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| Vol. 18, No. 39 | Aug. 26, 1999 |
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| Vol. 18, No. 39 | Aug. 26, 1999 |
The University's Center for Disabilities Studies has joined forces with Delaware CarePlan, a private, nonprofit corporation to enable parents to fund a trust providing lifetime assistance to their adult children with disabilities.
President David P. Roselle; Gov. Thomas Carper, who signed the Delaware CarePlan Trust Act into law last year; and officials from CarePlan, the Arc of Delaware (Association for Rights of Citizens with Mental Retardation) and other service agencies spoke at a news conference announcing the agreement, held Aug. 20 in the Community Services Building in Wilmington.
"One of the great pleasures that I have as president of the University of Delaware is forming partnerships with community agencies and businesses to achieve important goals for the people of Delaware," Roselle said at the event. "The Delaware CarePlan Trust is such a partnership.
"Over the next few years, the University-through the Center for Disabilities Studies in the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy-will work with our community partners to make this great idea a reality," he said.
The center staff and graduate students, he said, will work "to research best practices, develop policies and procedures and to inform families and the disability community about what Delaware CarePlan can do for them...so they can ensure lifetime support and assistance for family members with disabilities."
Delaware CarePlan enables parents of adult children with disabilities to fund a trust with a minimum of $5,000. The family, Delaware CarePlan officials and service providers work together to develop an individualized plan of services based on needs. When the parents are no longer living, the trust will provide for the disabled adult in accordance with pre-established guidelines.
According to Delaware CarePlan, more than a dozen families have already benefited from Delaware CarePlan and thousands of families potentially can benefit from participation.
Under the agreement, the Center for Disabilities Studies will provide staffing, office space, organizational development and office support for Delaware CarePlan. This will include managing CarePlan's office and daily operations and researching and finalizing bylaws, policies, admission process, fiduciary policies, services and other areas of operation.
The center also will involve other agencies, which serve individuals with different disabilities.
In addition, the center will organize two estate-planning conferences a year for families and individuals throughout Delaware. The first conference will be held Sept. 25 at MBNA America Bank in Wilmington. Reservations are required.
For information and reservations, call 831-0859. 
-Sue Moncure
