MDDC will be offering grants to individuals who would like to become independent support brokers for
adults with developmental disabilities using self-directed services.

Click here to download Self DIrection Support Broker Info PDF.

Support brokers make a difference in their community by helping individuals living with developmental disabilities live their best lives.

Support brokers may

o Act as a “connector” to help participants identify people, places and ways that they can contribute to and belong to their communities.

o Provide information and assistance to help participants exercise choice and control over their community services and supports.

o Help participants identify, hire, and manage their direct care workers and complete documentation.

o Assist participants to develop spending plans and monitor their budgets.

MDDC is offering grants of up to $3000 to individuals who are eligible to become qualified to provide support brokerage. People with non-traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

A total of up to $15,000 is available. MDDC anticipates making several awards.

Applications will be accepted as long as funding is available.

If funding is available, applications received after 1/31/24 will be reviewed in the order that they are received.

 Timeline

Questions?
You may submit written questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Background:

The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) conducts advocacy, capacity building and systemic change activities through a partnership of people with disabilities, their families, and agencies. MDDC identifies and resolves barriers to community inclusion, self-determination, and independence. To that end, MDDC is seeking to increase the capacity of Maine’s developmental service system to provide support brokerage to self-directing waiver participants. Support brokerage is an integral component of successful self-direction and is not a service that is widely available in Maine. The intent of this grant is to provide funding to enable individuals in diverse communities to develop the capacity to provide support brokerage to eligible and interested individuals statewide.

To Apply

Please use the online form Grant Application (coming soon)

Submitting the Application

Initial application must be received by 11:59pm on January 31, 2024.

Please submit as Word or PDF attachments via email.

There is no page limit, but the application is intended to be brief.

Proposal Review

Evaluation of applications is intended to fair, objective, and to ensure that grants are awarded to the best qualified applicants. MDDC may ask for additional information in reviewing
proposals. Evaluation will be based upon an assessment of the skills and abilities of the applicant to engage in the role of support broker, strength of the applicant’s approach to developing community connections, adequacy of the plan to provide support brokerage, ability to act as a resource to others and may consider geographic diversity.

Decisions regarding the grant awards will be made by representatives of MDDC. Notification will be made in writing. Contracts will be negotiated as soon as is practicable.