Shared Living

The Shared Living Program was developed at Benhaven to enable people with autism or other pervasive developmental disabilities to experience living in natural community environments. In a Shared Living home, a family or individual shares their home with a person who has a disability. The support of experienced providers allows a rich home and community life.

Often, those who provide Shared Living homes have experience with people with disabilities through employment at Benhaven or another agency.

How Are Providers Trained?

The initial training includes an overview of autism, abuse and neglect prevention and reporting, first aid, CPR, infection control, program development, interacting with families, and language and communication needs. Benhaven also offers ongoing training in areas such as person-centered planning, sensory integration, and augmented communication. There are also individual and team training sessions for topics that relate specifically to the person's needs.

How are the Homes Licensed and Monitored?

The initial licensing of a Shared Living home includes home visits by Benhaven's Shared Living Coordinator and Department of Mental Retardation personnel, as well as the following: extensive initial interviews; a check of physical and fire safety requirements; a specialized training program; annual criminal record checks; state license checks; reference checks; and initial home study profile; a social summary of the household; and a certificate of health from a physician.

In addition to the state licensing requirements, Benhaven facilitates the matching process among the individual, his or her birth family, and the provider. A good match is critical to the success of the Shared Living arrangement and the satisfaction of all. In cases where there is not already an ongoing relationship between the provider and the individual, it is important to allow all concerned sufficient time to process and adjust to this major lifestyle change. This process has taken, on average, between two and three months.

Benhaven's Shared Living homes are monitored primarily by the Benhaven Shared Living Coordinator. Shared Living homes are licensed by DMR as "community training homes," and are subject to initial six-month and twelve-month inspections the first year. After that, DMR inspects the home annually.

Ongoing monitoring occurs through home visits, phone calls, monthly team meetings, overall plan of service and quarterly reviews, communication with the person's day program, and communication and visits with the natural family.

What is the Role of the Natural Family?

The natural family continues to play an active role for Shared Living residents. In most cases, they:

• Are a primary resource for the development of the relationship between the individual and the provider family;
• Are active team members, attending team meetings and assisting in the development of the program;
• Are a natural respite support to the provider family;
• Participate in ensuring that the individual's health and medical needs are met.

What Support Does Benhaven Provide?

Benhaven provides the following oversight and support:

• Recruits and screens prospective providers;
• Oversees the initial and annual licensing;
• Matches individuals with provider families;
• Is a liaison between providers and natural families;
• Develops individualized budgets to include a stipend to providers, money for respite, community programming and other services;
• Facilitates the birth family's active participation in the life of the individual;
• Offers support-group meetings;
• Offers opportunities for individualized training;
• Provides technical assistance as needed, and ongoing training and support according to the needs of the individual and the provider and natural family;
• Oversees services addressing medical and health needs.