A Place to Call Home

Laradon’s Residential Program
Celebrates 20 Years

Laradon has 64 years (and planning for many more) of expertise in caring for children and adults with developmental disabilities.  During this time, Laradon has become an expert in providing opportunities, creating innovative programs, setting trends and raising standards for those with special needs. Laradon’s Adult Residential Services Department is no exception.

2012 marks the Host Home program’s 20th anniversary.  “Our program has a history of raising the standards for Host Home care in Colorado; it has unlimited potential for growth and innovation,” says Annie Green, Laradon’s Deputy Director. Laradon contracts with people in the community that are interested in becoming Host Home Providers.  Providers can be individuals, couples or families with children. 

Longevity of the program can be attributed to Laradon’s unique ability to match participants with Host Home Providers.  Over 13% of the participant/provider matches have lasted for 15 – 19 years proving that the upfront effort it takes to make the perfect the match is worth it. 

One Host Home Provider and two Laradon participants have made a perfect match since 1993.  Tom Rodriquez first met Bob and Gavin when he was their residential program manager.  Both young men had graduated together from Laradon’s Alternative School and decided to be roommates in a Laradon Group Home.  Both Tom and Gavin took an immediate liking to Tom.  They shared his sense of humor, they often exchanged jokes between the three of them, loved to go on outings together and even cleaned the group home and did other chores when Tom asked them to. Tom was equally impressed by Bob and Gavin – they were always so happy and lived life to the fullest. 

When Tom heard about Laradon’s Host Home program he figured it was a great opportunity to still work with the people he enjoyed while at the same time not have to work at a regularly scheduled job.  Tom applied to be a Host Home Provider; he took the additional trainings that Laradon requires for all providers, readied bedrooms for each person and had the guys spend a couple of weekends on a “trial basis” to ensure that it was a harmonious match.  Immediately following the first visit, both Gavin and Bob announced they were moving! 

“Host Home Providers wear a lot of hats,” says Karen Mayfield, Director of Adult Residential Services. “They are care provider, mentor, teacher, friend and sometimes therapist.  They ensure the participant’s health and safety while making normal day-to-day activities a learning experience.  For example, learning how to make a meal plan, going grocery shopping, paying bills, taking care of your home and yourself, are all important skills that everyone needs.  While they are learning these skills they are also participating in the community, engaging with people in their home and learning social skills.”

Family environment, individual attention, longevity in the same home, and being incorporated with the Host Home Provider’s circle of family and friends is a big reason for the high achievement in this program.  Participants take part in dinners, celebrations, and other activities.  Stability is another big factor in the participants’ accomplishments. Many of our participants’ parents and family members have passed away.  Host Home providers fill this void,” says Karen. 

Serving people where they want to live is important. Although Laradon serves most people in the Denver metro area, Laradon has the ability to provide services to people throughout the state.  This enables a participant to be in the communities they enjoy and want to be part of.  Laradon also accepts children who are aging-out of foster care services; finding these young adults stable homes is important to their future success.

What makes Laradon’s Host Home program so special?  The residential staff provides 24-hour support, consult on all medical issues and training to Host Home Providers and participants. Program Managers are available to assist with behavioral challenges, roommate issues and other matters.  They support the participant’s interests, help them to maintain relationships, send greeting cards and even use the Internet to communicate.  “Computers are really opening up their worlds,” says Karen.

Laradon staff is strong advocates for participants.  Karen says, “They [participants] are people with dreams, talents and desires.  They just need some support. That’s where Laradon comes in.  We help to ensure their rights are being exercised, that their community medical services are at the highest standards, and that we are teaching them about self-advocacy.  All of these skills help reduce exploitation of people with special needs.  By providing training and support we are helping them to work through their challenges.”

Laradon is currently serving 44 adults in this program and is taking applications for Host Home Providers.  “It’s nice to see our participants in quality, stable homes and in the community.  When people see participants being successful, we are proving that they can be more independent and included in their communities.  People are learning more about people with developmental disabilities and how to treat them with dignity and respect, but mostly, to see the value in all people.”

For more information about Laradon’s Host Home program, please contact Karen Mayfield at karen.mayfield@laradon.org.