The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

This session begins with an overview of this comprehensive tertiary level service delivery model of intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The process developed at the West Virginia Autism Training Center was funded in part, by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and named “The Family Focus Positive Support (FFPBS) Process.”  Critical components of the process are 1) family and person-centered planning, 2) support teams comprised of family, school personnel/employers and others involved in the focus family’s life, 3) training for support teams through educational workshops related to best practices in autism intervention, and 4) the development and implementation of a comprehensive and individual support plan for each focus family. Also included on the team is a community partner who is a parent of a child on the autism spectrum and lends a variety of parent to parent support. The session describes each step in the process and present strategies that assist implementers in maintaining momentum and documenting progress.

1) Participants will learn the five critical components of this intensive level support model for families 2) Participants will identify at least three outcomes families are realizing after participating in FFSASD 3) Participants will evaluate how this support approach is implemented and can be replicated by school district, other agencies and states

     The Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project (IATTAP) participated in workshop training with the West Virginia Autism Training Center in 2004.  The process was then successfully replicated with some modification in Illinois beginning in 2005. IATTAP worked with over 300 teams and used an on-line system developed specifically for this process. This system is used both dynamically during the intervention to guide data-based, decision-making and post-intervention to provide information and analysis regarding student and family outcomes.  Statistically significant improvements were realized in Student Placement Risk, Academic and Behavioral Classroom Functioning, Family Stressors and Family Quality of Life. The session includes outcome description and data for a case study family.

With loss of state funding, the Focus Family process was redesigned as one that can be implemented by school districts and family/social service agencies. Information will be presented on what is needed for schools and agencies to implement this process for families with whom they work. Although the model was developed with a focus on families of children with ASD, this process is useful for adults with disabilities and families with children with other disabilities in need of a team-based, person-centered-planning process.

      In this era of limited and reduced funding in family and disability services, it is critical to be creative in designing supports that are effective and efficient.  Focus Family is a support model that intensely supports families initially, builds a team and support plan and then transitions to independent team support to continue and expand the improvement in the families’ lives.  Working with the family rather than just the individual results in benefits to each family member, the entire family realizes goals and a stronger unit is created in order to continue future benefit.