What is the Nursing Facility Transition Project & Money Follows the Person?
The Nursing Facility Transition Project or NFTP is a program that assists people with disabilities to transition out of nursing facilities to community living. People who were transitioned under the NFTP are now living in their own apartments, group homes and supportive housing or in other family members home.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) received a 3-year grant from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a nursing facility transition program. The State of Connecticut DSS has continued it, and has subcontracted to CT Association of Centers for Independent Living (CACIL) and the 5 Centers for Independent Living to implement the Project. Center for Disability Rights is the CIL that implements the NFTP in the New Haven and Middlesex County areas.
The 3-year grant had two major goals:
1) To identify barriers to transition, and create a system for people living in nursing facilities who want to move or transition to the community with the supports they need.
2) To demonstrate the effectiveness of the system by transitioning 150 people from nursing facilities to the community.
The NFTP was such a success that former Governor Rowland included the NFTP into the state budget after the grant expired.
Money Follows the Person or MFP will be a new improved version of the NFTP. The MFP is still in the works but it will allow for more and improved services and supports to improve and streamline the transition process. With addition of new transition coordinators and housing coordinators more people will be able to transition back to community living.
For more information click on the links below or call the toll free (800) 261-3769) and ask about “My Community Choices.” If you are in the New Haven or Middlesex County areas or the Town of Shelton; then call or e-mail the Center for Disability Rights directly.
For a more information on long term care issues, visit the Connecticut Long Term Care Services and Support web site.
If you or someone you love wants to leave a nursing home, e-mail Rick Famiglietti at Center for Disabilitiy Rights, or call (203) 934-7077, Ext. 15.
