The Residential Services that CLA offers are through family living in host homes and independent apartment living with support.

Host Homes

A Host Home is similar to foster care, however, the goal is for individuals to find a home and family that they can live with for a long time and become part of that family, ideally for the rest of their lives. Some individuals have lived with their host home providers for more than 20 years! We aim to find the best possible match between a provider and the individuals we work with. We take into consideration not only the health and medical needs of each individual but what type of family they would like to live with, what they like to do for fun, the area of town they want to live in, and the general living environment that each individual prefers.

We consider many factors when choosing Host Home Providers. They must first complete a thorough background investigation, a series of interviews, and several training courses before they can become a provider. Once they are a provider, they are required to continue training not only in the field of disabilities but also in specific areas that would help them better serve the individual living with them.

Our Program Managers meet with the Host Home Provider and each individual at least once a month to make sure things are going well, help make any necessary changes and ensure that each individual is getting the best possible services.

Apartment Support

Each individual who lives in their own apartment receives support from our staff at CLA. The staff assists him or her with cooking, house cleaning, grocery shopping, medical appointments, community and home safety, learning new independent living skills, community participation, and a wealth of other skills that support them in living on their own. Staff is always available to individuals living in apartments via cell phones and frequent, consistent visits.

If an individual lives in a host home with the goal of moving out on their own to an apartment or house, they go through a series of assessments, trainings, and meetings with their entire support team before they are able to live in an apartment or home by themselves. His/her medical, ambulation, safety and all other needs are considered to make sure that they are capable of safely living on their own. If necessary, the staff and host home provider works with the individual many months before they ever move out on their own to make sure they have the safety skills and ability to live without constant supervision.

Some individuals who enter our program may already be able to live on their own without starting out in a host home. This is determined through assessments and meetings, always with the intention to make sure that they can do this safely and it does not negatively affect their health.

The Residential Staff

Our Residential staff includes a Residential Director, Program Managers, a Registered Nurse, an Intake Coordinator and Direct Support staff. All team members have extensive experience in working with individuals with developmental disabilities and have received special training in their area of expertise.

The Residential Director oversees the CLA Residential Program. This person supervises the Program Managers, Direct Support staff and the Nurse. The Residential Director makes sure that we comply with state requirements and that we are providing quality services to the individuals that we serve. This position also manages a small caseload.

The Program Managers have a caseload of individuals with whom they are responsible for overseeing on a regular basis, to make sure their needs are being met and that the providers are complying with their responsibilities and providing the proper care.

The Nurse assists with all the individual’s medical needs, including reviewing all medication changes, following up on medical problems, home visits and training staff and providers.

The Intake Coordinator is responsible for matching new individuals with a host home or apartment setting. The Intake Coordinator meets with potential Service Recipients and their family and friends and gathers information to help determine a great match. This position also recruits potential Host Home Providers for individuals to visit and consider living with.

The Direct Support staff works with individuals who live in apartments. He or she may assist with training on independent life skills, hygiene skills, cooking, safety skills, transportation to appointments and ensuring that all their basic needs are met and that each individual is living safely in the community.