Accessing Indiana's NEW Family Involvement Fund

The Family Involvement Fund is a collaborative effort between the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University, Bloomington and First Steps at the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Bureau of Child Development. It is administered by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.

Indiana’s Family Involvement Fund (FIF) provides financial reimbursement for family members of children with disabilities ages birth-21 to further their knowledge and understanding of their child’s disability and/or the programs and services that support their child. Financial assistance may be provided for attending conferences, workshops, public forums or hearings, task force meetings and similar events as well as online trainings and teleconferences. Additionally, the FIF may provide financial reimbursement for the approved purchase of print and electronic media materials such as CD’s, DVD’s and videos.

Funding is also available for parents of children with disabilities, under age 12, who are formally asked to participate as members of their Local Planning and Coordinating Council (LPCC). This is a separate fund administered within the Family Involvement Fund and separate guidelines apply. If a parent receives a stipend to participate in LPCC activities the stipend amount is NOT deducted from the $250 per person/$500 per family maximum allowance per program year (see below).

There is a $250 limit per person or $500 limit per family per program year for the Family Involvement Fund. Monetary limits are subject to change. The program year runs from October 1st thru September 30th. Family is defined as parents, stepparents, siblings, grandparents and other extended family members, legal guardians, foster parents, and educational surrogate parents.

If the FIF request is for purchase of materials, families are encouraged to first contact the Center for Disability Information and Referral (CeDIR) to check if the materials are in their collection. See contact information below. Materials must be related to the families need to understand the disability or the special needs of their child, and/or the service systems involved such as early intervention or special education. The Family Involvement Fund will not reimburse the purchase of materials for individual child use such as flash cards or educational toys.

You may apply online and/or print an application from the Indiana Family to Family web site: http://www.inf2f.org. An application for the FIF can be requested by emailing fif@indiana.edu or calling the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. See contact information below.

The Family Involvement Fund is considered a “payer of last resort”:
- You may be asked if you applied for funds from another source such as the GPCPD Consumer Investment Fund.
- Also consider checking with other disability related organizations and support groups for scholarship information, or local community service organizations such as Kiwanis and Lions Club for programs to help provide financial assistance.
Applications must be received at least 30 days prior to an event.
Upon approval you will receive a letter and the paperwork needed to fill out and return after the event; and if your application is not approved, you will receive a letter of explanation.
If approved for the FIF; you must save and provide all original receipts for your approved expenses.
After the event, to be reimbursed send in these original receipts along with verification of attendance at the event and the FIF paperwork.

Please read the Family Involvement Fund Guidelines in its entirety at http://www.inf2f.org before applying.

For further information about the FIF, please contact Cathy Beard:
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
Early Childhood Center
C/O Family Involvement Fund
2853 E. 10th Street
Bloomington, IN 47408
1-800-825-4733 (Indiana only)
1-812-855-6508
Fax: 1- 812-855-9630
Email: fif@indiana.edu
Web: http://www.inf2f.org

For further information on the CeDIR collection of materials please contact:
Center for Disability Information and Referral
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
2853 E. 10th Street
Bloomington, IN 47408
1-800-437-7924 (Indiana only)
1-812-855-9396 (Voice/TTY)
Fax: 1-812-855-9630
Email: cedir@indiana.edu
Web: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/

Wheeler. (2009). Accessing Indiana’s NEW Family Involvement Fund. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Resource Center for Autism.


	Accessing Indiana’s NEW Family Involvement Fund Contributed by Marci Wheeler The Family Involvement Fund is a collaborative effort between the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University, Bloomington and First Steps at the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Bureau of Child Development. It is administered by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. Indiana’s Family Involvement Fund (FIF) provides financial reimbursement for family members of children with disabilities ages birth-21 to further their knowledge and understanding of their child’s disability and/or the programs and services that support their child. Financial assistance may be provided for attending conferences, workshops, public forums or hearings, task force meetings and similar events as well as online trainings and teleconferences. Additionally, the FIF may provide financial reimbursement for the approved purchase of print and electronic media materials such as CD’s, DVD’s and videos. Funding is also available for parents of children with disabilities, under age 12, who are formally asked to participate as members of their Local Planning and Coordinating Council (LPCC). This is a separate fund administered within the Family Involvement Fund and separate guidelines apply. If a parent receives a stipend to participate in LPCC activities the stipend amount is NOT deducted from the $250 per person/$500 per family maximum allowance per program year (see below). There is a $250 limit per person or $500 limit per family per program year for the Family Involvement Fund. Monetary limits are subject to change. The program year runs from October 1st thru September 30th. Family is defined as parents, stepparents, siblings, grandparents and other extended family members, legal guardians, foster parents, and educational surrogate parents. If the FIF request is for purchase of materials, families are encouraged to first contact the Center for Disability Information and Referral (CeDIR) to check if the materials are in their collection. See contact information below. Materials must be related to the families need to understand the disability or the special needs of their child, and/or the service systems involved such as early intervention or special education. The Family Involvement Fund will not reimburse the purchase of materials for individual child use such as flash cards or educational toys. You may apply online and/or print an application from the Indiana Family to Family web site: http://www.inf2f.org. An application for the FIF can be requested by emailing fif@indiana.edu or calling the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. See contact information below. The Family Involvement Fund is considered a “payer of last resort”: You may be asked if you applied for funds from another source such as the GPCPD Consumer Investment Fund. Also consider checking with other disability related organizations and support groups for scholarship information, or local community service organizations such as Kiwanis and Lions Club for programs to help provide financial assistance. Applications must be received at least 30 days prior to an event. Upon approval you will receive a letter and the paperwork needed to fill out and return after the event; and if your application is not approved, you will receive a letter of explanation. If approved for the FIF; you must save and provide all original receipts for your approved expenses. After the event, to be reimbursed send in these original receipts along with verification of attendance at the event and the FIF paperwork. Please read the Family Involvement Fund Guidelines in its entirety at http://www.inf2f.org before applying. For further information about the FIF, please contact Cathy Beard: Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Early Childhood Center C/O Family Involvement Fund 2853 E. 10th Street Bloomington, IN 47408 1-800-825-4733 (Indiana only) 1-812-855-6508 Fax: 1- 812-855-9630 Email: fif@indiana.edu Web: http://www.inf2f.org For further information on the CeDIR collection of materials please contact: Center for Disability Information and Referral Indiana Institute on Disability and Community 2853 E. 10th Street Bloomington, IN 47408 1-800-437-7924 (Indiana only) 1-812-855-9396 (Voice/TTY) Fax: 1-812-855-9630 Email: cedir@indiana.edu Web: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/ Wheeler. (2009). Accessing Indiana’s NEW Family Involvement Fund. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Resource Center for Autism.