Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota-The Family Connector Program

Center for Inclusive Child Care23min

Narrator

00:02

Welcome to Inclusion Matters, a podcast about children's development from the Center for Inclusive Child Care .

Priscilla W.

00:08

Welcome to Inclusion Matters a podcast from the Center for Inclusive Child Care. I'm Priscilla Weigel, the Executive Director. And I'm so happy to be here today to record part two of a series, really highlighting the wonderful organization, the Minnesota Down Syndrome Association. And this is a follow up to part one, which we had the CEO and resident Sarah Curfman on and she talked about just Down Syndrome and the history of the organization and what you all do. And today, I'm really excited to have Ashley Oltaf, Director of the Family Connector Program, which is part of the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota. And Ashley, I'm so glad to talk with you today.

Ashley Olthoff

01:02

Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Priscilla W.

01:05

Great! So you're going to tell us today all about the wonderful supports that the Family Connector Promote Program provides within the Down Syndrome Association. And so why don't you just jump right in and talk a little bit about the mission of the program? And what are your hopes and then the great services that you offer.

Ashley Olthoff

01:26

Thanks. Yeah, so our Family Connector Program started in the fall of 2020, in large part from a grant from DHS to help families better navigate the complex systems that they need to support their loved one with Down Syndrome. So our family connectors, we work with families from diagnosis all the way through adulthood, and we help them navigate county services, finding medical providers, finding mental health providers, financial assistance, resources, grants, waivers, medical assistance, Social Security application, and special education.

Priscilla W.

02:11

Wow, wow, what a gift for families to have all that housed within that your organization for support.

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