Our Mission:

“…….To Improve the Lives of Those We Serve…”

Our Vision:

To be recognized as the premier provider of a dynamic spectrum of individualized services supporting persons with special needs.

Home of Guiding Hands

Home of Guiding Hands provides services to more than 800 individuals with developmental disabilities in San Diego's East County, California. We serve individuals and their families in several different residential settings and provide various services in accordance with the needs of each individual.

To receive services through HGH, individuals must have a primary diagnosis of mental retardation. This diagnosis may be compounded by other developmental or physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy or a vision or hearing impairment. Placements are coordinated by the San Diego Regional Center.

HGH's services are funded through government sources and corporate and private donations. Due to limitations and restrictions in government funding, HGH also relies on the support of individuals, corporations and private and public grant funds to provide its expert services to people with developmental disabilities. Comparisons with large state-run institutions offering fewer services indicate that HGH provides significant tax savings for California's taxpayers, while offering a greater quality of life for its residents with disabilities.

Residential Services - HGH owns and operates 31 homes in the San Diego area communities of El Cajon, Lakeside, San Carlos, Santee, Encinitas and Spring Valley. Additionally, we operate two homes in Lakeside which are owned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Three homes in Spring Valley and one in Encinitas support children and adolescents ages 6-22.

Early Childhood Development

Through the Early Childhood Development Services Program, we provide therapeutic and educational early intervention. This program is for children ages 0-3 who are at risk for developmental delays or who may be diagnosed with a developmental disability.

Community Living Program - The Community Living Program offers support to assist individuals with developmental disabilities who are living independently in their own homes and communities of choice. Our Community Living counselors provide training in skills such as cooking, home management, finance and transportation.

Respite Program - Many families who have a family member with developmental disabilities, or other challenges associated with aging, living with them are offered a much needed break by HGH Respite workers. These highly skilled individuals can also provide additional in-home training in daily living activities, communication, behavior management, self advocacy and home/leisure activities.

Adult Family Home Agency This program creates the opportunity for people with disabilities to live with a family in a private home in the community, and receive care from them. Families must go through an extensive screening and training program, before being matched with a client who will move into their home. The AFHA program can be an ideal transition for residents who have been living in group homes or independent living programs, but now require more individualized care.

Life Planning Program - The goal of the Life Planning Program is to assist families with the process of developing a care plan for the future of the entire family with a focus on the future needs of the family member who has developmental disabilities.

HGH also offers classes in First Aid and CPR that are open to the public for a small fee.

Notice of Privacy Practices (PDF) - It is the policy of Home of Guiding Hands to comply with federal regulations regarding notice of our privacy practices for our residents and their representatives. The Notice of Privacy Practices describes how medical information about residents may be used and disclosed and how residents and/or their representatives may gain access to this information.