Family Support Services – Vinfen’s Family Support Services is a comprehensive array of services that are directed provide specific individualized family supports and navigation of the provider system to ensure families get the resources and information they need to care for their family members. 

Family Advisory Council is a volunteer advisory committee that provides support and guidance to Vinfen in the areas of policy, systems and program development to ensure  that family partnerships are developed and respected.

Vinfen Corporation is a provider of Family Support Services for 24 years is the home of one of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Family Support Centers for the Metro Boston areas. Our Family Support Center is located at our fully accessible site at 1208 VFW Parkway, Building C, Suite 1, Office 5, West Roxbury, MA 02132. The center serves as the central point of contact for all the families and individuals seeking services and information through-out Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop, Revere, and Brookline.

English and Spanish speaking staff is on site at the center Monday-Friday, typically from 9am to 7pm and families are able to access staff through our on-call system when the Center is not open. To contact the center staff call (617) 562-4088 or email grinffins@vinfen.org or MIRIAMA@vinfen.org.

The Family Support Center offers individuals and families six specific services options:

  • information and referral
  • service navigation
  • family trainings
  • parent networking
  •  community connection and resources
  •  administration of flexible funding

Guided by our Family Support program principles, Vinfen’s Family Support Center case managers assist individuals and families with comprehensive and individualized short-term and extended Service Navigation supports.

Our efforts are driven by the belief that families are experts regarding their strengths, competencies, and needs and know best how they would like to be supported to provide for their family member with a disability. The center’s case managers work to formulate choices and partnerships, with the individuals and their family members; that are grounded in proactive and reciprocal communication, dignity and respect for the individual being supported.

All families are invited to participate and to drive the planning process for the topics offered.

These service elements provide the framework for the implementation of DDS operating principles for guiding family support and vision of self-determination.

Information and Referral
Assistance to identify and locate timely and accurate information on resources and services available within the community and state that is responsive to the varied needs of families and individuals.

Service Navigation
The Family Support Center provides short-term service navigation responsive to the needs of the families and individuals focusing on a time limited, individualized assistance with information, referral, or assistance with a specific problem. The Family Support Center also provide extended service navigation for families and individuals identified by DDS who would benefit from on-going support and coordination of services and the development of a  comprehensive family support plan that prioritizes the needs of the individual and the family and provides assistance in navigating the service system.

Family Trainings
The Family Support Center offers quarterly family service orientation and informational sessions and bi monthly education and trainings designed to promote self direction and choice.  Trainings facilitated by the Family Support Center promotes and empowers individuals and families to become skilled, confident, positive leaders through partnerships with DDS, the Center, and the community at large.  Information sessions and trainings are held at multiple sites through out the area served. These informational sessions acquaint individuals and families with the function and purpose of the Family Support Center as well as provide information on DDS and how to navigate the system.

Parent Networking
The Family Support Center focus is the development of services that allow families to share their expertise with other families and staff, including parent networking and parent-to-parent connections.   Our Family Support has also developed a long standing parent group that meets quarterly that addresses education, social, recreational, and service issues.

Vinfen’s Family Advisory Council has a proven track record in the development of viable family to family relationships including mentoring and peer support.   

Community Connections and Resources
The Family Support Center develops partnerships and identify and engage in collaborative activities with community organizations and Provider Agencies. The program embedded in the communities served assisting families and individuals to choose generic or specialized supports from local vendors and facilities such as respite care, healthcare goods, support services, and transportation that are readily available in their communities and social connections.  Vinfen’s Family Support Program has an extensive history of coordinating community resources and facilitating participation in generic and specialized activities.

Administration of flexible funding
The Family Support Center has the capacity  to administer flexible funding allocations for families or individuals identified as eligible by DDS through using a computerized tracking system for managing these allocations.

Vinfen’s Family Support program has a long history of providing oversight of flexible funding for families. The Family Support Center will manage the individual resource allocations that ensure both compliance with DDS, state, and federal rules as well as ensures the spending is reflective of the new community waiver requirements.

Helpful Links for Information and Referrals

  • Department of Developmental Services
    65 Sprague Street
    Hyde Park, MA 02136
    www.mass.gov

State Agencies www.mass.gov (DDS, Mass Health, PCA’s, SSI, DPH 

 Legal Assistance

 Educational Assistance

 Community Inclusion

—       Vinfen Corporation is qualified under SSQUAL-10 and wishes to deliver, facilitate or arrange the following array of services available to Program participants.

Services available to Adults only

   Respite in the family home

   Respite in the home of the individual

   Adult Companion Services

   Individualized Home Supports

   Homemaker Services

   Chore Services

Services available to both Adults and Children

   Community Family Training

   Family Navigation

   Community Peer Supports

 Services Available to Children

   Respite in the family home

Community Waiver Services

Include definition of community waiver