Families & Support Coordinators
Guidance for the road ahead.
Exploring residential support is a meaningful decision. Here is practical, honest guidance for individuals, families, guardians, and the professionals who support them.
Preparing to open Haven Blessings is not yet licensed and is not accepting residents or referrals. The guidance below is general and can help you evaluate any residential provider.
For individuals & families
Exploring a future home.
Whether you are looking for yourself or for someone you love, these ideas can help you approach the process with confidence.
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Start with the person
Think about what matters most to the person who will live in the home: their routines, interests, important relationships, favorite places, and the things that help them feel calm and happy.
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Keep their voice at the center
Involve the person in every step, in whatever way works best for them. Their preferences and choices should shape the decision.
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Take the time you need
Choosing a home is a big decision. It is okay to ask many questions, compare options, and take things one step at a time.
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Lean on your team
A support coordinator or case manager can help you understand which options may be available and what steps are involved.
For guardians & caregivers
Planning with confidence.
Guardians and caregivers play a vital role in helping someone find the right home. These are areas worth thinking through as you plan.
- Your role as an advocate
- Guardians and caregivers often carry knowledge no one else has. Share what you know about the person’s history, preferences, and what has worked well before.
- Communication
- Ask any provider how and how often they communicate with families and guardians, and who you can contact with questions or concerns.
- Decision-making
- Understand how decisions are made, how the person’s own wishes are respected, and when guardians are consulted.
- Transitions
- Moving can be a significant change. Ask how a provider supports a gentle transition, and how familiar routines and belongings are kept close.
- Planning ahead
- Consider the person’s long-term goals and how support might change over time. Good providers plan for growth as well as stability.
For support coordinators
Knowing where we stand.
We appreciate the work support coordinators and case managers do. Here is what we can share today, and how to connect with us.
What we can share now
- Our current status: preparing to open, with licensing in progress
- Our values and person-centered philosophy
- Our planned approach to residential sponsorship and support
What we ask
- Please do not send referral packets or individual information yet
- Please do not email protected health information
- General, introductory questions are always welcome
Staying in touch
You are welcome to email us to introduce yourself or ask general questions about our plans. We will share information about referrals on our website when we are ready.
Admissions & referral statusA practical checklist
Questions to ask any residential provider.
These questions can help you compare options and feel confident in your choice. They are worth asking of every provider you consider — including us, once we open.
Licensing & oversight
- Is the provider licensed for the service you are considering?
- Who oversees the home, and how often is it visited or reviewed?
- How are concerns, complaints, or incidents handled and reported?
Daily life
- What does a typical day look like?
- How are personal preferences, routines, and choices respected?
- How does the home support community activities and relationships?
Support & staffing
- Who provides support day to day, and how are they trained and supervised?
- How is a person’s support plan put into practice and reviewed?
- What happens if needs change over time?
Communication & partnership
- How will the provider keep families and guardians informed?
- How can the person, family, or guardian raise concerns?
- Can you visit the home and meet the people involved before deciding?
Helpful resources
Virginia resources.
These organizations offer information about disability services and supports in Virginia. They are listed for convenience; Haven Blessings is not affiliated with them.
- Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) The state agency that oversees developmental services and licenses providers in Virginia. (opens external website)
- My Life, My Community Virginia’s information portal for developmental disability services and supports. (opens external website)
- Community Services Board directory Find your local Community Services Board (CSB), a common starting point for support coordination. (opens external website)
- Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) Virginia’s Medicaid agency, including information about Medicaid waiver programs. (opens external website)
- The Arc of Virginia Advocacy and information for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. (opens external website)
- disAbility Law Center of Virginia Virginia’s protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities. (opens external website)
- Virginia Board for People with Disabilities Information, policy, and leadership resources for Virginians with disabilities. (opens external website)
Glossary
Words you may hear.
The language of disability services can be confusing. Here are plain-language explanations of common terms.
Please keep sensitive details out of email
Ordinary email is not a secure way to share private information. Please don't include medical, diagnostic, or disability details, Medicaid or Social Security numbers, or dates of birth.
- Person-centered planning
- An approach to planning that starts with the individual — their preferences, strengths, goals, and what a good life means to them.
- Support coordinator
- A professional, sometimes called a case manager, who helps a person and their family understand options, plan supports, and connect with services.
- Residential sponsorship
- A model in which a person lives in a family-style home with a trained sponsor who provides everyday support, supervised and supported by a licensed provider organization.
- Support plan
- A written plan that describes the supports a person receives and the outcomes they want. In Virginia, this is often called an Individual Support Plan (ISP).
- Guardian
- A person appointed by a court to make certain decisions on behalf of another person. Not every person who receives support has a guardian.
- Circle of support
- The people who know and care about someone — family, friends, and professionals — and who help them plan and pursue their goals.
- Medicaid waiver
- A program that can fund community-based supports. A support coordinator can explain which programs may apply to a particular person.
- Licensed provider
- An organization that has been licensed by the appropriate state authority to provide a specific service.
Get in touch
Let’s start a conversation.
Whether you are a family member, guardian, support coordinator, or neighbor, we would be glad to hear from you. Email is the best way to reach us while we prepare to open.
Email address:
harmony@
Please don't include medical or other sensitive personal information in email.