Definitions!

Host Home:  A host home is a person who undergoes various types of trainings and certifications to be prepared to provide a variety of supports to a person with developmental disabilities in their home.  Basically a host home provider (HHP) has a disabled individual in Roots services come live with them and helps make sure they take their meds, helps gets them to doctor appointments, helps with dressing/bathing if needed, provides behavioral supports and guidance, and teaches independence skills based on the individual’s needs and abilities.  In the vernacular, a HHP is almost like adult foster care for developmentally disabled adults.

Developmental Disability (DD):  Some commonly known examples of a developmental disability are autism, Down’s syndrome, or traumatic brain injury (TBI).  In order to qualify for the HCBS-DD wavier the person must be diagnosed with or have a disability causing event before the age of 21, e.g. they are born with autism or Down’s, or had a brain injury as a child.  However, Roots services and waivers are for people 21 years and older.  The state and federal funding is different for a disabled minor.  Fun fact!  Developmentally Disabled people are amazing and varied!  Some people are able to live independently and need only minimal supports from family and friends, other people may need help remembering to take medications, recognizing medications, protection from being monetarily exploited, help dressing, assistance with eating/cooking/cleaning…every person is unique and needs unique supports from their HHP.  This is why Roots works so hard to match the right HHP with the right person in services!

Case Manager:  A person with a developmental disability is not automatically qualified to receive supports through agencies like Roots. A Case Manager, or CM, is the person that helps you apply for and get on the different waiviers.  They will then be able to explain the different services that you can access on your waiver, once approved, and can give you a list of the different agencies nearby that provide different services.  If you get day program services at one agency, but have a host home through Roots, the Case Manager will also facillitate communication between the agencies, provide support during meetings, and becomes the individual’s advocate

HCBS-DD Waivier:  There are different types of monetary support available through the state and federal governments.  Various requirements must be met to receive the different levels of support through the government, and there are often very long waiting lists to be placed on these waivers, which then allows a person to access the supports different agencies provide.  Roots services are paid for through the HCBS-DD waiver, which is also known as the “Comprehensive Waiver”.  This means that Medicare and Medicaid reimburse the agency and HHP for all of the supports, sometimes extremely intensive, that are provided.  Other waivers are more limited, such as the SLS waiver, and the person must pick and choose a limited amount of services from a list of options.  For example:  A DD waiver person can access residential services (HHP) that covers EVERYTHING in the home (meds, clothes, shopping, etc.), day program access, behavior support, money management, and on and on.  If a person is on SLS they will have a cap and must choose if they want money management OR medication management help.

Service Provider:  Various agencies provide different services to developmentally disabled people.  There are day programs and paid work programs to attend during the day to learn social skills and possibly earn money.  Some agencies have access to in-house behavior specialists or counselors.  A few agencies might have a group home for living options, where as other agencies focus on more individualized host homes for residential options.  These agencies are collectively known as “Service Providers” and a person on the DD waiver can choose to have all their services from one specific agency, or pick and choose from different agencies based on what each agency offers.  Each agency has different options, approaches, staff personalities, training style, etc!