Adult Foster Care represents a vital service designed to offer ongoing residential care and crucial support to adults. These services are delivered within the comforting environment of a home that is officially licensed as either family foster care or a community residential setting (CRS). The hallmark of adult foster care is its personalized nature, with services carefully tailored to meet the specific needs of each adult, as detailed in their individual support plan.
Within the realm of adult foster care, two primary settings exist. A family foster care setting is characterized by a licensed family foster care home where the license holder is also a resident. Conversely, a community residential setting (CRS) is a licensed residence serving adults where the license holder is not a live-in resident. CRSs typically operate using a shift-staff model, ensuring round-the-clock support through paid staff shifts. A defining feature of a CRS is that at least one individual residing there receives foster care or supported living services funded through an HCBS waiver program.
It’s important to distinguish adult foster care from institutional settings. For the purpose of clarity, an “institution” in this context encompasses facilities such as nursing facilities, hospitals, intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities (ICF/DD), and institutions for mental disease (IMD). Settings can be further categorized based on their proximity to institutions. A Prong 1 setting is directly located within a publicly or privately owned institution, potentially sharing an address or physical connection. A Prong 2 setting, on the other hand, is adjacent to a publicly owned institution, sharing a property line without intervening land. Publicly owned institutions are those financed and operated by governmental bodies, excluding privately owned nursing facilities.
