Our Purpose & Direction
Our Guiding Principle & Vision for Choice and Rights Protections
At United Families and Partners for Choice, we are steadfastly committed to empowering individuals and member families with meaningful choice, an undeniable collective voice, and complete barrier-free access across every facet of community life.
Core Purpose
Guiding Principle
Every priority of the Network is guided by one fundamental principle:Individuals with disabilities have the right to direct their own lives, choose their own supports, live in the community of their choice, and receive services that are lawful, person-centered, accountable, and based upon their individual needs, not administrative convenience or institutional practices.
We believe genuine self-direction flourishes when individuals possess both the practical tools for personal independence and a unified network advocating side-by-side for equal community participation.
Family-Centered AdvocacyWelcoming Community
The Future We Build
Our Vision
Together, we are building a stronger statewide voice to protect rights, preserve choice, strengthen families, and advance true independent living for individuals with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Our vision looks beyond compliance to create an inclusive society where universal physical access, dignity, civic belonging, and self-chosen autonomy are fundamental, unquestioned standards for all.
Universal Civic AccessCollective Voice
Our Core Impact Commitments
Four foundational pillars that translate our mission and vision into direct, measurable advocacy for member families.
Advocacy & Systemic Change
Amplifying family voices to eliminate structural, legislative, and institutional hurdles across municipal and regional systems.
- •Direct policy education and public testimony
- •Civil rights & ADA accessibility enforcement
- •Member-led legislative roundtables
Family-Led Peer Support
Creating safe, welcoming peer circles where families share practical knowledge, lived experiences, and ongoing encouragement.
- •Bi-weekly member family circles
- •Mentorship for newly navigating families
- •Shared resource toolkits & IEP navigation
Universal Community Accessibility
Collaborating with local businesses, transit authorities, and parks to ensure every shared civic environment is universally accessible.
- •Physical barrier & transit walk audits
- •Civic spaces & sensory park initiatives
- •Healthcare communication accommodations
Independent Living Skills & Navigation
Providing self-determination coaching, housing rights education, and assistive technology navigation for self-directed living.
- •Fair housing & tenancy advocacy
- •Assistive tech and mobility resource guidance
- •Youth self-advocacy leadership fellowships
Your Family's Voice Matters
Every meaningful change begins when people unite.
Initial Action Plan Priorities
United F is committed to advancing policies and initiatives that strengthen independent living, protect civil rights, improve service delivery, and ensure accountability throughout Pennsylvania's disability service system.
1. Family Caregiver Recognition and Protection
Advocate for the recognition of family caregivers as a protected class under Pennsylvania law and public policy, acknowledging their essential role in preventing unnecessary institutionalization and ensuring continuity of community-based supports.
2. Policy and Regulatory Review
Establish a standing Policy Review Committee to evaluate proposed regulations, bulletins, guidance documents, and administrative policies affecting disability services to ensure compliance with federal and state law, disability rights, and participant-directed principles.
3. Government Accountability
Advocate for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and all administering entities to fully comply with applicable federal laws, state statutes, regulations, court decisions, and constitutional protections governing Home and Community-Based Services.
4. Education and Resource Development
Develop comprehensive handbooks, advocacy guides, training programs, fact sheets, and educational resources addressing disability rights, service delivery, fraud prevention, participant protections, and the legal responsibilities of government agencies and providers.
5. Expanding Choice and Community Living
Promote equal access to services regardless of where an individual resides or with whom they choose to live.
6. Expanding Self-Directed Services
Advocate for participant-directed services to be available across all service delivery models consistent with 55 Pa. Code §6100.182 and the principles of person-centered planning and informed choice.
7. Funding Equity and Fiscal Accountability
Promote equitable funding policies that ensure comparable financial support for individuals receiving services in their own homes and homes consistent with federal disability rights requirements and Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services regulations.
8. Workforce Stabilization
Develop practical recommendations to address Pennsylvania's Direct Support Professional workforce shortage through statewide surveys, workforce research, innovative staffing models, recruitment initiatives, retention strategies, and policy recommendations submitted to DHS and state policymakers.
9. Evaluation of Assessment Tools
Evaluate the effectiveness of the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) and other assessment methodologies for individuals with complex medical, behavioral, and support needs, and recommend improvements where necessary to better reflect individualized needs.
10. Due Process and Appeals
Advocate for fair hearing and appeal rights for all individuals receiving services, including the development of meaningful due process protections for family caregivers and participant-directed providers, including access to appeals under Chapter 275 where appropriate.
11. Labor and Employment Policy
Review Pennsylvania and federal labor laws affecting Direct Support Professionals and live-in caregivers, including overtime requirements, employment protections, and workforce flexibility, while advocating for policies that improve access to community-based services.
12. Service Delivery Reform
Promote improvements in Pennsylvania's disability service system by advocating for:
Competitive wages and benefits for Direct Support Professionals.
Reduced administrative burdens and unnecessary paperwork.
Practical Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) requirements.
Quality-focused oversight instead of paperwork-driven compliance.
Person-centered expectations that support quality care and workforce retention.
Policies that reduce burnout and improve long-term workforce stability.
13. Fair Fraud Investigation Practices
Advocate for balanced and transparent fraud investigation procedures that protect due process, distinguish intentional fraud from administrative error, provide opportunities for corrective action when appropriate, and ensure fair treatment of participant-directed workers, family caregivers, and providers.
14. Abuse Prevention and Accountability
Support the creation and enhancement of statewide systems that strengthen abuse prevention, improve transparency, increase accountability, and prevent individuals with substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or exploitation from moving between provider organizations without appropriate oversight.
15. Public Transparency and Consumer Information
Advocate for increased public access to meaningful information regarding provider quality, licensing actions, substantiated incidents, corrective actions, and other information that assists individuals and families in making informed choices about services and supports while protecting individual privacy and confidentiality.