| Growth Horizons provides residential services and supports
to assist adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities to live in and become active members of their
community. Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing
environment to support individuals to become as independent
as possible. Over time, we strive to remain flexible in
supporting each individual as the needs of the individual
and his/her life circumstances change. We also support
self-determination through Person Centered Planning and
attempt to incorporate choice into all aspects of life for
the people we support. We provide services and supports in agency-owned or rented homes, apartments, and individual-owned homes. There are usually three to four individuals per agency-operated home, although in some cases, one or two individuals may live in an apartment or home. The size of the home depends on individual needs, desires, interests, and medical and behavioral support needs. Over the last several years, many of the people we support have transitioned from young adulthood into older adulthood, resulting in an increased number of chronic health problems. This in turn results in more complex support needs for these individuals as well as increased training and support needs for the staff working in these homes. To ensure the best quality of health care, we incorporate medical oversight and technical assistance into our residential programs on an as needed basis through licensed registered nursing staff. Supervised Living includes any residential program in which 30 or more hours of staff support/supervision is required per week. These programs are all licensed (PA Public Welfare Code Title 55, Chapter 6400). Most of our homes have twenty-four hour, on-site staffing, although in some cases, this level of supervision is not needed. For example, some homes do not have staff in the home overnight, because all of the people living in that home are able to remain home alone safely and have demonstrated the ability to manage an emergency independently. Supported Living may be an option for people who have fewer support and supervision needs. In these homes, we maintain a flexible schedule of less than 30 hours of support hours per week. These programs are unlicensed. Typical support needs in these settings may include but are not limited to transportation to and support with medical appointments, support with medication administration, assistance with budgeting, and assistance with meal planning and food shopping. We take pride in offering services and supports tailored to meet the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a caring and professional manner. Our homes are attractive and nicely furnished and blend into the neighborhoods where they are located. Our staff are loyal and dedicated and we are fortunate to employ many staff who have chosen to remain part of the Growth Horizons family for 10 to more than 25 years. This consistency in staffing enables us to provide greater continuity and quality of care to the people we support as well as a unique and supportive work environment for new employees. |