Your Guide To The Family Support Waiver (FSW) in Nebraska
What Nebraska families need to know to access support at home through the waiver program
If you are in Nebraska and caring for a loved one with intellectual or developmental disabilities, you have probably heard this question a lot lately:
“Are you on the Family Support Waiver?”
Over the past month, almost every conversation we have had with families and service coordinators has led back to the same topic. People want to know what the Family Support Waiver actually does, how it works, and whether it can help someone stay safely supported at home.
It makes sense. The waiver plays a quiet but important role in Nebraska. For many families, it is the first real opening into services that feel flexible, supportive, and rooted in community.
What the Family Support Waiver Is
The Family Support Waiver is a Home and Community Based Services waiver for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are birth through age 21 and live in their family home.
The goal is simple. It helps families continue caring for their child at home while receiving the kinds of support that strengthen daily life and build skills. It is not designed to replace the family’s role. It is designed to support it.
The waiver does not fund twenty four hour residential care or full shared living arrangements. It offers intermittent supports that help a young person stay safely and meaningfully connected to their home, school, and community.
What It Covers in Nebraska
Each state defines its waivers differently. In Nebraska, families can generally expect the Family Support Waiver to include:
• Intermittent services that support daily life and community involvement
• Limited respite options that give families a short break
• Skill-building supports that help encourage independence
• Help with transportation or community integration
• Coordination and planning, so families are not navigating everything alone
For many families, the most meaningful part is simple. The waiver helps individuals remain at home while still receiving consistent, structured support.
This is where Alora fits in. Every part of our Bridge Support in Nebraska is provided through the Family Support Waiver.
How Alora Uses the Family Support Waiver to Support Families
Families often ask what this looks like in real life.
In Nebraska, families can receive Bridge Supports through several waiver programs, including the Family Support Waiver. When the FSW is the path, we shape services to partner with the family’s routines and goals. We focus on:
Supporting what families already do well.
When parents have strong routines but want help building confidence or independence, we add support alongside their efforts.
Creating gentle steps into the community.
This might include practicing skills, exploring interests, or learning how to navigate places that once felt overwhelming.
Keeping home as the center of life.
We match each family with a team member who understands their rhythm, their hopes, and their child’s personality.
The waiver is the funding mechanism. The impact is relational. We build trust through steady presence, not by taking over.
Who Qualifies and How to Begin
Eligibility is determined by the state and usually begins with a conversation with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. They help confirm eligibility, review options, and begin the enrollment steps for the waiver.
Once you start the process, you will begin working with a service coordinator who will help explain if the Family Support Waiver could be a good fit, we can partner with you once the waiver is active. Our team walks families through what services can look like, how supports are scheduled, and what goals make the most sense for your child.
You do not need to know every detail before starting. That is what we are here for.
This is what belonging can look like.
The Family Support Waiver is more than a funding source. It is a tool that helps families stay strong. It is a way to bring meaningful support into the home without losing the routines and relationships that matter most.
For children and young adults in Nebraska, it can be the first step toward confidence, connection, and new possibilities. And for families, it can bring relief, partnership, and a feeling of not being alone in the process.
If you are exploring the waiver or want help understanding your options, we would love to meet you where you are.
Come on in.
