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In 2000, New Mexico provided respite and in-home personal care, through state general funds and the DD Waiver, to assist families in caring for their son or daughter with a disability. However, no unified system of family support existed. In addition, there were approximately 2000 applicants on the Central Registy waiting for services. To respond to this need, the CDD partnered with the Developmental Disabilities Support Division to apply for a demonstration grant from the federal Administration for Developmental Disabilities. The Family Support Systems Change Project was funded, piloted in three regions of the state and is now an integral part of New Mexico's statewide service system.
The CDD recognized that traditional models of family support needed to be adapted to reflect the cultural uniqueness of native communities. The five small pueblos in Sandoval County were chosen for a pilot project, since they were significantly underserved in the developmental disabilities system in New Mexico. The CDD partnered with Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos Inc. to apply for a federal Family Support 360 grant to implement Pueblo Connections. The innovative pilot was successful and a five-year $1 million grant was awarded to the CDD to implement Family Support Centers in each of the five pueblos.
"Family support programs make use of structured services and supports, as well as informal or natural supports from friends, neighbors, extended family or others in the community."