BARC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES INC

BARC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY ONE-HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND AUTISM LIVING IN UPPER AND CENTRAL BUCKS COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON INDIVIDUALS' SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT ARE MET IN OVER THIRTY HOMES. COMMUNITY LIVING ARRANGEMENTS (CLA) ARE HOMES WITH VARYING LEVELS OF SUPERVISION BASED SPECIFICALLY ON THE INDIVIDUALS' NEEDS. THE FOCUS OF BARC'S CLA HOMES IS ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR ABILITIES WHILE DEVELOPING METHODS TO ASSIST THE INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM TO ADDRESS AREAS TO IMPROVE UPON. EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM HAS A VOICE, WITH THE INDIVIDUAL'S BEING THE DIRECTING INFLUENCE. LEVELS OF SUPPORT AND STAFF OVERSIGHT ARE MORE VARIED WITHIN CLA HOMES, WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVING PERIODS OF TIME WHERE NO DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ARE IN THE HOME. SOME INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN CLA HOMES WITHIN BARC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, SUCH AS DAILY HYGIENE AND TAKING MEDICATION, OFTEN THE TYPE OF ASSISTANCE NEEDED IS DURING SOCIAL SITUATIONS TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS OPTIMALLY. INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES (ICF/ID) PROVIDE 24-HOUR A DAY STRUCTURED AND FULLY SUPERVISED CARE FOCUSING ON ACTIVE TREATMENT. THIS ENTAILS THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR DAILY LIFE WITH THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE THEY REQUIRE. ASSOCIATES WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS TO TEACH THEM THE PROCESS TO LEARN EACH STEP OF A TASK AT THE RATE OF SPEED THE INDIVIDUAL REQUIRES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE THE LEVEL OF PROMPTING THEY REQUIRE DURING THIS PROCESS WHICH CAN BE AS MINIMAL AS VERBAL DIRECTION OR AS MUCH AS PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE. ACTIVE TREATMENT OCCURS DURING DRESSING, BATHING, EATING, TAKING MEDICATIONS, COMMUNICATING, WORKING, HOUSEHOLD CHORES, LEISURE TIME, AND COMMUNITY OUTINGS. INDIVIDUALS IN AN ICF MAY HAVE COMPLICATED MEDICAL DIAGNOSES REQUIRING THE NURSING TEAM, IN UNION WITH DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE HAS ALL OF THEIR NEEDS MET WHILE BEING ABLE TO LIVE A FULL AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATED LIFE. TWO ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE INCLUDE UNLICENSED RESIDENTIAL HABILITATION (URH) AND LIFESHARING. URH SUPPORT INVOLVES AN INDIVIDUAL LIVING ALONE, OR WITH A ROOMMATE, AND A DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL ASSISTING THEM FOR LESS THAN 30 HOURS PER WEEK. ASSISTANCE IS TYPICALLY PROVIDED WITH SHOPPING, APARTMENT CLEANING, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, BANKING, AND BUDGETING. STAFF ARE IN PLACE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLETE THESE TASKS AND TEACH THEM HOW TO DO THEM INDEPENDENTLY IN THE FUTURE. LIFESHARING OPTIONS ALLOW FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO LIVE IN THE HOME OF A COMMUNITY MEMBER. THE GOAL OF THIS SERVICE IS FOR A STRONG BOND AND RELATIONSHIP TO DEVELOP BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY WHERE SHARING MANY ASPECTS OF EACH OTHER'S LIVES OCCURS OVER TIME. IN ADDITION TO THE ASSOCIATES WHO PROVIDE CARE AND SUPPORT DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS INDICATED ABOVE, THERE IS AN INTRICATE NETWORK OF OTHER BARC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATES. THE FULL NURSING TEAM INCLUDES OVER FIFTEEN ASSOCIATES WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT WITH MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS, MEDICATION, AND HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT. THE MAINTENANCE TEAM ENSURES THAT HOMES, DAY PROGRAMS, OFFICES, AND VEHICLES ARE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE. A BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND TEAM ADDRESS DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM ASSISTS WITH INDIVIDUALS' BENEFITS, PAPERWORK PROCESSING, AND THE EVERYDAY TASKS THAT FALL INTO EVERY OTHER CATEGORY THAT MAKE INDIVIDUALS' LIVES AS SAFE AND ENJOYABLE AS POSSIBLE.

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES SUPPORT APPROXIMATELY 450 CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND/OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES FROM BIRTH TO 3 YEARS OF AGE IN BOTH HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS. DRIVEN BY THE INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN (IFSP), SERVICES ARE FAMILY FOCUSED. THE IFSP IS DRIVEN BY THE PRIORITIES, DREAMS, AND NEEDS OF EACH FAMILY. INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WITHIN A FLEXIBLE RANGE OF OPTIONS TO BEST FIT THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF FAMILY AND CHILD AND PREDICATED ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF EACH CHILD. A COACHING MODEL, INTENDED TO EMPOWER FAMILIES TO FACILITATE THEIR CHILD'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THEIR DAILY ROUTINES IS FOLLOWED. THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT MAY INCLUDE SPEECH THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND/OR SPECIAL INSTRUCTION AND TAKES PLACE IN NATURAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. FAMILIES ARE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING TEAM AND ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES SET FORTH IN THE IFSP ARE MET. THE PROGRAM IS MONITORED BY THE OFFICE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY LEARNING.