Factsheet - how do we keep it all going and growing?

Hartwood Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1973 as a nonsectarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the interests of and opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities and other developmental challenges. The volunteer Board of Directors has elected to pursue this mission through the development and operation of respite and residential programs; and the establishment of several private funds that provide funding for special activities beyond those which government provides.

Funding

Hartwood programs are funded through a variety of sources that may include the Virginia Intellectual Disability Medicaid Waivered Services Program, local grants and operating contracts, federal housing funds (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -HUD), state housing funds, fees charged service recipients, and private fund-raising and return on investments. Each program has a unique combination of funding developed to provide for the resources – people and materials – that are needed to effectively and efficiently operate. The building of partnerships between the private and public sectors has been a key to our success in developing new opportunities and services.

The fiscal year 2021 budget anticipates spending approximately $9.3 million on all programs and operations.

Operations

Currently Hartwood operates 18 group residences (15 in Fairfax county and 3 in the Henrico/Richmond area) housing and supporting 92 persons in the community; a facility-based respite and emergency services project with 6 beds (also located in Fairfax county); an in-home supports and drop-in services program in Fairfax county; and a respite subsidy project providing financial support to families who have special care needs; and 5 private endowment funds.

Hartwood currently provides partnership with the Fairfax-Falls Church and Arlington Community Services Boards and the Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services Agency.

Some housing (6 homes) is subsidized through partnerships with HUD under the Section 202/8 and Section 811/8 programs.

Certifications and Licenses 

Hartwood is an approved and enrolled provider of residential and respite services under the Intellectual Disability Medicaid Waivered Services Program since its inception in 1991. Program operations are licensed through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services – Office of Licensing.

Affiliations: Hartwood is a member of the American Association on Intellectual Disabilities (AAID), the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), the State Association of Community Rehabilitation Programs (VaACCSES), and the Virginia Network of Private Providers (VNPP).

Hartwood currently operates a total of fifteen group homes (12 in Fairfax county and 3 in Henrico county) offering 24-hour staff support and supervision to 85 adults with a primary diagnosis of intellectual disability. Fairfax area operations also include: an emergency/respite group home serving up to eight individuals, two supervised living programs (SLP) providing less than 24-hour staff support and supervision serving a total of seven adults, and a Community Supports program serving ten individuals living semi-independently in the community and three individuals residing with their families/primary caregivers. Services are individualized and in accordance with the service recipient’s ISP/Plan of Care. Service provision is consistent with CSB, DBHDS and Medicaid regulations and standards.

Individuals currently in service and those referred for services may require various levels of support and/or supervision. Staffing patterns in Hartwood group homes and SLPs are organized to support the individual needs of program participants and as individual needs are assessed (and reassessed), efforts are made to obtain and provide necessary resources to meet the individual needs of the participant in place. Residential supports and services provided include, but are not limited to: personal care assistance, functional skills assessment and development, behavioral/coping skills assistance, community resource utilization, nutrition and health care coordination and assistance, access to and assistance with social/recreational opportunities, and assistance to develop natural supports and friends among individuals with and without disabilities.

Hartwood’s Community Supports program offers opportunities for skill-building and direct supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities living either on their own or in the family/primary caregiver’s home.  One-to-one skill-building activities and support services provided directly to the service recipient include, but are not limited to: personal care assistance, functional skills assessment and development, behavioral/coping skills assistance, community resource utilization, nutrition and health care coordination and assistance, access to and assistance with social/recreational opportunities. Individuals served can be of any age and must have a primary diagnosis of intellectual disability. Referral for service must be made in cooperation with the CSB, and individuals must have an assigned Support Coordinator.

Supports provided and skill-building activities offered to individuals in service are determined through the Person-Centered planning process with a focus on those areas agreed to be important to and important for the individual.

Group home staffing schedules include daytime direct care staff available for the purposes of providing transportation to/from and support during medical and other appointments and to provide support and assistance with activities of daily living when the individual would otherwise be attending a day program or work activity.  Evening shift direct care staff are assigned/ deployed to allow for afternoon appointments and maximum flexibility with the planning and carrying out of community social and recreational activities. All of Hartwood’s group homes include awake overnight direct support staff who provide general supervision and specialized supports as may be needed to assure the health and safety of the individuals served.