New Hampshire has recently been involved in an effort to increase the capacity of the Developmental Services' system to respond to the needs of older parents who have sons or daughters with developmental disabilities living at home.  As a part of this, the Family Support Partnership Project was created.  The Family Support Partnership Project focused on increasing the knowledge base of the community to support these older parents.  In working with families and agency staff representatives at the local level, the need for a comprehensive guide was apparent.  While there are other guides available to assist families with future planning, there was nothing specific to New Hampshire's laws and services that support individuals with disabilities and their families. 

The first section of the New Hampshire Future Planning Guide assists with the development of a "life plan" and a subsequent "Letter of Intent."  These tools are ways for you to share your knowledge, dreams and aspirations for your son, daughter or family member when you are no longer able to care for them or have passed on. While not a legal document, the Letter of Intent can accompany your legal documents, such as a will or a trust, and will communicate important information to future caregivers.  Writing a letter may sound easy but there are many details that can be overlooked.  How can you summarize a lifetime and outline dreams for future in just a few pages?  By using the tools provided in this guide, you can record vital details about what works well for your son, daughter or family member in all the major life areas:  home, employment, learning/education, health and well-being, relationships/affiliations and lifestyle. 

The second section of the Guide provides a variety of planning tools including legal and financial planning manuscripts to assist you in making the vision outlined in your Letter of Intent become a reality.  These manuscripts provide valuable information about guardianships, public benefits considerations, special-needs trusts, health care coverage, and explains why planning is so important.  While not a replacement for the services of a financial planner or attorney, the manuscripts will assist you in preparing for and assuring proper future planning. 

The Guide has been designed so it may be used in a variety of situations and at any point in your family member's life.  Its information is not specific to any one type of disability, nor is it only meant to assist older parents.  Younger parents, extended family members and professionals will discover that the information included in the Guide is helpful to anyone wishing to develop a future plan.  

The New Hampshire Future Planning Guide need not be used in its entirety.  It has been designed so you may refer to individual sections and receive the information you need.  It can be a "do it yourself" tool or you may elect to consult with a service provider or facilitator to guide you thorough the process.  The Guide is also an excellent discussion tool for family meetings or for reviewing and outlining important information prior to seeing an attorney.