Katrina Special Needs Assistance Page

This page is being replaced by a new section on TheArcLink called Roommates, which will be launched later this month. Return here in a few days to try it out.

 

Roommates will be available to state developmental disabilities agencies. It assists service coordinators and case managers in matching a vacancy in an assisted living or group home program with a person needing a placement. Case managers can either post a vacancy or create a listing for a person who is ready for placement. Family members and persons with disabilities can also post their own listings if their online registration is approved. Request more information.

Roommates can track two different types of placements: supported living (many states call these waiver placements) and group homes.

No personal identification like names and street addresses are allowed in the postings.

Vacancy days mean people are not living where they want to and providers are losing money. The goal of the Roommates is to match people with the best possible placement and eliminate unnecessary vacancy days.

The original idea for Roommates came from Kathy Kliebert, Director of the Louisiana Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Julia Kenny, then the Executive Director of The Arc of Louisiana, who requested it in conjunction with TheArcLink’s Louisiana launch.  John Dickerson and Nanette Whightsel of The Arc of Indiana also assisted in developing design specifications and in beta testing.  Louisiana will use it to solve a problem in filling supported living waiver openings, and Indiana will use it as a primary tool for the closure of the Ft. Wayne State Developmental Center.