FACES: For People with Developmental Disabilities - Facilitating, Advocacy, Care, Education, & Shelter
FACES is a program designed to residentially support children and adults with disabilities in their communities. Primarily serving individuals with developmental disabilities, this program seeks to provide them with a meaningful life by giving them guidance, encouragement, and support. This is accomplished in one of the following models:
Host Homes: provided by people wishing to open their home to welcome in adults with disabilities who might not have family or the means to support themselves in their own home. The host home makes every effort to help the individual feel that this is his or her home, too. The Host Caregiver becomes part of the individual's family and support network.
In-Home Supports: provided in the home of the individual needing supports. Often these individuals still have family or have the means to live in their own home if they receive basic support services. These In-Home Caregivers provide structure and meaning to the individuals' day by integrating them into their communities through, for example, shopping trips, trips to the library or other social outings.
Stories: Changing lives, different thinking, and supportive companions.
In the FACES program, a woman who had once lived in an institution, where she was one of many on the unit, now has a different life. She lives in a home with a family where the couple and their children bring their individual interests and attention to her. She enjoys the hustle of getting ready for school and having breakfast, the activity and serenity of attending worship services, and the warm lick of a big dog on an outstretched hand.
For another lady, the desire to help others and earn money too, has lead to her working in an office. There she helps with the chores of keeping the office clean and presentable, and engages in friendly exchanges with others sharing that space. However, like many of us, she is careful not to have her work interfere with her social interests of a boyfriend and sports.
Yet another has changed from his poorly fitted sweat pants and tee shirt uniform, in which so many with challenges are routinely dressed, into pants that button and a shirt with a collar. Now in going out to the store or to the mall, he smiles at those he sees, he walks with a taller stature and more confident gait and is becoming as he appears, another citizen in the community.
These are but small examples of how a change of thinking and intentional steps by companions sharing living in typical ways, do make a difference in peoples lives. Now you notice their faces and begin to wonder, how else are we alike?
Our offices in Atlanta, Albany, Rome, Savannah, Columbus and Athens are expanding services in and around these cities for all MHDDAD regions. For information on our program or to refer Medicaid Waiver Personal Supports Recipients to our program, please call 404-591-7044 and speak to Julia Bowen.