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Penn-Mar's mission is to partner with individuals with disabilities and qualified families to provide a healthy, safe, supportive home environment that is based on mutual respect, normalization, and shared interests. Individuals will live in a caring household that will support his/her desires and need for an everyday life. Individuals will be appropriately matched with families that will foster not only a place for the individual to live, but also a close personal relationship with the family.

Life Sharing

Life Sharing providers will experience significant personal rewards as they make a difference in the life of a person with special needs. Upon approval as a Life Sharing provider, a comprehensive matching process will occur. As part of this matching process, individuals and providers will spend time getting to know each other during visits to ensure that there are common interests and that the needs of the individual can be met within that specific family unit.

Life Sharing allows for the individual being served to have an alternative to traditional residential services, in an environment in which they become part of a family unit. Individuals will be able to choose where and with whom they want to live. They will have a greater opportunity to experience/develop meaningful relationships within their community. Currently there are over 2,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania who are now part of Life Sharing model.

Benefits to being a Life Sharing provider are extensive. Firstly, the opportunity to share one's life with another individual can bring about countless rewards that far exceed many life sharing providers expectations. In addition, providers receive support from qualified professionals within Penn-Mar Human Services. Providers receive tax-exempt monthly stipend for the room & board and the care that the Life Sharing individuals receives.

Individuals/families interested in Life Sharing would need to meet many requirements through the screening process. Basic requirements consist of:

• Must be a resident of Pennsylvania
• Willingness to make a long-term commitment to the Life Sharing individual
• Criminal history record checks for everyone 18 years or older in the home
• Valid drivers' license
• Physicals for all household members
• Satisfactory home inspection completed by Penn-Mar's Community Living Manager
• Satisfactory home study completed by Penn-Mar's Community Living Manager
• Minimum 24 hours agency pre-service and annual training
• Ability to meet physical, emotional, and medical needs of an adult with developmental disabilities
• Personal and professional reference checks
• Regulatory oversight by Penn-Mar and the PA Office of Department Programs

For more information regarding Life Sharing please contact Jennifer Skelly at
( 717) 235-8068 ext. 233 or email jskelly@penn-mar.org.

Copyright © 2006 Penn-Mar Organization, Inc. All rights reserved.