Posted 11:32 pm Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Grants awarded to 2 East Texas services for the disabled
Staff Reports
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities has awarded two grants to organizations in East Texas to improve community-based services for people with disabilities and their families.
“I am pleased that the Council has awarded these grants to help people with developmental disabilities reach their full potential,” state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, said in a news release. “I look forward to hearing the success stories.”
The council awarded $74,640 to the East Texas Center for Independent Living for one year and $75,000 to Community Healthcore for 18 months, according to the release.
The East Texas Independent Living Center will establish a network of individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members, mental health authorities, human service providers, educators, and medical, vocational and transportation providers to create a strategic plan.
The plan will focus on people with developmental disabilities who are at risk of institutional placement and live in Tyler, Athens, Jacksonville, Canton, Henderson, Mineola and surrounding rural communities.
Community Healthcore’s project will focus on Gregg County first, then Harrison, Marion, Panola and Upshur counties.
Its strategic plan will have a special emphasis on three areas: respite services, culturally appropriate individual- and family-friendly health care and behavioral supports.
It will use a community-building model that focuses on discovering and mobilizing existing assets.
Once the plans are done, each organization can request more funding from TCDD for up to five years to implement its plan.
Visit www.tcdd.texas.gov or call 1-800-262-0334 for more information.