Our overall goal is to support families in all their strengths and challenges so they can nurture, love, and create opportunities for their family members to thrive with independence, connection, productivity, and inclusion in every part of community life.
Harnessing grassroots momentum, state I/DD agencies work with families and stakeholders to create lasting systems change.
Membership in the CoP provides states with technical assistance and support for integrated, practical actions for influencing transformational change.
By focusing on key areas, the CoP is able to influence and affect current and future policies and systems.
The National CoP Team facilitates shared learning across states by hosting monthly roundtables, group TA opportunities, and more.
The Community of Practice brings states together to strengthen supports for people with I/DD and their families. Currently, 22 states participate, with membership growing as more join. Through guidance from the National Team, resources, and shared learning, states work to transform policy, practice, and systems across the lifespan.
The Community of Practice began in 2012 as a five-year grant with six states. It has since grown to include 22 state teams made up of agencies and grassroots stakeholders, all working together to create lasting change for people with disabilities and their families.
By infusing the values-based framework of Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC), CoP member states ensure supports to the person within the context of the family are anchored into various innovation areas. Member states choose their area of focus, based on existing and ongoing system change work and priorities. Member states may choose one or more of the innovation areas, and below is a representation of where states are focusing their efforts and energies.