ADULT SERVICES
Learn more about our adult and enrichment services.
Listen to this articleHOME AND COMMUNITY BASED WAIVER
SUPPORTS WAIVER
The Supports Waiver provides options to enhance the lives of individuals who are 18-years-old or older. While not a lifetime entitlement, the Supports Waiver supplements regular Medicaid State Plan services and natural supports. This waiver is primarily offered to individuals who are receiving state plan-funded vocational and habilitation services.
Services provided through this waiver include:
- Supported employment
- Day habilitation
- Vocational training
- Habilitation and work training (in-center programs, mobile crews enclaves)
RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS WAIVER
The Residential Options Waiver is a program administered by the Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities through the Rebalancing Initiative. This service is available to individuals who meet established guidelines for emergency waiver opportunities and individuals residing in nursing homes and Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled (ICF-DD). Children and adults who are on the waiting list for other waiver services are also eligible for this service.
The Host Home component to this waiver is a service that is provided in a family’s home, for a family who has contracted with STARC and meets all requirements of host home providers. The Host Home family is responsible for: meeting all necessary health and safety needs of the individual; having emergency plans in place, including hurricane evacuation; providing 24-hour support and supervision; and securing direct support services for the individual.
COMMUNITY CHOICE WAIVER
The Community Choice Waiver (CCW ) is a community-based alternative to nursing home placement. This service is designed for individuals 65 years old or older who meet the criteria for nursing home admission or are 21- to 65-years-old and are disabled according to the Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) standards. Individuals must also meet the financial eligibility requirements and criteria for admission to a nursing facility.
Services under this waiver include:
- Companion service
- Environmental accessibility adaptations
- Personal emergency response systems
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY HOMES
STARC’s residential community homes provide opportunities for individuals age 16 years old and over to live in family-style homes in typical neighborhoods throughout St. Tammany Parish. This program provides trained, qualified staff 24/7/365.
Residents receive care and support with activities of daily living, socialization, community access and health care coordination and services. Each home serves from six to eight residents and has a lead staff who supervises direct support professionals, monitors care of individuals and manages the property. A Residential Coordinator is also present for overall management and quality assurance.
STARC currently operates four residential homes in St. Tammany Parish: The Mustard Seed Community Home, Our Daily Bread Community Home and Potter’s Clay Community Home.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Social responsibility may be a buzz phrase today, but it’s been a cornerstone of STARC since our inception. When we invest in our community, and our community invests in us, we create a circle that benefits all.
Here, we marry STARC’s mission with market-driven strategies, transforming our clients’ talents and desire for independence into invaluable services, products and artistic creations for sale within our community.
One example? STARC’s Better Way Services. Or what about this one: STARC serves St. Tammany Parish Schools by picking up, laundering, repackaging and delivering mop heads to 55 schools throughout the parish. Because the St. Tammany Parish School Board outsources its mop-cleaning needs, STARC clients enjoy meaningful work. There’s also our Mardi Gras beads program, STARC Art notecards and framed art, plus other business opportunities from our community outsourcing services to STARC.
ENRICHMENT SERVICES
STARC ART
All individuals enrolled in STARC programs or who receive STARC services are eligible to participate in the STARC Art program. Local artists, all of whom specialize in highlighting the artistic abilities of individuals with disABILITIES, engage our clients in a variety of art activities. This outstanding art program gives individuals with disABILITIES a chance to earn money as they enjoy personal growth, self-expression and a sense of pride and accomplishment. The artists who participate in STARC Art explore their unique artistic talents in a variety of media. Completed works may be matted, framed or otherwise displayed and sold at outlets throughout the state. Prints from the STARC artists’ work are also used to make note cards, which are then sold through STARC and at locations statewide. STARC ART STORE
FAMILIES GROWING TOGETHER
To participate in Families Growing Together (FGT) activities, individuals must:
- Be a registered member
- Pay annual dues of $10 a year
- Be accompanied by a responsible adult at every activity
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Special Olympics is a state-sponsored program. It provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic–style sports for children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. These continuing opportunities are invaluable assets in developing physical fitness, demonstrating courage, experiencing joy and participating in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with families, participants and the entire community. Through the volunteer services of specially trained coaches, STARC provides individuals of all ability levels an opportunity to participate in Special Olympics bowling and bocce events. STARC individuals who train for these events are invited to compete against others of similar age, ability and gender in the local, state and national Special Olympics games. Individuals can earn gold, silver or bronze medals, or fourth- through eighth-place ribbons in each event. The rules accommodate all levels of athletic ability and enable individuals to compete against athletes of similar skills so that all have a fair chance to win.
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” – Special Olympics Oath
If you would like to sponsor a STARC Special Olympics athlete or if you are interested in becoming one of STARC’s Special Olympics coaches or volunteers, please contact us. 985-641-0197
