Vaya Health

Vaya Health North Carolina

Supported Living Initiative

Many North Carolinians with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) have not had access to one of the most person-centered service options available: receiving supports needed in one’s own home. Services provided to people with IDD are increasingly shifting to smaller scale settings, including group homes, host families or private homes, but still do not provide person-centered, individualized supports. While smaller, congregate settings offer physical integration into the communities, they rarely provide the opportunity for true, inclusive community integration.

In November 2016, an amendment to North Carolina’s Innovations Waiver expanded the scope of available services to include Supported Living, literally opening doors for individuals with IDD. Through the service, individuals may live in their own homes with only the supports that they choose, allowing them as much or as little help as they want and need.

About the Service and Initiative

The Supported Living initiative is made possible through a collaboration between the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities and the North Carolina Money Follows the Person Project, a Medicaid project that assists Medicaid-eligible residents of North Carolina who live in inpatient facilities to move into their own homes and communities with supports. The Supported Living Service allows individuals to live in their own homes with only the supports that they choose. They can have as much or as little help as they want and need. They can have a roommate of their choice. They can have a live-in caregiver if needed. And available technology can help individuals increase their independence even more.

GOALS OF THE INITIATIVE

  • Expand and strengthen North Carolina’s capacity to support people with IDD diagnoses to participate in Supported Living.
  • Launch a stakeholder group to support individuals with IDD and their families, MCOs and state staff. Our aim is to develop a shared understanding of supported living concepts and improve our community capacity to support individuals who utilize this service.
  • Provide technical assistance to providers and direct support staff on how best to support individuals as they transition into their own homes.