and Leadership.