Services :

CAP-MR/DD Waiver Services

Counseling and other Professional Services

Developmental Therapy

Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF)-Residential Services

Shelter Plus Care

Supported Living-Residential Options

CAP-MR/DD Waiver Services:

The Community Alternatives Program for Persons with Mental Retardation/ Developmental Disabilities (CAP-MR/DD) is a Medicaid program started in 1983 to serve individuals who would otherwise require services in an intermediate care facility (ICF/MR). CAP-MR/DD allows these individuals the opportunity for choice of support settings and helps to prevent institutionalization.

Gaston Residential Services is endorsed to provide four services within the CAP-MR/DD service array. These services are Residential Supports, Personal Care, Home and Community Supports, and Supported Employment.

Residential Supports:

Residential Supports provides assistance with acquiring, retaining, and improving skills related to activities of daily living, such as personal grooming and cleanliness, bed making and household chores, eating and the preparation of food, and the social and adaptive skills necessary to enable the individual to live in a non-institutional setting. GRS provides this service to qualified participants who live in licensed homes operated by GRS.

Personal Care:

Personal Care services include support, supervision and engaging participation with eating, bathing, dressing, personal hygiene and other activities of daily living. GRS provides this service to qualified participants who live in an apartment or licensed home setting operated by GRS.

Home and Community Supports:

Home and Community Supports enable the individual to acquire and maintain skills that will allow him/her to function with greater independence in the community. Home and community supports provide habilitation, training and instruction coupled with elements of support, supervision and engaging participation. Home and community support allows for a natural flow of teaching, practice of skills, and other activities as they occur during the course of the participant’s day. GRS provides this service to qualified participants in an apartment setting operated by GRS.

Supported Employment :

Supported Employment Services provide assistance with choosing, acquiring, and maintaining a job for participants ages 16 and older for whom competitive employment has not been achieved and /or has been interrupted or intermittent. Services include: pre-job training and/or education and development activities to prepare a participant to engage in meaningful work-related activities. Work-related activities may include career/educational counseling, job shadowing, assistance in the use of educational resources, training in resume preparation, job interview skills, study skills, assistance in learning skills necessary for job retention, and assisting a participant to operate a micro-enterprise.

Counseling and other Professional Services:

Professional program services are available to the people served by Gaston Residential Services to support them in their lives in the community.

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreation and leisure planning, communication services, psychological services and professional counseling are some of the services available to the people served by GRS. Professional counseling services are additionally available to adults who do not receive residential services from GRS, and referrals for counseling can be made by the person’s case manager or physician, or through self-referral.

For people living in independent, semi-independent, or Supervised Living homes, professional program services are available on an as needed basis. If a formal program is needed by a person served from one of the professional services, the person will be evaluated and a program will be devised and reviewed by the professional.

All professionals practicing on behalf of the people served by GRS are expected to be licensed and certified in their respective areas according to the regulations governing their profession. In the case where certification is not regulated by the state, the federal ICF/MR guidelines will serve as the criteria for the minimum requirements to serve in a professional area.

GRS also offers a Family Support Group for interested parents, family members and citizen advocates. The group meets to discuss issues of interest to them, to learn about legislative issues, and to provide support to each other. This is a free service provided to family members and advocates.

Vocational Services:

Gaston Residential Services strongly promotes the value of work in people’s lives. Because of our fundamental belief that people deserve to be included in their community, GRS does not endorse nor operate “sheltered workshops.”

The purpose of employment services is to assist individuals in achieving their desired employment outcome. Employment services will vary according to the individual’s preferences. Services can include: vocational evaluation, assistance with obtaining employment, assistance on the job site, and behind the scenes job support.

GRS offers employment services through its affiliate, Career Management Group (CMG). Individuals do not have to receive residential or other services through GRS to be eligible for employment services. Additionally, individuals do not have to choose CMG as their employment provider to receive residential services from GRS. Individuals are encouraged to make independent and well informed choices about a service provider.

Developmental Therapy:

Developmental Therapy is a service available to some people who have a developmental disability. The service offers one to one support and teaching in the areas of self care, socialization and independent living. GRS provides Developmental Therapy to qualified participants who live in GRS operated homes or apartments as funding allows. Funding availability for this service is determined by the State of North Carolina and Pathways LME.

Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF)-Residential Services:

Gaston Residential Services, ICF (GRS, ICF) provides residential supports and services for people who are 18 years old or older, who have a developmental disability and who meet the federal requirements for needing a highly monitored and supported residential life.

As an ICF provider, GRS is certified and complies with Federal standards in eight areas, including management of facility services, human rights protections, home staffing, active treatment services, facility practices, health care services, physical environment and dietetic services.

For ICF homes, the majority of the service is defined by a person’s need for “active treatment.” Active treatment refers to thorough and consistent implementation of a program of specialized and generic teaching, treatment and health services. Active treatment does not include services to maintain generally independent persons who are able to live with little supervision or in the absence of a continuous active treatment program.

An additional marker of ICF is the need for an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) to complete a Comprehensive Functional Assessment (CFA). The CFA is designed to encompass all aspects of a person’s life needs so they can live full and included lives within their communities.

GRS’ vision of ICF services is one where people live as independently as possible, striving to reach their maximum potential. GRS, ICF encourages and expects that all people can participate in community competitive employment or meaningful community volunteer activities of their choice. GRS is committed to community inclusion for all people receiving services.

GRS, ICF currently operates five homes located in neighborhoods throughout Gaston County. Each person living in these homes has his or her own bedroom, shared common living areas, and the benefit of a 24 hour awake staff.

Shelter Plus Care:

Shelter Plus Care (S+C) is a program that uses federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants to provide rental assistance for a variety of housing choices for homeless people who have a documented mental illness, developmental disability or substance abuse disorder.

A homeless person is someone sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation or sleeping in an emergency shelter. Documentation and verification of homelessness and disability status is required.

The S+C program was built on the premise that housing and services need to be connected. The S+C program provides rental assistance which is matched by the equal value of supportive services from the appropriate service provider. A participant in the S+C program must be 18 years old and have a community service provider.

Supported Living-Residential Options:

Gaston Residential Services (GRS) provides residential supports and services for people who are 18 years old or older who also have a developmental disability and/or a mental health disability. GRS currently operates homes and apartments in neighborhoods in and around Gastonia.

Some GRS homes are licensed through the state of North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation. Anywhere from two people to six people supported by staff live in these homes and in each home, there is at least one staff providing support twenty four hours a day. Each individual has his or her own bedroom. People who live in these homes share a kitchen, living/dining area and bathrooms. Support is provided for medical appointments and medication administration, and some transportation is provided.

GRS encourages and expects that all people can participate in community employment, meaningful community volunteer activities or a day program of their choice. Individuals are also expected to help develop and participate in goals and activities which enhance their skills and offer opportunities for further independence.

GRS operates the Willow Street Apartment Program. The staff serve the eight people who live at Willow Street Apartments, and also provide support to several people who live in their own apartments or condominiums throughout the community. Support is offered on a periodic basis depending on an individual’s support requirements. There are usually at least two contacts per day by staff with each person who lives in an apartment or condominium. There is not staff overnight in these settings. People served are expected to know and practice personal safety and have basic household maintenance abilities to qualify for apartment or condominium living. Transportation is limited; individuals should be able to use or learn to use public transportation.

Whether a person lives in a licensed home or an apartment setting, some people may qualify for additional support based on their need and available resources. These supports may include opportunities for individual teaching and assistance with personal care, hygiene, household chores, recreation and employment. GRS provides these additional supports for qualified individuals through the CAP-MR/DD waiver program or through IPRS Developmental Therapy Services.