The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDS) is excited to share information about its Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP), a resource for people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families.

 

This information is designed to help students and caregivers identify the first steps in navigating Virginia's DD system. This includes resources, supports, and services that the Commonwealth offers to people with DD, such as:

 

• how to access Virginia's Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Developmental Disability Waiver (Medicaid HCBS DD Waiver),

• the IFSP's one-stop informational website, My Life, My Community, where anyone can also access electronic versions of the "IFSP: First Steps" document,

• a detailed overview of the IFSP, and

• an updated list of resources for people who are on Virginia's waiting list for a Medicaid HCBS DD Waiver (the Waitlist).

 

We recognize that navigating the DD system can be challenging for students, their families, and for professionals like yourselves. We hope that the resources in this message can help you better link students with disabilities to resources and the system.

 

We also encourage you to share this information with students and their families so that they can connect with the resources featured here. If you have further questions or want to connect with us at the IFSP, we invite you to visit our website at https://mylifemycommunityvirginia.org. You can also email us at IFSPSupport@dbhds.virginia.gov, or call us at 844-603-9248 to request additional information.