How the Application Was Developed

When the MFP Project was announced, a group of state agencies and other stakeholders held an organizational meeting on August 17, 2006 to design an inclusive process for developing an application.

Next, key stakeholders and state agencies, under the leadership of DMAS and the Office of Community Integration for People with Disabilities, formed a 39-member Grant Decision Team consisting of seniors, people with disabilities who reside in community and institutional settings, and other stakeholders.  The Team met on August 31, 2006 to make decisions concerning target populations, participant eligibility criteria, and processes for identifying grant participants.  Individuals who reside in or had transitioned from institutions shared their experiences.  The Team also made recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources regarding the projected number of individuals who would transition, services they would need, the infrastructure of the program, slot permanency, and elements of transitioning. 

Following this meeting, over 90 individuals, families, and key stakeholders were invited to join the Grant Steering Committee.  A Grant Writing Team consisting of state agencies and stakeholders drafted the application.   The Grant Steering Committee advised the Grant Writing Team on many aspects of the grant throughout application development and reviewed and assisted in revising the initial draft application.  The Community Integration Advisory Commission offered formal advice to the Grant Writing Team. 

Virginia is committed to involving all key stakeholders in public policy decisions that directly impact them.