ADD Core Funding Grant

Administration on Developmental Disabilities
Because California is one of the largest and most diverse states in the nation (34 million citizens, over 40 languages and dialects, 58 counties) with a complex system of services ($3.7 billion industry with 21 regional centers statewide coordinating and purchasing services for over 200,000 clients across the lifespan, a DD Council with 13 Area Boards, 4 Protection & Advocacy Agencies statewide, 29 independent living centers, and numerous state agencies coordinating services which IWDDs must access), all of the work of the USC UCEDD is done in partnership with local, state, and consumer organizations and we are strategic in how we use our core funding. Through our ongoing needs assessment and participation on numerous coalitions, advisory boards, and task forces, we select priorities and targets for programs which address gaps in services, emerging needs, or require inter-agency coordination, i.e., avoiding duplication of efforts, leveraging existing resources, and maximizing our impact. Given this context, the USC UCEDD has targeted the following areas of impact: civic engagement (including voting, volunteerism, and service learning), special education (disproportionality, inclusive service learning, spec. ed. legal and advocacy services), early intervention and child care, justice for victims with DD, transition, access to health care for children and adults, access to services for communities of color, building the capacity of parent and consumer organizations to shape systems of service, parents and consumers in the DD workforce, end of life care for people with disabilities, and aging caregivers of people with DD. We promote systemic change through personnel preparation and training (pre-service and in-service), technical assistance to a broad array of local/state programs/agencies, strengthening the voice of consumers in shaping responsive policies and systems of service, development and dissemination of standards and replicable practices. The USC UCEDD has three Centers which provide a strong infrastructure for meeting the intent of the DD Act through a diversified set of activities. Our Center for Mental Health Outcomes provides direct services to children and adolescents with or at risk for poor mental health outcomes and administers an APA accredited psychology training program. The CHILD Center is home to the UCEDD's LEND inter-disciplinary leadership training program preparing leaders to serve and shape systems for children with special health care needs and disabilities, connects the UCEDD to Title V and related programs, and administers grants focusing on this population. The Center for Disability Studies and Community Inclusion administers the ADD Core grant, developing and coordinating programs and projects which address lifespan issues with a specific focus on DD and related service systems. We expand content of the LEND training program to include information on adult and aging issues and connect LEND trainees to the other service systems impacting the lives of people with developmental disabilities (e.g., criminal justice, civic engagement, deinstitutionalization, etc.). The common theme that runs through all of our activities is to strengthen the voice of consumers and family members and underserved populations in shaping policies and services which are responsive to their needs and preferences.