eSpecially Ben

  Last August, we moved Ben into an alternative family living (AFL) placement, about 90 minutes from our home in Charlotte. It was a three-bedroom house and Ben was given the largest bedroom with its own bathroom.  A typical AFL in North Carolina operates like this: a person with disabilities, the client, moves in with another family, couple or an individual. The client lives in the family’s home and the family receives payment in return for housing, feeding and caring for the client.  Ben’s AFL was unusual: A couple with extensive caregiving experience wanted to run a three-bed group home but needed to apply for the license through the state. They were willing to take Ben as the first resident in a house, separate from the one they lived in. The plan, according to the couple, was to get approval for the group home within a couple of months.  We ordered Ben a double bed, headboard, 54-inch television, new sheets, towels and blankets. Friends helped us move him in.  By mid-March, Ben re

  If you've landed on this page, you're deep into research about group home placement. By this point, you've found a few agencies with group homes and you want to take the next step and send in an application and referral packet. I can tell you what I did with our son, Ben. It may be different for your family, based on your comfort level with sharing information with others. Most agencies will have an application to complete. Some will ask a lot of questions and some won't. No two are alike – I've completed more than 10. I wish they had a Common App for group homes.  Always include the contact information for your child's care or case manager. I sent a copy of the most recent document with every application: Budget for services, if your child has one  IEP - Individual Education Plan  ISP - Individual Service Plan  Legal Guardianship document  Medicaid Card  Medication list Photo of Ben - I use every opportunity to make the process about a person and not some unk

  When our son, Ben, turned 14, I started researching group homes in North Carolina. I visited one large facility and one six-bed group home. I felt overwhelmed, sad and scared after those two visits. The experience made me aware of how difficult the process would be, both emotionally and mentally. Although your child may have a case manager to help locate agencies with group homes and alternative family living placements, most of the process is up to the family. Once you narrow down a placement, here are questions you might want to have answered: Staff How are staff vetted for employment? What experience does the agency have running group homes? How many staff are on duty throughout the day?  How does the agency recruit and retain staff? Is someone awake during the night in case my child needs assistance? Home Who are they looking for to fill the space within the group home? Co-ed or single gender? What's the layout of the house?  How many bathrooms?  Does each person have a priva