Community Homes Program
The Arc of Caddo-Bossier believes that everyone who wants to live in the community and be contributing, participating members of that community should have the right and opportunity to do so. The Community Homes Program offers a home in the community for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
First Community Home In Louisiana
The Arc of Caddo-Bossier opened the first Community Home in Louisiana in October 1977. At that time, if a person could no longer live with a family for any reason, the only options were nursing homes or large institutions. The Community Homes Program established a very important landmark in Louisiana. It proved that there were certainly good alternatives to large institutions and nursing homes when people with mental retardation needed a home in the community.
The Arc of Caddo-Bossier's first home was a small, 6 bed, residential model that set the standard in the state of Louisiana for Community Homes. The goal was to provide a warm, caring, safe and attractive home environment for the residents. The Arc of Caddo-Bossier currently has nine Community Homes.
The Pecan Street home (pictured) is one of our community homes.The Community Homes Program is funded by Medicaid which requires that an individual training and service plan be implemented for every person who lives in the home. The Arc of Caddo-Bossier's program strives to address areas of self-help that will increase each person's skills for living more independently. Each plan addresses the individual's choice for vocational, medical, recreation, leisure time activities and community participation. The Arc of Caddo-Bossier is committed to offering the program's services through a skilled and competent staff. Sandra Gilliard directs the Community Homes Program. Each resident is served by a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) who heads the team and develops an individual's plan along with the individual, his/her family, friends and other related staff and professionals. Direct Service professionals, house managers, and assistant house managers serve to implement the plan.