General Information

What is the Family Involvement Fund?

The Family Involvement Fund (FIF) is a reimbursement fund that supports family members of children with disabilities to learn more about their child’s disability and the systems that provide services.

Families may choose to attend conferences, conventions, workshops, public forums or hearings, task force meetings, or other similar activities. Families may also choose to access training and information through online workshops, teleconferences, or webcasts. In addition, the FIF provides reimbursement for approved purchase of print materials (books, manuals), or other media such as CDs/DVDs, and videos.

Funding is available within the FIF for parents who are asked to participate officially as members on the LPCC-Local Planning and Coordinating Council, its committees, and sponsored activities.

Further, the FIF supports the activities and staffing of the Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Infants and Toddlers (ICC) in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures of the ICC, rather than the FIF guidelines listed below. It is the purpose of the ICC to advise and assist the agency in support of families and children who utilize or may utilize the First Steps Program. Funds utilized for the ICC shall not affect the availability of funds for parent training purposes under the guidelines of the FIF.  

How much is Available from the Family Involvement Fund?

The Family Involvement Fund will reimburse approved applicants up to $250 (for an individual) or $500 (for a family) for the grant year.  Awards are per individual or family, not per child. Amounts are subject to change. Stipends paid for council/committee/ICC/LPCC participation are separate and not deducted from the individual/family total award.

What the Family Involvement Does Not Cover

The FIF does not reimburse for therapies or other developmental services, training for specific therapy modalities or academic course work, the purchase of developmental toys, materials, equipment, etc. for specific use by a child or family, and will not reimburse enrolled providers for expenses related to attendance at a training required for credentialing purposes. This fund is not intended for professionals or non-family members to attend training on the family’s behalf.

Who Can Apply to the Family Involvement Fund?

The Family Involvement Fund is available to families of children with disabilities, ages birth –through 21 years of age. Family includes parents, siblings, grandparents, and other extended family members, foster parents, legal guardians, and educational surrogate parents.

How do I Apply for the Family Involvement Fund?

You may apply online or print an application from the Family-to-Family Website at http://www.inf2f.org/.  You may also call or email to request an application form. Please submit your application at least 30 days prior to the date of the event.

Payer of Last Resort

The Family Involvement Fund is considered a “payer of last resort.” Families are encouraged to seek financial support from other sources before applying to the FIF. Please consider the following:

1) Local community service organizations such as Lions Club, Kiwanis, etc.

2) The Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, Consumer Investment Fund. For information, call 317-232-7700, or go to http://www.in.gov/gpcpd.

3) Check conference materials for information on available scholarships.

4) Check with local/state disability-related organizations and support groups for information on available scholarships.

Guidelines, Requirements, and Limitations

The FIF will reimburse for actual expenses and requires you to submit original receipts. Upon approval, you will receive a letter and the forms you will need to fill out and return after the event.  If your application is determined to be outside the use of this fund, you will receive a letter advising you of this.

Conferences/trainings

• Should the number of applications for any one conference jeopardize the total funding allotment for families, a cap or other reimbursement restrictions may be

           instituted. 

• Families requesting reimbursement for lodging, travel, etc. should provide verification of conference attendance with their paperwork. 

• Mileage is reimbursed at $.44/mile for 1-500 miles; $.22/mile for 501-3,000 miles; $.0 for over 3,000 miles.             

• Reimbursement for meals is a flat rate based on Indiana University guidelines.

Print Materials and Electronic Media 

• Families are encouraged to first contact the Center for Disability Information & Referral (CeDIR), to determine if the needed materials are available for checkout. (See contact information below)

• Print and electronic materials should be related to a family’s need to understand their child’s disability or special needs and/or the systems that provide services, such as early intervention or special education.  

• FIF cannot reimburse for materials purchased for individual child-use such as flash cards, children’s books or videos/DVDs, toys, etc.

Timelines and Procedures

• Applications should be submitted at least 30 days prior to the date of the event.

• Upon approval, you will receive a letter & the forms you will need to fill out & return after the event.
  
  • The FIF will reimburse for actual expenses and requires you to submit original receipts.

• If your application is determined to be outside the use of this fund, you will receive a letter of explanation.

LPCC Activities Stipend

Parents who are requested to participate in formal regional (cluster) LPCC activities may receive a stipend based on the following:

• Must be parents of young children with disabilities under the age of 12;

• Must not be participating with the financial support of another program;

• Events or activities of 4 hours or less/day (including travel) are reimbursed $50;

• Events or activities of more than 4 hours/day (including travel) are reimbursed $100.

• If a parent receives a stipend for requested participation, the stipend amount is not deducted from the $250 per person/$500 per family maximum allowable.  All necessary forms are available from the First Steps Cluster or LPCC Chairperson.

 Contact

Cathy Beard

Family Involvement Fund
Indiana Institute on Disability & Community
2853 E. 10th Street
Bloomington, IN 47408
1-800-825-4733/812-855-6508/TT: 812-855-9396
Fax: 812-855-9630
Email: fif@indiana.edu
Web: http://www.inf2f.org

CeDir Library

812-855-9396 (Voice/TTY)

1-800- 437-7924 (Indiana only; Voice/TTY)

cedir@indiana.edu

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/

The Family Involvement Fund (FIF) is made possible by the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration, Division of Disability & Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) and First Steps Early Intervention System, through a grant to the Indiana Institute on Disability & Community, Early Childhood Center, Indiana University – Bloomington.