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Project Home/Adult Foster Care

Fact Sheet

Referral Form and Provider Applications

Baltimore County Department of Social Services administers two housing programs for clients over the age of 18 who need protective housing.  These programs are:

• Adult Foster Care: A County funded program
• Project Home: A State funded program

The purpose of these programs is to serve the vulnerable and disabled adults of Baltimore County who need safe and supportive environments in which to live.  The primary goal is to enable these persons to remain in the community.  There may be a maximum of three clients placed in a home.

We work together as part of a team: the Baltimore County Department of Social Services Housing Coordinators, the client's social workers, the providers, (the person who provides a home for the clients) and the clients.

The Type of Clients Served by Project Home/Adult Foster Care

Clients in these programs may have a variety of mental illnesses such as; schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic-depression) or anxiety disorders. They may also be aged/and or disabled individuals who do not need to be in a nursing home. They may have a variety of medical conditions such as diabetes, a heart condition, arthritis, or have suffered a stroke. There are some specialized homes that house people living with AIDS. They do not require nursing home care and are not bedridden. In most cases their medical needs are covered by Medical Assistance.

We have noticed that the clients who are now applying to our program are more frail, and vulnerable.  Therefore clients are requiring more "hands on" care by the providers.

Requirements of the Home and Provider

Home

• Meet COMAR regulations
• Grab rails in the bathroom and on all stairways
• Smoke detectors
• For rental properties, hard wire smoke detectors needed with battery back up
• Fire extinguisher- minimum rating of 2A - 10BC
• Fire drills-quarterly and a written escape plan

Clients must have a separate sleeping space.  The maximum is two clients to a room.  The room must measure 80 square feet for one client.  With two clients in a room, the room must measure 120 square feet.  The client needs a comfortable bed, 2 pillows, a bedside stand with a drawer, a comfortable chair, at least 2 drawers in a bureau, a bedside or over the bed lamp, closet space and proper lighting.  There also needs to be an adequate amount of linens, dishes and utensils in the home.

Providers

A home study is conducted by the housing coordinator to assess the applicant's appropriateness and interest in becoming a provider.  Everyone in the home is expected to participate in the home study.

MUST pass police clearance-all persons living in the home over the age of 18 years old, except clients.

Back-up

The provider must have a responsible, reliable back up (at least one maybe more) who can come into your home and stay with the clients in your absence.  The back up may also be contacted if there is an emergency with a client and you cannot be reached. The back up(s) must also undergo a police clearance.

References

Three references are required.  If the provider is employed, one of the references must be a professional reference.  You may use friends, neighbors or clergy members BUT NO RELATIVES.

Training

Several mandatory training sessions are required by our agency.  These training sessions include; Introduction to Mental Illness, Fire Safety, and Universal Precautions.  There may also be other training sessions held and you may be mandated to attend those as well.

Providers Will Provide:

• 3 meals a day and snacks
• Personal care
• Supervision - clients should be able to be left alone for a few hours
• Shopping
• Budgeting
• Recordkeeping, disbursement of client's personal needs allowance if required by client's social worker
• Monitor medications
• Assistance with dressing or choosing proper clothing
• Arranging medical appointments & psychiatric appointments
• Transportation to medical & psychiatric appointments
• Keeping contact with psychiatrist/medical doctor/housing coordinator/client's social worker

Services are based on needs of the individual client and are determined by the client's social worker.

The Process of How Clients Come into the Program and are Matched with Providers

Clients can be referred to our program from a hospital, other programs within the Department of Social Services, or from the community.

When a referral is made, the supervisor ranks the client, according to the client's needs, and assigns a social worker from the program to assess the client.

When the assessment is completed and if the client is appropriate and willing to be a part of this program, the social worker making the assessment presents the client to the committee.  The committee consists of the two housing coordinators and the program supervisor.

The housing coordinators suggest possible providers, based on the need and wishes of the client.  The housing coordinators will contact the provider and verbally present the client to the provider.  If the provider is interested, the client's social worker will contact the provider, answer any further questions about the client, and arrange a visit.  If the initial visit goes well, then an overnight visit will be arranged (the provider will be paid for the overnight visit).  If this goes well, then a move-in date will be set.

Payment Fees

The above information is intended to be a brief overview.  When provider applicants are assigned for a home study, the housing coordinators will review the responsibilities of the provider and the certification process in detail.

Supervisor

Deborah Veystrk, LCSW-C
410-853-3511

Housing Coordinators

Please print out, fill in and mail applications to:

Department of Social Services
Drumcastle Government Center
6401 York Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21212

Referral Form Application - PDF
Provider Application - PDF

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Revised June 25, 2009