HRT’s Developmental Home Program
- Established in 1998
- Serves Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and American Indian Youth
- Utilizes Licensed, Family Home Settings for Residential Placement
- Matches Family Strengths with Consumer/Client Needs
- Encourages Maximum Family and Community Involvement
- Challenging, Demanding, Rewarding Pursuit
- Strong Agency-Level Support
- Makes a Difference in Attitudes about Individuals with Disabilities
Fostering Independence through Family Homes
Members of the Developmental Home Program Team
enjoy Sedona with kids at HRT’s annual Family Camp Weekend, hosted by the Developmental Home Program.
Developmental Homes FAQs
What is a Developmental Home?
A Developmental Home is a licensed, family-home setting in which individuals with special needs reside. Developmental Home Providers are responsible for all aspects of care for the individual in their home. Providers are encouraged to incorporate individuals into as many aspects of family life as possible, including leisure, vacations, faith-based activities, household rules, meal preparation, etc. Providers receive a daily compensation for room and board and difficulty of care.
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Who is served in a Developmental Home?
HRT places children and adults with developmental disabilities in our DHP provider homes. Developmental disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and cognitive disabilities (mental retardation). We also serve American Indian Youth.
How are American Indian Youth served in the DHP?
Children with Tribal affiliation are served in our homes in similar ways as other program participants. The DHP serves individuals from sovereign tribes throughout Arizona, including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Navajo, Gila River, White Mountain Apache and the Hopi Tribe. Providers able to incorporate Tribal Youth into their family process with cultural competence are sough. We seek individuals who can calmly deal with the emotional, behavioral, and social needs of the Tribal Youth. Providers willing and able to transport kids to medical visits, family/sibling visits, and counseling visits are needed. Frequently, care plans include reunification with biological family or relative placement. Foster Providers need to be positive in their efforts and supportive of the case plan to experience maximum success. A slightly higher reimbursement rate is offered to providers serving Tribal Youth to account for the therapeutic outcome expectations for these “Youth at Hope”.
Once I am licensed, how long does it take to get a placement?
This can vary from a few weeks to several months, depending on referral patterns, home suitability and professional opinions. The placement matching process is very important. We try to closely match individuals in need of placement with Providers who have the setting and skills to best accommodate that individual and his or her specialized needs.
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Can I have more than 1 person reside in my home?
Generally, newly licensed Child or Adult Developmental Home Providers are limited to one (1) placed individual by license conditions for approximately one year. Following a combination of factors, a recommendation for a license increase may be possible if the Developmental Program Team is in agreement. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to:
- 1 year of continual licensed status
- Sustained, successful placement of an individual for 6-12 months
- Positive evaluation from client's case manager of home suitability to specific client
- Client compatibility to live with more that 1 individual
- Increased and improved Provider strengths
- Absence of Corrective Action Plans, Licensing Inquiries or CPS/APS reports
What are the rates paid for placement compensation?
Rates are established by consumer needs and are paid based on State determined reimbursement levels. A room and board and habilitation component are figured into the rate. Exact amounts are determined prior to placement. From time to time, at the sole discretion of HRT and the Management Team, increases may be made to rates to accommodate client concerns, contract adjustments at the State level or current market impact.
Are additional funds for consumer-based support available?
Additional funds for consumer-based support may occasionally be made available for leisure or therapeutic-based activities, including recreation, special-interest courses, community access or personal improvement pursuits. Provider funding for training needs or client enrichment of a therapeutic nature is considered on an individual basis by the Developmental Home Program Team.
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What are my responsibilities as a Developmental Home Provider?
A Child or Adult Developmental Home Provider is responsible for all aspects of an individual's needs, including activities of daily living and the physical, emotional, educational, medical, social, and other needs of the placed individual. All Providers sign a Developmental Home Agreement, which specifies what the Provider , the State and HRT agree to as placement expectations. Your Licensing Support Specialist will review this document with you during license renewal and at other times when necessary.
Am I responsible for transportation?
Providing transportation to all medical, dental, educational, social and other appointments is a Provider requirement, as spelled out in the Adult or Child Developmental Home Agreement. In times of transportation difficulties due to family circumstances or other extenuating circumstances, some assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis, depending on availability.
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Can an individual placed with me attend my church?
Access to faith experiences is a right all clients placed through DES/DDD possess. Placed individuals may attend your church with you as long as they choose to and have freely expressed that desire. Children or adults who are not their own guardian may attend with guardian permission, whether a biological parent or State or Tribal Case Manager.
Do I get respite?
All Provider homes are allotted up to 2 days per month of overnight, out-of-Provider-home respite. Respite days may be accumulated up to, but no more than 21 days. At least a two-week notice to the Licensing Support Specialist is required to find a suitable, certified Provider.
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What is involved with license renewal?
10 hours of continuing education training courses are required yearly, as well as updated CPR, First Aid and CIT (Client Intervention Training) for license renewal. Fingerprints, physician statements and home inspections are required every 3 years. Along with training and certifications needed, a reapplication packet is required. Your Licensing Support Specialist will facilitate the process by guiding you through the reapplication procedures and required paperwork. A renewal visit is scheduled approximately 3 months prior to expiration to explain procedures, plan for needs and verify home compliance with Licensing Regulations.
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What does the Developmental Home Program Team do?
The Developmental Home Program Team members serve in many roles as Licensing Worker, Home Supervisor, DDD/Tribal Liaison, Training Coordinator and Support Specialist to the homes assigned to them. As a Licensing Support Specialist, we monitor homes for licensing regulation compliance on a continual basis and offer technical assistance when areas of need emerge. We complete yearly license renewal studies to keep license status current and facilitate Provider training opportunities. Monthly home visits are made and frequent phone contact occurs to maintain our relationship with each Provider and to assure compliance with Licensing Regulations, according to Articles 10 and 11 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. We also monitor for Agency Standards for Developmental Home Service Provision. Your Licensing Support Specialist also works as a client/consumer advocate for individuals placed within our homes through visits to home, school, day and vocational settings. We occasionally enjoy leisure pursuits with our families and individuals. We assist our Providers with monthly paperwork completion for each individual by pre-service training and set guidelines for due dates. One of the most important things the Team does is assist Providers and Consumers to maintain a relationship with other service Team members (Case Managers, Therapists, etc.) by acting as a guide or liaison to get the services and support needed to live a fulfilling life. We proudly foster independence through family homes!
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