ABOUT US
LIFSSAC BOARD MEMBERS
MICHAEL BUFFA, Co-Chair
ALISON GIANGREGORIO, Co-Chair
GERI ATHENAS, Corresponding Secretary
JILL MURPHY, Recording Secretary
CONRAD BERGMANN, Treasurer
MARISSA BENNETT, Information Technology Officer
MICHAEL BUFFA, Co-Chair
ALISON GIANGREGORIO, Co-Chair
GERI ATHENAS, Corresponding Secretary
JILL MURPHY, Recording Secretary
CONRAD BERGMANN, Treasurer
MARISSA BENNETT, Information Technology Officer
MARY FASANO
BOB POLICASTRO
RALPH WARREN
Who are the members of the Advisory Councils?
Membership to the Council is open to any volunteers who have a family member
with a developmental disability or to an individuals with a developmental disability.
Family members are eligible even if their relative with a developmental disability
no longer lives at home or is deceased. Family members who are service providers
are also eligible for membership. Family Support Services Advisory Council
members are parents and family members just like you.
It is the goal of the Advisory Council to advocate on behalf of all families who have family
members with a developmental disability and to continually improve the quality of services
for individuals and families throughout New York State. Local Councils welcome new members
and strive for representation of all cultures, ages, levels of need and geographic distribution.
What is the role of the Advisory Council?
The Council's role is to provide a strong voice for individuals and families
What is the role of the Advisory Council?
The Council's role is to provide a strong voice for individuals and families
on the local level, working with and through the DDRO to plan, develop and
monitor Family Support Services in that area.
What is the Advisory Council's goal?
It is the goal of the Advisory Council to evaluate current Family Support Services
programs to determine whether they meet the needs of families and individuals who are
receiving the services, and to provide direct input regarding program viability, assessing
whether or not each one should be renewed based on its merits and performance record.
To achieve this goal, the Advisory Council members review Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
What is the Advisory Council's goal?
It is the goal of the Advisory Council to evaluate current Family Support Services
programs to determine whether they meet the needs of families and individuals who are
receiving the services, and to provide direct input regarding program viability, assessing
whether or not each one should be renewed based on its merits and performance record.
To achieve this goal, the Advisory Council members review Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
submitted by agencies for new funding, as well as Requests for Renewals Proposals (RFRPs)
submitted by agencies seeking to renew previously funded programs. The Community Council
seeks to increase community outreach and to promote awareness of Family Support Services
programs in their local areas.
How do Advisory Councils evaluate community needs and Family Support Services programs?
Evaluation and review is accomplished in many ways; however, it is common practice for
Councils to send surveys to families and conduct site visits to Family Support Services
funded programs. Whenever possible, The Council assists the DDRO in reviewing each program
How do Advisory Councils evaluate community needs and Family Support Services programs?
Evaluation and review is accomplished in many ways; however, it is common practice for
Councils to send surveys to families and conduct site visits to Family Support Services
funded programs. Whenever possible, The Council assists the DDRO in reviewing each program
annually before renewal, and meets with agencies regarding program review as appropriate.
What process is used to choose proposals that will be funded?
Councils recommend priorities for programs to DDRO directors. Priorities are derived by
reviewing the Developmental Disabilities Profile 4 (DDP4) which is OPWDD's needs
assessment form, and also gains input from family members, individuals served, providers,
local government representatives, advocates and other concerned individuals. The Councils
review all proposals submitted and each one is rated according to local priorities.
OUR MISSION
The Long Island Family Support Services Advisory Council:
Councils recommend priorities for programs to DDRO directors. Priorities are derived by
reviewing the Developmental Disabilities Profile 4 (DDP4) which is OPWDD's needs
assessment form, and also gains input from family members, individuals served, providers,
local government representatives, advocates and other concerned individuals. The Councils
review all proposals submitted and each one is rated according to local priorities.
OUR MISSION
The Long Island Family Support Services Advisory Council:
Provides the Long Island Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (LIDDRO) with an individual
and family oriented vision of family support services and family centered feedback on services
Advises the LIDDRO on all family support policy matters as they relate to needs,
resources, program design, and monitoring
Assists the LIDDRO in long term policy issues related to families
Provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on exemplary and innovative service delivery
Advises the LIDDRO on all family support policy matters as they relate to needs,
resources, program design, and monitoring
Assists the LIDDRO in long term policy issues related to families
Provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on exemplary and innovative service delivery
The Long Island Family Support Services Advisory Council Believes:
Families are the greatest natural resource available to individuals and are the major
providers of support, care, and training of individuals living at home
Individuals with disabilities need enduring family relationships in a nurturing home
Each family is unique, can define its own needs, and must be involved in the planning and
evaluation of family supports
Family support must address the total family, not just the individual with a disability
Family support must be easily accessible, culturally sensitive, flexible, and individualized
Family supports must be designed to promote independence and the inclusion in natural
community settings of the individual with disabilities
A coordinated, statewide system of core services and choices must be made available to all families
Family Support Services may include:
Respite – Day, Evening, Weekend, Overnight in or out of the family home
Information, Referral and Outreach
Family and Individual Counseling
Family Member Training
Recreation – Day, Evening, Summer/Day Camp
Transportation
Sibling Services
Service Coordination
Reimbursement for Purchase of Goods and Services
Crisis Intervention
Home Modification
Advocacy
Behavior Management
Financial and Life Planning Assistance
Families are the greatest natural resource available to individuals and are the major
providers of support, care, and training of individuals living at home
Individuals with disabilities need enduring family relationships in a nurturing home
Each family is unique, can define its own needs, and must be involved in the planning and
evaluation of family supports
Family support must address the total family, not just the individual with a disability
Family support must be easily accessible, culturally sensitive, flexible, and individualized
Family supports must be designed to promote independence and the inclusion in natural
community settings of the individual with disabilities
A coordinated, statewide system of core services and choices must be made available to all families
Family Support Services may include:
Respite – Day, Evening, Weekend, Overnight in or out of the family home
Information, Referral and Outreach
Family and Individual Counseling
Family Member Training
Recreation – Day, Evening, Summer/Day Camp
Transportation
Sibling Services
Service Coordination
Reimbursement for Purchase of Goods and Services
Crisis Intervention
Home Modification
Advocacy
Behavior Management
Financial and Life Planning Assistance