Leadership | Family Options

Family Options Has a Divinely Inspired Mission

Executive Director, Candace E. Eggleston, and Clinical Director, Matt Brinckerhoff, met as co-workers in 1995. Both were passionate about their work with children and adults with disabilities, and they worked great together, with complementary skill sets. They were equally passionate about their faith in God, and witnessing his work through the people they were helping. They asked for guidance for the path they should be on, and the answer came back: start an agency where the family was the center of the resident’s programming.

In 2000 they formed Family Options, Inc., a non-profit Christian agency offering residential programs, with vocational and living skills and behavioral support, for teens and adults with disabilities.

They practice the example of Jesus Christ by loving all of God’s children equally. Each of the residents, regardless of ability, gender or lifestyle, is supported to become active members of their community, building and sustain meaningful relationships.

Family Options has been steadily growing (now over 100 employees). They continue to set the bar very high for positive behavioral support programs, helping residents to succeed at their individual, educational, professional, and personal goals.

Family Options, Inc. is a CT DDS Certified provider. All employees are thoroughly trained in positive behavioral and habilitative residential care, in accordance with CT State Department of Developmental Services guidelines.

Our hallmark is respecting the individual and their God-given gifts, and helping each resident reach their full potential.

Our Directors

Candace E. Eggleston, Executive Director

Clinical Director, Matthew R. Brinckerhoff

One of Ms. Eggleston's proudest achievements is advancing from direct care staff to Director of Day Program Services and Family Support Program for a local agency, while completing her Bachelors degree. As Executive Director of Family Options, she continues to expertly create and manage programs that meet the individual and challenging needs of children and adults with disabilities. Ms. Eggleston holds a Master’s degree in Special Education, and is a CT certified K - 12 Special Education Teacher.

Mr. Brinckerhoff's career has advanced from providing direct care residential services to adults with disabilities, to successfully creating and administering behavioral support plans for individuals with challenging behaviors, sitting on the West Region's Human Rights Committee and the Region's Programmatic Review Committee, and working as a behavioral consultant with the West Region DDS/DCF Agencies. Mr. Brinckerhoff holds a Master of Science degree in Psychology.