What Are the Steps to Becoming a Host Home Provider?

If you’re still thinking about becoming a Mentor with Sevita Host Home, this post is for you.

Becoming a host home provider is an opportunity to open your home and make a meaningful difference in the life of a person with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We call our host home providers Mentors. From your first application to welcoming an individual into your home, our team is here to guide you through each step of the process.

So, what does it take to become a Mentor — and how long does the approval or licensing process take?

Step 1: Complete Application

During the application process we will ask for information about and your household. This helps us learn more about you and your home so we can determine if the program is a good fit for you and your family.

Step 2: Background Check

Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Background checks are an important part of the approval process and help ensure that the individuals we support are welcomed into a safe and caring home.

Step 3: Home Assessment

Next, we’ll learn more about your home, family and daily life through a home assessment. This helps us determine whether your home can provide a safe, stable and supportive environment.

As part of the assessment, we may look into your:

>Social life

> Relationships

> Routines

> Parenting experience

> Family background

> Physical, emotional, and mental health

> Financial stability

> And more

Step 4: Pre-Service Info Sessions

These Info sessions are designed to give you the knowledge, tools and the confidence you need to support an individual in your home.

Pre-service sessions can help you learn skills such as:

> First-aid and CPR

> Independent living skills

> Behavioral and physical support needs

Step 5: Find the Right Match

Matching is an important part of the Host Home experience. We consider a variety of factors to help create a supportive and successful home environment, including:

> The individual’s input

> Your family’s routines and interests

> The location of your home

> The makeup of your home

> Your preference in level of support

The timeline to become a Mentor varies by state. Some approval or licensing processes may take 60 days or more, depending on state requirements, background checks, assessments, training and other factors.

While the process takes time, you won’t have to navigate it alone. Our team will be there to answer questions, provide guidance, and make sure we can create a successful match.

Dending on the state, you may hear different terms for Host Home services. While the titles vary, each one reflects the same core idea: safe, supportive living in a family environment. Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas all use the name Host Home. Other states use a different name:

• • California: Family Home Agency
  • Kansas: Shared Living
  • Kentucky: Family Homes
  • Massachusetts: Adult Foster Care Provider
  • Nevada: Shared Living
  • New Mexico: Family Living Supports
  • Ohio: Shared Living
  • Oklahoma: Adult Companion Program 
  • Pennsylvania: Life Sharing Provider
  • Tennessee: Family Model Homes
  • Virginia: Sponsored Home Provider

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a Mentor in your area, we’d love to connect with you. Contact us to learn more!

Mentors are independent contactors and receive a tax-free monthly stipend to help cover the cost of care.