» Residential Homes
» Community Living Program
» Early Child Development
» In-Home Respite Program
» Adult Family Home Agency
» Life Planning Project

Residential Homes

More than just a place to live, HGH
provides a home setting with residential
services and support at 28 spacious
houses located throughout San Diego
County, California. By providing comfortable, friendly living environments with varying levels of support and training and 24-hour care and supervision, residents are able to live, work and play in an everyday home setting. HGH operates its homes under the regulations of the State Departments of Social Services and Health Services. Twenty-five of our homes are licensed as Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled, Habilitative (ICF-DD/H), through the Department of Health Services and two are licensed as Adult Residential Facilities (ARF), with the Department of Social Services (Level 4).

Residents are encouraged to participate in activities that match their personal abilities, such as assisting with cooking, cleaning their rooms, doing their own laundry, and planning and participating in recreation and leisure activities.

For more information regarding Residential Services, please contact Marcia Vanlandingham, Director of Residential Services: marcia@guidinghands.org or (619) 938-2878.

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Community Living Program

The Community Living Program focuses on adults who are at least 21 years of age with a primary diagnosis of one or more developmental disabilities including mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. We support these individuals' choice to live independently in their own homes or apartments and are committed to providing the necessary training and support to make that independence possible and maximize their life experiences.

Trained Community Living Counselors provide between 4 and 40 hours of pre-scheduled one-to-one support each month. For emergency situations, clients have access to a counselor 24-hours a day, seven days a week through an on-call emergency pager support system. Person-centered support plans include (but are not limited to):

For more information on the Community Living Program, please contact Liane Wilson, Manager of Community Support Services: liane@guidinghands.org or (619) 954-8259 .

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Early Childhood Development

Home of Guiding Hands’ Early Childhood Development Services Program provides therapeutic and educational early intervention for children ages 0-3 who are at risk for developmental delays or who may be diagnosed with a developmental disability. In partnership with California Early Start Services, the program provides age-appropriate educational services and therapeutic interventions using evidence-based practices. Credentialed teachers provide services on a 1:1 basis in natural environments.
HGH is dedicated to bringing quality in-home early intervention services to children and families in the following areas:

• Cognitive and Physical Development
• Speech and Language Development
• Social and Emotional Development
• Adaptive (Self-Help) Development
• Behavior Management

We believe that parents/caregivers possess an unparalleled knowledge of a child’s unique attributes and needs, and are therefore in the best position to provide input to service identification. As the foundation of this program, we emphasize a multi-disciplinary collaborative partnership that is relationship-based and culturally responsive. Services are family-centered, and employ appropriate curriculum and intervention strategies individually tailored to each child. HGH is committed to partnering with children/families to promote optimal development in all areas.
For more information regarding the Early Childhood Development Program, please call Mary Moser-Cooper at (619) 938-3068 or (619) 204-4822, or email marymc@guidinghands.org.

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Adult Family Home Agency

The Adult Family Home Agency (AFHA) 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.  The family can provide support with self-care needs, money management, medical care, and leisure/recreational activities. 

HGH is happy to be able to offer this new service to clients, and hopes that it will create a sense of security and belonging that comes from being a valued member of a family.  In addition to day-to-day support, participation in the AFHA program allows clients to form important social ties and become integrated into the family unit. HGH is currently looking for people interested in becoming providers.  To learn more about the Adult Family Home Agency program, contact Liane Wilson, Manager of Community Support Services: liane@guidinghands.org or (619) 938-2889.

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In-Home Respite Program

Families caring for their family member with developmental disabilities in their own homes sometimes need a few hours away to revitalize themselves and be ready to meet the ongoing needs of their families. In 1999, HGH developed a Respite Program that provides families time to go to the movies or to dinner, to catch up on running errands, or perhaps just to rest and relax at home, all with the knowledge that their family member is safe and well-cared for.

Our staff is expertly trained to support those with changing needs. While in your home, staff provide individual, personalized care according to the needs and desires of the individual and caregiver.

At HGH we realize how demanding providing care for a person can be—on time, energy, resources and patience. HGH’s Respite Service provides much-needed relief to caregivers. People can tend to family business, go shopping, go to the movies, read a book, spend one-on-one time with other family members; the list goes on and on. Trained staff members provide support for individuals on a one-to-one basis that is tailored to the needs and desires of the individual and the family. Services may focus on support and training in any of the following areas as needed or requested:

Services are provided for families supported by the San Diego Regional Center. HGH is also willing to hire and train individuals that the family and client already know to provide their respite services. Hours authorized per month vary between 4 and 40 hours, depending on individual needs and family support. Please check with your SDRC Service Coordinator to determine eligibility.

For more information regarding the Respite Program, please contact Wendy Smith, Respite Coordinator: wendy@guidinghands.org or (619) 938-2876.

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Senior Services

Home of Guiding Hands’ Respite Service also provides support for individuals with changing health and care needs associated with aging such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke etc. HGH’s Respite Service offers families and caregivers the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that individuals are receiving personalized supervision, companionship and care from an experienced Respite agency.

Familes interested in Respite for Seniors should contact: Marcia Vanlandingham, Director of Residential Services: marcia@guidinghands.org or (619) 938-2878.

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Life Planning Project

The Life Planning Project is a new program designed to assist families through the process of planning for the future of the entire family and specifically the desired future of their family member with developmental disabilities.  Originally funded by a grant from the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Life Planning is now vendorized through the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC).  Families with a member who has developmental disabilities participate in training and education workshops on planning techniques and services and supports available to them to help protect and enhance the future of all their family members.  

Six two-hour workshops focus on specific topics:  Why Plan – Getting Started; Building Relationships & Skills; Work, Retirement & Leisure; Housing Options; Legal Issues; Setting Goals.  While each workshop has value in and of itself, the materials are cumulative and designed to build on prior information.  Families are encouraged to participate in the entire series to create a more cohesive and usable plan.  In addition to exercises and activities completed in class, families work on their written life plan between sessions.  

Classes are offered throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties.   Class lists are grouped by geographic location and time of day.  When 12-15 participants have registered for a series, a start date is scheduled.  Clients receiving services from SDRC should contact their casemanager to add Life Planning as an IPP goal. Classes are also available on a private-pay basis.

For more information regarding the Life Planning Program or to register for an upcoming class, please contact Wendy Smith, Life Planning Program Coordinator: wendy@guidinghands.org or call (619) 938-2876.

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