How to open and operate an Adult Residential Facility

California encourages people to open small 6 bed residential facilities to provide care and supervision to people with developmental disability and mental illness. A warm home environment gives residents the support and freedom to live in their own community without the need for more restricted care. Residents benefit by having available services that includes community integration, vocational and educational training, day programming, medical monitoring and protection of personal rights. Care providers become individual entrepreneurs who benefit by operating a small business and the personal reward that comes from giving to others.

Running a small business stimulates the economy by creating opportunities and jobs for others. Individual with developmental disability are managed by Regional Centers and have the advantage of a rich array of services available to them. In contrast Mental health clients lack many basic supports and services. Most small 6 bed residential adult residential facilities provide care to developmentally disabled individuals.

There are two critical steps in opening your home.

1. California requires all licensed facilities to be operated by a certified administrator. 2. Your facility must have a license to operate.

Most people who file an application for a facility license are also the certified administrator. You may function as the administrator under someone else’s license. And of course, as the holder of the license, you may hire someone other than yourself to function as the administrator.

What is a Certified Administrator

The administrator is responsible for the management of the facility including client health and welfare, implementation of activity program, medication monitoring and assistance, abuse reporting, staff hiring and training, and client and staff records. The ideal administrator understands the needs of individuals under his or her charge and is committed to their personal growth and independence.

Administrator Course

The first step in becoming an administrator is to enroll in the Adult Residential Administrator Course. On completion of the course, you take a test at the local Community Care Licensing office.  The test is 40 questions and you may miss 12 and still pass. On passing the test you will receive a letter  from Community Care Licensing requesting you obtain fingerprint clearance and send $100.00 to receive your Administrator Certificate.

Are all Administrator Courses The Same?

Eric Brotman Seminars has been offering training and consultation in Adult Residential for over 5 years. Our program employs instructors who currently work as administrators of facilities. Not only will you graduate our course with a firm grounding in the laws and regulations but you will learn the day to day problems and reality of operating a facility.

Marketing

The best run facility will not succeed without good marketing. Most courses do not touch on this critical piece. Even most existing facility operators do not grasp the importance of learning how to market residential services within the Regional Center system. A few simple marketing strategies consistently employed is the difference between just making it or enjoying real success.

Building Your Business With Other Services

Many successful companies that operate services for people with developmental disabilities offer other services such as Day Programming, Independent and Supportive Living Instruction, Mentoring, Community Integration, Vocational Training and placement. An example of providers that offer multiple services include  New Horizons and   Salem Christian Homes.