First In Families of North Carolina

All the FIF local Chapters help people with developmental and other disabilities to create the lives they aspire to now and for the future. Families or individuals apply for assistance to meet a short-term or long-term goal or obtain needed goods or services. Most of those assisted do not receive formal services; 1,388 families [or 80%] this year did not get help through the Medicaid waiver. In FY 24 the total Value of Direct Support to families through all thirteen local FIF chapters was $826,660, comprised of $539,261 in state funding, $55,521 from private businesses (discounts and donations), $77,326 from grassroots fundraisers by Chapter Leadership Teams, $40,591 from local grants, and $113,962 worth of donated goods provided to families.Families are offered opportunities to give back to other families at the time they apply for assistance or later on; reciprocity by families served ("gave back") for FY 24 was: 42 families donated goods; 48 families donated time, and 3 families donated money. FIF partners with the business community and other families previously served, to meet the need of the applicant at the lowest possible cost. Through such assistance, the need is met, and public awareness is developed as well. Each Chapter is governed by a grassroots local Chapter Leadership Team comprised of people with disabilities, their family members, and invested community members. Requests fulfilled fall into and are measured within 37 categories of support, for example, Adaptive Equipment and Parts, Sensory Support, Camp, or Assistive Technology. Requests are met through the matching of public funding with additional support from private local businesses, foundations, or private citizens. The Central Carolina, Wake, Cumberland, Johnston, and Mecklenburg chapters met 1,091 requests from 813 (unduplicated) families last year, including 245 of whom were completely new to FIF (never previously assisted). This is an increase of 47% of met requests and 20% number of families.

The Statewide Cross-Area Special Program includes the Quality Assurance and Technical Assistance program (QATA), the Lifeline Project, and the Lifetime Connections program. QATA provides oversight and guidance, technical assistance, strategic planning, maintenance of strong Chapter Leadership Teams, new staff training, an annual assessment through Core Indicators of Chapter Health, and a comprehensive family support database to all 13 FIF Chapters statewide, including the 11 managed directly by FIFNC. This assistance ensures high-quality, customer-led family support and adherence to the FIF model. QATA support in FY 24 included 13 on-site Chapter visits to meet with staff and Chapter Leadership Teams, 12 monthly calls with all chapters, 470 one-to-one Technical Assistance requests resolved, and 6 chapter staff training events. The Lifeline Project provides family support to individuals and families who live in the 10 NC Counties not covered by an FIF chapter. All 13 Chapters scored over 80% on Core Indicators of Chapter Health (benchmark is 75% of the chapters scoring over 80%). In FY 24, Lifeline Project helped 55 families with 60 requests, statewide.