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10 Principles of Family Support for Ohio

Quality Family Support Programs:

View families as the primary resource and decision-maker for their child
Include individual supports, services and material items that provide "whatever it takes, whenever it is needed"
Build on family strengths and based on family preferences, choices, and values and not on administrative expedience
Expand and strengthen the formal and informal/natural community resources available to the family if (and only if) the family wishes it
Involve families in all phases of design, construction, administration, evaluation, and governance: "nothing about me, without me"
Respect families’ cultural, racial and linguistic identities
Are proactive, fair, equitable, flexible, geographically sensitive, easily accessible, affordable, and continually responsive to changing family needs, roles, and ages
Include resources reserved for emergencies as determined by the family
Promote self-determination and family/child centered planning
Coordinate with general service delivery system to assure maximum efficacy