4 Agencies Share Group Home Pacts |
The Patriot Ledger Four local agencies have taken over 10 group homes for the developmentally disabled since South Shore Mental Health, the area's largest human services provider, dropped its state contracts for the residences in May. South Shore Mental Health decided to cut ties with the homes and to focus solely on mental health services after three area mental health clinics closed during an eight-month period. The homes, in Quincy, Randolph and Braintree, have been divided among the four agencies stepping in for South Shore Mental Health. Together, the organizations will oversee the health, safety and daily living needs of 88 South Shore residents with developmental disabilities, as well as a handful of individuals who live independently but require part-time help. Growthways, a nonprofit agency that has provided residential, family and individual support services to the greater Brockton area for 23 years, has picked up three of the group homes. South Shore Support Services, a Weymouth-based nonprofit specializing in home support for adults and children runs two of the homes. Human Service Options, a for-profit Weymouth organization that has been offering living assistance for 26 years, operates one home. Advocates Inc., a Framingham-based nonprofit with services ranging from psychiatric support to emergency crisis intervention, acquired four homes. In addition to administering support for the developmentally disabled, Advocates Inc. provides services to deaf people. Staff and residents in each of the four homes are deaf. The agency recently opened an office in Randolph, reducing the number of trips between the South Shore and Framingham. The state Department of Mental Retardation selected the organizations based on a variety of criteria, including medical and behavioral supports, certification status, financial stability, provider track record with staff retention, record of positive relationships with families, after-hour support and deaf services. The switch, effective July 1, went smoothly according to presidents and directors from all four organizations ‘‘ The individuals and the staff are the same people they were the day before,'' said Growthways president Marty Berliner. ‘‘We didn't enter a situation in need of a major overhaul. The baton got passed from one agency to another quite cleanly.'' The immediate goal is to get to know each resident's needs and maintain stability during the transition, said Beth Silverman, who directs the mental health division and oversees deaf services at Advocates. ‘‘ It's important not to do too much change too soon,'' she said. Heather Gehlert may be reached at hgehlert@ledger.com. Copyright 2005 The
Patriot Ledger |