Host Family/Shared Living Services
Host family/shared living
services assist a person served to find a shared living situation in which the
person is a valued person in the home and has supports as desired
to be a participating member of the community. An organization may call these
services, which are provided under a contract or written
agreement with the host family/shared living provider, a variety
of names, such as host family services, shared living services or supports,
alternative family living, structured family care giving, family care, or home
share.
Getting the person in the right
match is a critical component to successful host family/shared living services.
The organization begins by exploring with the person served what constitutes
quality of life for the individual
and identifies applicant host family/shared living providers
who are a potential match with the person’s identified criteria. The person
served makes the final decision of selecting a
host family/shared living provider.
Safety, responsibility, and
respect between or amongst all people in the home are guiding principles in
these services. Persons are supported to have meaningful reciprocal
relationships both within the home, where they contribute to decision making,
and in the community. The host
family/shared living provider helps the person served to develop
natural supports and strengthen existing networks. Relationships with the
family of origin or extended family are maintained as desired by the person
served. The host
family/shared living provider supports the emotional, physical,
and personal well-being of the person.
Persons develop their personal
lifestyle and modify the level of support over time, if they so choose. The
host family/shared living provider encourages and supports the
person served to make decisions and choices.
The host family/shared living
provider does not necessarily have to be a family, as it could be an individual
supporting the person. Although
the “home” is generally the host family/shared living provider’s
home or residence, it may also be the home of the person served.
Some examples of the quality results desired by the different stakeholders of these services and supports include:
- Quality of life as identified by the person served is enhanced.
- Increased independence.
- Increased community access.
- Persons served choose whom they will live with and where.
- Participation of the persons in the community.
- Community membership.
- Support for personal relationships.
- Increased natural supports.
- Strengthened personal networks.
- Supports accommodate individual needs.
- Persons feel safe.
- Persons feel that the supports they need/want are available.
- Persons decide where they live.
- Persons feel valued.
- Persons have meaningful relationships.
- Persons develop natural supports.
- Persons participate in their community.