Jessica Burns, BA; Michelle Reynolds, PhD TIPS for Kids, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

1. .W.8 Accessing Federally Funded Programs for Families of Children with Disabilities Jessica Burns, BA; Michelle Reynolds, PhD TIPS for Kids, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO Introduction Today, more than 4.7 million United States citizens are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Only twenty-five percent of these individuals receive formal disability services; often, these services are long term. Although our government has enacted laws to provide these services and reduce the demands on families of children with disabilities, navigating this system can be an overwhelming and intimidating process. Purpose To analyze the structure and location of family specific funded programs in Missouri. One factor that contributes to lack of integration of services is the variation of government departments and programs through which services are available. For example, the Office of Special Education Programs, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, and the Center for Mental Health Services are all funded under different government divisions. Methods Beginning in January 2012, Missouri programs specific for family-support outcomes were researched. Documents were developed comparing program structure across states, identifying and highlighting available resources, and explaining to families the organizational structure of federally funded programs. Untangling the Web: Navigating Resource Systems and Accessibility The Census Bureau estimates that greater than nine percent of households in the United States are caring for a child with a disability and facing the challenge of determining and accessing resources. These families report that they spend up to 80 hours a week providing support and coordinating care for their loved one. Many services may exist that would be beneficial to the family and the individual with special needs, but significant emotional, physical, social, and financial demands further restrain caregivers from accessing the already complicated system. Conclusion Navigating the available services for an individual with a disability throughout the life span can be a complicated and challenging process. Furthermore, each state has different accessibility and availability. Nine federally funded programs were identified in the state of Missouri. Across states, many services available are accessed through a university setting. State of Missouri: Resources Identified