Residential Services
About
Little Friends Residential Services Program helps adults with autism and other developmental disabilities live in homes as independent members of the community with support provided based on each individual’s needs. The agency strives to help those we serve to enjoy the freedom to shape their own lives and make decisions about their own homes, friends, and how they spend their time. Our breadth of experience provides us with the tools to adapt each environment to meet the unique needs of our residents.
Little Friends provides independent living skills training, community integration, and money management for adults. Our breadth of experience in the field of autism has provided us with the tools to adapt each environment to meet the unique needs of our residents. We operate forty properties, some of which include twenty-four-hour supervision. We also offer intermittent settings where individuals receive services based on need. Some only receive one day a week, while others receive services seven days a week. The care and safety of our residents are paramount.
Those we serve receive help accessing resources such as Medicaid, food (LINK) assistance, and Social Security. As part of the residential living program, Little Friends’ highly professional and state-licensed staff also provides a clinical assessment of each individual’s health status and self-medication capabilities and helps to coordinate services to meet each person’s physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral needs.
Enrollment Process
Individuals are funded through the Department of Human Services and Medicaid. Each person must qualify and obtain Medicaid to qualify for our services. Those seeking placement services should contact their Individual Service Provider (ISC) at agencies throughout the state. They will gather your information and then send out “packets” of information for the Agency, in this case it would be Little Friends. We thoroughly review each packet. If the appropriate openings are available, a meeting will be set up. We do keep the packets mentioned above from the area service providers in our database so that when openings do occur, we are able to review them.
For those we serve and their families, every day presents a new challenge, as well as an opportunity for growth. The Little Friends Children’s Group Home helps children develop everyday communication and behavioral skills. One of the first of its kind, the Center is a highly structured residential training environment, a place where children with autism and other developmental disabilities can develop basic life skills through proven programming and ABA therapy.
Enrollment & Funding Process
Eligibility
Persons 18 and older with IQ of 70 or below prior to age 18 OR related condition before age 22 with significant life skill deficits in 3 of 6 major life activities (self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-directions, capacity for independent living) and PUNS selected.
Access to Services
Little Friends Residential Services program utilizes the Illinois DHS-Division of DD Medicaid Waiver, Services for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
Register on waiting list (PUNS) through your Independent Services Coordination agency. The PUNS list is a waiting list for Medicaid waiver funding to pay for services, provided through the IL DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). Individuals are selected from the PUNS waiting list and invited to apply for DD Waiver services. The Independent Service Coordination Agency is the “doorway” to PUNS and funding for service
