Seven Steps to Becoming a Sponsored Residential Care Provider

The chance for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities to reside in a caring, family-like environment as engaged family members can be transformative. Cuffies Angels's Sponsored Residential program thoughtfully pairs children and adults with disabilities with empathetic caregivers who provide tailored assistance in their own homes. In certain situations, the individual's own parents might take on the role of their sponsored residential caregiver.

If you have considered becoming a care provider but want to know more about the process, these are the seven steps to becoming sponsored home provider with CuffiesAngelsLLC.

1. Contact one of Cuffies Angels’s sponsored home finders. Our home finders serve as the initial contact for those curious about becoming a care provider. They are available to address your inquiries, supply further details and resources, and assist you in beginning your journey toward becoming a care provider with Cuffies Angels.

2. Attend an orientation session. These orientation sessions aim to guide potential care providers through the process of gaining approval to offer services with Cuffies Angels and securing a license from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). Held quarterly, these sessions typically last between 1.5 to 2 hours, varying based on the volume of questions raised.

3. Submit an application. At the orientation, you'll receive an application packet that asks for fundamental details about yourself and your household members. You can also request these packets outside of the orientation sessions. Cuffies Angels mandates personal references and authorizes background checks on all household members aged 16 and above. You can submit your filled-out applications to the nearest Cuffies Angels office.

4. Complete background checks. After submitting a finished application, the home study procedure commences, initiating with background checks for all individuals over 16 residing in your home. Applicants undergo thorough screening in line with federal guidelines, encompassing DMV reviews, criminal record checks, evaluations by Child Protective Services (CPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS), financial resource assessments, and reference verification.

5. Participate in a home visit. During the home study phase, a home finder from our team, possibly accompanied by a residential coordinator, will inspect your home to verify it offers sufficient space and accessibility for the individuals we support. Homes of Cuffies Angels’ care providers are required to adhere to specific safety criteria and comply with all DBHDS rules regarding the home's physical setting. Following this inspection, a follow-up visit by a DBHDS licensing specialist is mandated by state regulation.

6. Complete training courses. Cuffies Angels provides comprehensive training to equip care providers with the skills needed to support individuals with varying care needs, such as personal care, physical assistance, life skill development, and round-the-clock supervision. Sponsored home providers under our program are required to undergo all DBHDS-mandated trainings, which include workbook orientation, CPR and first aid, as well as medication management courses.

7. Receive approval to provide sponsored residential services. Once you've completed the home study, necessary trainings, and requisite home visits, you'll obtain approval from Cuffies Angels and a state license from DBHDS to serve as a sponsored home provider for Cuffies Angels. Following this, Cuffies Angels focuses on finding the most suitable match between you and the individuals we assist, although the timeline for placement can differ based on various factors.