COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
24 Hour Comprehensive Services
Comprehensive residential services provide 24-hour supports for adults and children with developmental disabilities in settings other than a family home. This may include foster care homes, group homes, supported living, and state operated community programs. In addition to residential supports, individuals with 24-hour supports are often receiving employment and community inclusion supports. Individuals living in comprehensive services are responsible for room and board and this may be funded through Social Security or other income. Referrals to Comprehensive Services are made by their Service Coordinator and the individual must be enrolled in and accept Case Management and Service Coordination. These services are not readily available and individuals who are interested in Comprehensive Services may request to be placed on a waitlist for these services.
Information about the licensing, rules, and regulations for 24 hour comprehensive services can be found at:
| Department of Human Services, Seniors and Persons with Disabilities licensing | |
| Rules and regulations for how a group home is operated | |
| Employment and community inclusion supports | |
Information about the agencies and providers of comprehensive services can be found by contacting the Linn County Developmental Disabilities Office.
Foster Care Homes
Foster Care is a Comprehensive Service where an individual can reside with a Foster Home provider who is responsible for providing 24 hour care, supervision, and training, and support specific to the individual's needs and wishes. The Foster Home provider assists with activities of daily living and help individuals' access other community resources that increase their integration and independence as identified on the individuals Individual Support Plan. Services are in a family home, but not the home of a parent, guardian, or family member. Foster homes are licensed for one to five residents. The Linn County DD Program is responsible for Initial and follow-up evaluation related to licensure.
Employment Supports
Individuals with disabilities have an opportunity to earn paid work in sheltered or community settings.
Sheltered employment opportunities provide opportunities for paid work in a setting where all or most employees are person with disabilities. The provider will work with the individual and their team to identify work that meets the individual's wants and or needs. These settings may include working at a specific site, enclave, or working on a crew that visits multiple sites. Examples may include assembly, janitorial work, recycling or other contracted work that the provider has secured.
Supported Employment provides paid work in a job matched to an individual in a setting providing opportunities to work with persons without disabilities it is sometimes called "Customized Employment." An individualized determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of the individual is negotiated and developed to meet the specific needs of the employer. For a few individuals supported employment may mean "self-employment", having your own business and having your own boss. The employment provider will assist an individual with:
- Job exploration - discovering their work interests and abilities;
- Job development - finding a job matching those interests;
- Job Coaching - helping learn the skills of a particular job; and
- Job Support - helping the worker and employer with issues of job performance in a way that helps assure on-going success at the job site.
Community Inclusion
Community Inclusion provides opportunities to participate in activities away from home to learn and use skills that promote participation and integration in settings with friends, neighbors, and others.