Barc Developmental Services Incorporated
Mission
THE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROGRAM OFFERED BY BARC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES PROVIDES CARE AND SUPPORT TO OVER ONE HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS IN OVER THIRTY HOMES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE AREAS SURROUNDING UPPER AND CENTRAL BUCKS COUNTY. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES (ICF/ID) PROVIDE STRUCTURED 24-HOUR DAILY SUPERVISED PROGRAMS WHERE ACTIVE TREATMENT IS THE FOCUS. THIS CONCEPT INVOLVES THE IDEA THAT EVERY PERSON IS ABLE TO TAKE PART IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR DAILY ROUTINE. DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ENSURE THIS OCCURS BY PROVIDING THE LEVEL OF PROMPTING THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. THIS CAN BE AS LITTLE AS A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OR A MUCH AS TAKING A PERSON'S HAND IN THEIRS AND FULLY DOING THE TASK WITH THEM. THE INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVE TREATMENT OCCURS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL DURING DRESSING, BATHING, EATING, TAKING MEDICATIONS, COMMUNICATING, WORKING, HOUSEHOLD CHORES, LEISURE TIME, AND COMMUNITY OUTINGS. IT IS SOMETIMES THE CASE THAT INDIVIDUALS IN AN ICF HOME HAVE COMPLEX MEDICAL DIAGNOSES AND IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE NURSING TEAM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS A FULL AND ENJOYABLE LIFE WITH AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS THEIR HOUSEMATES WHO DO NOT HAVE THESE DIAGNOSES. COMMUNITY LIVING ARRANGEMENTS (CLA) PROVIDE STRUCTURED PROGRAMS WITH VARYING LEVELS OF SUPERVISION. AS WITH ICF HOMES, THE FOCUS IN BARC'S CLA HOMES IS ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR STRENGTHS WHILE DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO WORK ON THE AREAS THE INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO IMPROVE UPON. THE TEAM PROCESS IS USED TO DEVELOP ACTION PLANS THAT ARE AS DETAILED AS NECESSARY BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL. EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM HAS A VOICE, WITH THE INDIVIDUAL'S BEING THE GUIDING INFLUENCE. SUPERVISION LEVELS ARE MORE VARIED WITHIN CLA HOMES, WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVING PERIODS OF TIME WHERE NO DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ARE IN THE HOME. WHILE SOME INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN CLA HOMES WITHIN BARC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, SUCH AS SHOWERING AND CLEANING, OFTEN THE ASSISTANCE NEEDED IS IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS SUCH AS DURING COMMUNITY OUTINGS TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS OR DURING A MOVIE OR CONCERT TO LEARN SOCIETAL NORMS. TWO ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE ARE SUPPORTED LIVING, WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL LIVES ALONE, OR WITH A ROOMMATE, AND A DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL ASSISTS THEM FOR LESS THAN 30 HOURS PER WEEK WITH TASKS SUCH AS SHOPPING, CLEANING, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, BANKING AND BUDGETING. LIFE SHARING ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH A FAMILY IN THE FAMILY'S HOME. THE NAME OF THIS SERVICE IS WHAT THE GOAL IS, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE FAMILY TO TRULY SHARE ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES TOGETHER. BARC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES RESIDENTIAL DEPARTMENT IS MORE THAN THE FOUR PROGRAMS IT OFFERS. THERE ARE MANY 'EXTRAS' THAT DEDICATED ASSOCIATES HAVE DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF YEARS OF CARING AND STRIVING FOR THE BEST. EXAMPLES INCLUDE WEEKLY AND BIWEEKLY EVENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT INCLUDE MOVIE NIGHT, BOWLING, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SWIMMING, PETTING ZOOS, BINGO, HOLIDAY THEMED CRAFTS, AND BARBEQUES. THE INDIVIDUALS ENJOY AN ANNUAL SPRING FORMAL DANCE, AN ANNUAL TRACK AND FIELD EVENT, AND AN ANNUAL WINTER HOLIDAY DANCE. EACH YEAR MANY INDIVIDUALS GO ON BUS TRIPS AND VACATIONS IN OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES. MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE INVITED TO THE HOMES OF DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL FOR HOLIDAY MEALS.