Agency With Choice

Friendship Home became qualified to be an Agency with Choice with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services in 2010. In this service management model, Friendship Home helps individuals and families to hire their own service providers. This is a “co-employment model” where Friendship Home is the employee of record, but the family directly supervises the employee and sets out the duties. The services may include any combination of the following services:

Individual Home Supports offers training for individuals to assist with the development of life skills and community habitation activities. Homemaker Services offers assistance with shopping, meal planning, laundry and performance of general household tasks.

Chore Services offers services to help maintain a clean and safe home including minor home repairs and heavy cleaning where no other person is responsible.

Adult Respite Services provides care in the individual’s home when the current care giver is unavailable.

Adult Companion Services provides companionship so that the individual may successfully reside in his/her home or in the family home with supervision, socialization, and assistance with activities of daily life.

Community Residential Peer Supports provides training, instruction and mentoring for individuals about self-advocacy, participant direction, civic participation, leadership, benefits and participation in the community. This may be provided one to one or in a small group.

Community/Residential Family Training provides training for families regarding behavioral plans, family leadership, support of self advocacy, and independence for the family member.

Please see the attached Agency with Choice Handbook for further details and see if this model is right for you.