Rebuilding local support systems - person by person, place by place: international advances in local area coordination

Local Area Coordination (LAC) has emerged as an evidence based, transformative approach to addressing social challenges across diverse populations and geographical regions. In line with the ‘affirmation’ model of disability and the human rights approach embodied in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), LAC challenges current systems approaches and their focus on tightened eligibility and critical needs rationing. This paper asserts LAC’s alignment with contemporary policy priorities by focussing on citizenship rights, strengths and skills, fostering meaningful relationships, shifting resource towards prevention over crisis response, and nurturing local solutions rather than service-led interventions. Based on continual evaluation, LAC has continued to drive systemic change where it is adopted with fidelity. An international and national leadership network approach supports fidelity of implementation, ongoing research, leadership development and rapid knowledge exchange. LAC stands as a proven model and the international network is ready to meet the challenge.