In 2005, the State of California implemented the Family Cost
Participation Program (FCPP) that requires some families to share
in the cost of Respite and Day
Care services purchased by regional centers for their
children with developmental disabilities under age 18.
The State Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has
developed the FCPP Guide for use by all regional centers to
inform families of their responsibilities; no other services are
affected. Your Alta California Regional Center Service
Coordinator will discuss the program with you if meet the
participation conditions.
Who Is Required to Participate?
The FCPP only applies to families that meet the following
criteria:
- Your child has a developmental disability or is eligible for
services under the California Early Intervention Services Act
[Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government
Code].
- Your child is zero years of age through 17 years of age.
- Your child lives in the parents’ home.
- Your child receives services and supports purchased through
the regional center.
- Your child is not eligible for Medi-Cal.
How Is Cost Participation Determined?
The FCPP share of cost is a sliding fee based on the size
and income of the family. Once it has been determined that a
family meets the program participation requirements, an
assessment by the ACRC FCPP Coordinator, using the FCPP
Assessment Fee Schedule, is completed with the income information
provided by the family. The share of cost fee is between 0% to
100% of the cost of service, based on an income at
least 400% and above, of the federal poverty level (FPL).
What Services Are Covered?
Family Cost Participation Plan assessments apply only to Day Care
and Respite services that are included in the child’s individual
program plan. No other services are affected.
How Will Family Co-Payments be Paid
Once the share of cost has been determined, the ACRC FCPP
Coordinator will notify, the family, the vendor and the
Service Coordinator of the amount. ACRC will authorize
services by the service provider for the regional
center’s share and the family will pay their “cost
participation” share directly to the service provider.
How Does ACRC Implement the FCPP?
The law creating the FCPP charges DDS with ensuring consistent
implementation of the program statewide. In response, DDS has
developed information and tools (including the sliding fee
schedule) for use by each regional center in implementing the
program.
Families are informed of the Family Cost Participation Program at
Intake and again when the Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP)
or Individual Program Plan (IPP) is developed. If families
meet the participation requirements, they will be asked to
provide proof of annual income within 10 calendar days (can
request a 10 day extension) after the child’s IFSP/IPP
is developed. If the family does not comply, the
regional center is unable to fund the respite or day
care service and the family will be responsible to pay 100% of
the cost.
ACRC will notify families of their cost participation amount,
which is the portion of the service that they will be required to
purchase directly from the service provider based on the sliding
scale.
FCPP reviews are done annually based on the continued assessed
need for Respite or Day Care services.
