Strengthening service systems for people with long-term disabilities (e.g., developmental disabilities, head injuries, mental health) is of growing interest by local and state governments. There is recognition that current systems of care face of number of challenges in meeting the changing needs of people with long-term disabilities and their families. The Center for Community Support and Research (CCSR) is in the second year of collaborating with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) on a 5-year Real Choice Systems Transformation Initiative. The purposes of the initiative are to (1) improve choice and control for people with long-term disabilities, (2) utilize informationtechnology more effectively, and (3) improve the financing of services. The initiative requires a high level of collaboration and coordination between multiple service providers, the state government, people served, and their families. The CCSR serves as an evaluator for the initiative, documenting the extent to which three statewide task teams and a statewide steering committee have made progress in achieving each of the stated purposes.

Paper presented to the 4th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Wichita State University, April 25, 2008.Research completed at the Center for Community Support & Research, Department of Psychology, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Science