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April 23rd, 2018

An exterior view of TKC's group home in Hamden, CT.

The Kennedy Center, in early April, acquired a group home in Hamden from the State of Connecticut as part of a cost-savings plan.

This group home represents one of 10 conversion homes the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is transitioning to private nonprofit providers. This particular group home was originally built by DDS when individuals were moving out of the DDS Regional Centers.

 

The Kennedy Center now operates 17 group homes throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

Currently, six individuals live in the new Hamden group home with three male and three female residents.

“Prior to the Kennedy Center managing the group home, we met with all the families and guardians and assured them we are committed to providing a safe, caring and homelike environment for their loved ones,” said Mary Pat DeCarlo of New Haven, The Kennedy Center Vice President of Residential Services. “All the individuals in the home have adjusted well and the staff is very excited to work with the residents.”

A total of 14 staff have been hired for the new Hamden group home. Throughout Residential Services, The Kennedy Center employs over 200 people.

“The Kennedy Center, as a leading rehabilitation organization and private provider in Connecticut, is fully committed to the conversion of DDS group homes,” noted Richard E. Sebastian, Jr., President and CEO of The Kennedy Center. “We have the ability as well as capability to manage former DDS group homes. In fact, The Kennedy Center was the first agency in Connecticut to open two group homes.“

Residential Services at The Kennedy Center began over 45 years ago and provides community living support services to adults who have intellectual disabilities. Currently, The Kennedy Center Residential Services include the following program services: group homes, supportive living and family support.

The capacity of each group home or community living arrangements ranges from three to eight individuals. An array of services is provided throughout an individually designed person-centered plan of service and built on a team process which includes the involvement of the individual, his/her family member or guardian, Kennedy Center residential manager and support staff, supervisors, nurses, DDS Case Managers as well as behavioral services as needed.

The Kennedy Center group homes provide: individual program plans to enhance personal growth and competency, ongoing support and supervision, leisure time planning, community access and integration, and daily opportunities to engage in decision making and express individual choices.

All Kennedy Center Residential Programs are licensed and/or monitored by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). The Kennedy Center is a qualified provider and participant in the Title 19 Comprehensive Waiver and Individualized & Family Support DDS Waiver Programs. The individual must be on Title 19 and enrolled in the DDS Waiver Program to be eligible for The Kennedy Center Residential Program. DDS refers individuals to The Kennedy Center for placement consideration.