Community Companion Home Program
Frequently Asked Questions for Families
How does someone get placed into a CCH?
An individual who is interested in moving out of their family home needs to work with their Case Manager to be placed on the regional Waiting List for residential supports. When funding becomes available, the person and their family are encouraged to consider various types of support options. CCH’s are one of many options and offers people a residential setting in a family environment.
An individual who is interested in moving out of their family home needs to work with their Case Manager to be placed on the regional Waiting List for residential supports. When funding becomes available, the person and their family are encouraged to consider various types of support options. CCH’s are one of many options and offers people a residential setting in a family environment.
What does the CCH Licensee do?
A CCH Licensee offers a safe and nurturing home by giving guidance, support and personal attention. The licensee plays an active role in the individual’s team and the collaborative development of a support plan. The support plan is based on the team’s knowledge of the individual’s personal challenges, strengths, skills, preferences and desired outcomes. The plan provides guidelines and specific strategies that address the person’s needs in the social, behavioral and skill areas and is designed to lead to positive lifestyle changes. Living in a home environment presents daily opportunities to acquire and use new skills. The licensee helps the individual participate in family and community activities and facilitate a relationship with the person and his/her natural family and the general community. They help the person learn and use community resources and services as well as participate in activities that are valued and appropriate for the person’s age, gender and culture. The licensee ensures that the person’s identified health and medical needs are met and comply with licensing regulations of the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services.
A CCH Licensee offers a safe and nurturing home by giving guidance, support and personal attention. The licensee plays an active role in the individual’s team and the collaborative development of a support plan. The support plan is based on the team’s knowledge of the individual’s personal challenges, strengths, skills, preferences and desired outcomes. The plan provides guidelines and specific strategies that address the person’s needs in the social, behavioral and skill areas and is designed to lead to positive lifestyle changes. Living in a home environment presents daily opportunities to acquire and use new skills. The licensee helps the individual participate in family and community activities and facilitate a relationship with the person and his/her natural family and the general community. They help the person learn and use community resources and services as well as participate in activities that are valued and appropriate for the person’s age, gender and culture. The licensee ensures that the person’s identified health and medical needs are met and comply with licensing regulations of the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services.
How are Licensee Trained?
The initial training includes an overview of disabilities, abuse & neglect prevention and reporting, CPR, infection control, program development, interacting with families, language and communication needs, medical emergency procedures and positive behavioral supports. There are also individual and team training sessions for topics that relate specifically to the person’s needs.
The initial training includes an overview of disabilities, abuse & neglect prevention and reporting, CPR, infection control, program development, interacting with families, language and communication needs, medical emergency procedures and positive behavioral supports. There are also individual and team training sessions for topics that relate specifically to the person’s needs.
What is the role of the natural family?
The natural family continues to play an active role in the person’s life. In most cases they are a primary resource for the development of the relationship between the individual and the licensee family. They are active team members, attending team meetings and assisting in the development of the program and they are also a natural respite support to the licensee family. Working with the licensee, the natural family participates in ensuring that the individual’s health and medical needs are met as well as other needs are met.
The natural family continues to play an active role in the person’s life. In most cases they are a primary resource for the development of the relationship between the individual and the licensee family. They are active team members, attending team meetings and assisting in the development of the program and they are also a natural respite support to the licensee family. Working with the licensee, the natural family participates in ensuring that the individual’s health and medical needs are met as well as other needs are met.
What if it doesn’t work out? What if I am not happy?
The team will meet and try to address the issues. If it cannot be resolved through the team process, the Case Manager will work with you to identify other options. If it is urgent, you can call your Case Manager right away.
The team will meet and try to address the issues. If it cannot be resolved through the team process, the Case Manager will work with you to identify other options. If it is urgent, you can call your Case Manager right away.
What is the difference between a DDS supported CCH and a CCH supported by one of our private licensees?
There should be no difference in the types of supports, but you will want to make sure that all of the supports that you need are available.
There should be no difference in the types of supports, but you will want to make sure that all of the supports that you need are available.
What will be the expectations for me if I move to a CCH?
You will be expected to treat everyone in the home with respect and allow everyone their own privacy. You will be expected to be an active member of the family and participate in family activities and routines.
You will be expected to treat everyone in the home with respect and allow everyone their own privacy. You will be expected to be an active member of the family and participate in family activities and routines.
Will I get to choose the family I live with?
Yes, we use a matching process to look at similar interests and backgrounds and look for compatible matches. You will have opportunities to visit the proposed family and make your own choice.
Yes, we use a matching process to look at similar interests and backgrounds and look for compatible matches. You will have opportunities to visit the proposed family and make your own choice.
What does my Case Manager and other staff do to support me?
The Case Manager will visit you at least every 3 months to see how you are doing. Other staff may visit on a regular basis depending on what you need.
The Case Manager will visit you at least every 3 months to see how you are doing. Other staff may visit on a regular basis depending on what you need.
What happens to my entitlements?
All entitlements will be used to cover your cost of care. You will have a spending allowance to use on personal needs, recreation, clothing, etc. If you make over a certain amount of earnings, your wages may also go to the cost of care.
All entitlements will be used to cover your cost of care. You will have a spending allowance to use on personal needs, recreation, clothing, etc. If you make over a certain amount of earnings, your wages may also go to the cost of care.
What kind of monitoring will DDS Central Office do to ensure that I or my family member will be safe, healthy and receive the proper services in a Community Training Home?
Quality Reviewers from Central Office will visit the CCH prior to its being licensed to make sure that the environment is safe and that the CCH licensee has been properly trained. After an individual moves into a new CCH, a review will occur within four to six months to make sure that the appropriate services are being provided. After that, reviews will occur annually. Reviewers will look at a number of different areas of an individual’s life (e.g. Individual Plan, health care, finances, human rights, etc.) to make sure that the individual’s needs and goals are being met.
Quality Reviewers from Central Office will visit the CCH prior to its being licensed to make sure that the environment is safe and that the CCH licensee has been properly trained. After an individual moves into a new CCH, a review will occur within four to six months to make sure that the appropriate services are being provided. After that, reviews will occur annually. Reviewers will look at a number of different areas of an individual’s life (e.g. Individual Plan, health care, finances, human rights, etc.) to make sure that the individual’s needs and goals are being met.
CCH FAQ for Families 11-2011.doc(11-2001)