eSpecially Ben

  An art project we did at Ben's group home this summer. Ben moved into an Easter Seals group home on September 12, 2022. Today, we celebrate one year with him not just living there, but thriving. Ben's formed friendships with his housemates and the staff who work there.  The move to this Easter Seals group home was his second time moving out of our house. In 2021, Ben moved to Greensboro, 90 minutes from our home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He'd been living in an AFL - alternative family living - situation through a different agency. It didn't work out. For more details, read  here . The day program has a living room for activities and relaxing. Ben moved home for six months while we searched for another living situation for him. During this time, we found an incredible day program. I happened to see a post on Facebook with photos of happy individuals involved in all sorts of community activities. I connected with the staff, and Ben started in June 2022.  Swimming at

  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