COMMUNITY RESIDENCES INC.

PROVIDER ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

Community Residences, Inc. (CRI) is a not-for-profit corporation developed to serve people with special needs in the State of Connecticut. It is the principal goal of CRI to provide quality services to people in the least restrictive manner possible. A key to reaching this goal is the hiring, training and maintenance of a highly qualified, involved and well-motivated staff.

 

CRI is a nonprofit 501(c) corporation serving people with special needs in the State of Connecticut.  CRI is established to manage services in a manner that allows the needs and rights of people with disabilities to be met in the least restrictive manner possible.  To accomplish this goal, CRI works with State of Connecticut human services agencies to develop and operate high quality Day, Residential and Community support services.  A key to reaching this goal is to hire, train and support a highly qualified, experienced and motivated team of professions.

 

CURRENT PROGRAMS

The Community Residences Inc. (CRI) provides Day, Residential, and Community Support Services to children and adults throughout the State of Connecticut.  Listed below is an overview of the specific types of services currently provided.

ADULT DAY PROGRAMS

CRI Operates four Community Experience Programs (CEP) in Connecticut under contract with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).  These programs are designed to support people that have significant developmental disabilities.  The program sites are as follows:

46 Christine Lane, Newington, Connecticut

900 Main Street, Oakville, Connecticut

984 Southford Road, Middlebury, Connecticut

120 Willow Street, Winsted, Connecticut

 The Direct Care Professionals in this program are actively supported by consultants who are specialists in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Development and Behavioral Psychology. In addition to this, there is a nurse at the program sites to monitor and evaluate each participant's medical status. On a daily basis, the staff who work in the Adult Day Programs are responsible for implementing specialized feeding programs, motor development programs and utilizing special switches that allow the men and women in this program to develop abilities that will give them some control of their environment. In addition regularly scheduled community outings provide the participants with opportunities to explore and experience the world outside of the day program setting.

 

ADULT RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

 

COMMUNITY TRAINING

CRI operates Community Training Homes for adults who are clients of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) In this program, homes are recruited, licensed, and individuals in need of supervision and support are then placed in the homes. Through its contract with the DDS, CRI is responsible to recruit, train, license and provide ongoing support and supervision to CTH

SUPPORTED LIVING

The CRI Supported Living Arrangement (SLA) Program is designed to provide assistance to people with mild to moderate disabilities who live independently in their own home. People who are supported by this program may need assistance with money management, meal preparation, home care, health maintenance, or any other need area that can be handled by drop in staff. The individuals in this program have issues that range from sexuality, social isolation, developmental disabilities, and a variety of mental health issues.

COMMUNITY LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

The CRI Community Living Arrangement (CLA) Program provides twenty-four hour supervision to people living in a group home type environment. The people living in this environment have needs for significant support in all areas of development. In conjunction with the individual's day program, CRI attempts to provide habilitative, social and recreational activities that will enable the individual to develop increased levels of independence. The CLA's are licensed by the DMR and are monitored on a regular basis for compliance to regulations and quality of services.

INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY/MENTAL RETARDATION

The six Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation (ICF/MR) group homes operated by CRI provide services to individuals who have severe-profound mental retardation and have other significant handicapping conditions. This highly regulated program which is funded by the Department of Department of Social Services and monitored by the Department of Health, is designed to provide active treatment in the least restrictive environment possible and to utilize an IDT process to determine needs and develop/monitor the implementation of programs.


 

CHILDRENS SERVICE

FOSTER CARE

Community Residences, Inc. Therapeutic Foster Care Program began in 1994 providing support services to children with special needs committed to the Department Of Children And Families. The children range in age from three months to eighteen years old. Some children have significant behavioral, emotional and / or medical needs due to abuse and neglect by their biological parents that require and respond to treatment within a family setting.

The Program currently supports many children in homes throughout Connecticut. The length of stay has ranged from three months to over six years. Supports provided to the children in care include intensive Case Management, visits within the home, behavioral modification and programming.  

Foster Parents report that providing care to these children can be very rewarding. Children with special needs grow and thrive in homes with the guidance, nurturing and individual attention provided by caring Foster Parents. Children become a part of the family and learn to grow with them.

MENTOR PROGRAM

In response to the growing need for children to have positive, long term relationships with adults, CRI is beginning a therapeutic mentoring program.  Children referred to the program will be matched with an adult mentor who will connect with the child on a weekly basis to work on therapeutic goals such as social skills, anger management, and community appropriateness.  The referral and contract process will be similar to CRI’s current services. 

Mentors meet with children involved with the Department of Children and Families once or twice a week.  Mentors develop a positive, ongoing relationship with a child in need.  Mentors can make their own schedules and work on a per diem basis.  Mentors must provide references, have their own transportation, have a clean criminal record, and attend trainings provided by CRI.   

Short Term Assessment and Respite (STAR) Programs

Community Residences, Inc operates five Short Term Assessment and Respite (STAR) program in the communities of Hamden, Bristol, Manchester, Windsor and Stratford.  These homes provides temporary housing, assessment and stabilization to children that have been abused and/or neglected and are in crisis and/or homeless in Connecticut.  Treatment is focused on stabilization and assessment in a trauma sensitive environment with milieu, individual, group and family therapy as determined by the treatment plan. 

 

Each facility has six beds, is gender specific and has programming geared to meet the needs of that gender.  Assessments are completed within 30 days of admission to determine appropriate placement options for children and services needed to ensure that all of the child’s needs are being met in order for the child to be successful in the next placement.  Families are invited to participate in treatment and placement planning for the children. 

 

The children do have some level of emotional and behavioral difficulty necessitating the assessment and/or respite services on an emergency basis.  A secure, safe environment is provided with clinical services available to help children adjust and prepare for the next placement.  All children are referred by DCF and the program is funded by DCF.

 

ADOPTION/FAMILY REUNIFICATION

 

Recruitment/Licensure of Families

CRI provides specialized recruitment of families for children who have been waiting too long for adoptive families.  Services can include presenting the child to interested families and posting the child's information on CRI's web page and at public events.  Creative recruitment efforts such as informational sessions for families interested in a particular child and public adoption events have been arranged by CRI staff.  The child’s social worker works in close collaboration with support workers of potential families, DCF recruitment efforts (i.e. Wednesday’s Child, Heart Gallery, etc).  Assessments, trainings, and home studies can be provided for families who come forward.  Typically the home study and approval process is completed within 90 days.  Visits are conducted with the child to become acquainted with his/her needs and help prepare him/her for the transition to a forever family.

 

Placement and Post Placement Services

Services can include transportation to and from visits between the child and new family, and ongoing clinical and case management support before and after the transition.  Ongoing assessment, parent education, assisting in accessing community services, and helping the family work through any adjustment issues are all included in this level of service.  Families are provided with on-call crisis management.  CRI can complete the adoption finalization paperwork.

 

Intensive Family Preservation

For adoptive families in crisis or at risk of disruption, this intensive level of programming is utilized to strengthen and stabilize the family system.  Typically the social worker meets with the family multiple times per week.  Parent training, therapeutic interventions, crisis management, and guidance regarding treatment issues are offered.  Additionally, social workers can assist with such case management issues as accessing services, developing a healthy support system, budgeting, and advocating for the family's unique needs.  Treatment plans are developed with the family to identify target areas for improvement.

  

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Center for Professional Development (CPD) offers classes for Individual community members to register or our staff will work with agency administrators to bring your staff to the CPD facilities in Newington or tailor a training program that CPD Instructors can bring on site to your agency for instruction.

 

The following classes are offered on a regularly scheduled basis: