24 Miss. Code. R. 2-30.5 - ID/DD Waiver Host Homes

A. Host Homes are private homes where no more than one (1) person who is at least five (5) years of age lives with a family and receives personal care and supportive services. If the person requesting this service is under five (5) years of age, admission must receive prior approval from DMH.

B. Host Home families are a stand-alone family living arrangement in which the principal caregiver in the Host Home assumes the direct responsibility for the participant's physical, social, and emotional well-being and growth in a family environment.

C. Host Home Services include assistance with personal care, leisure activities, social development, family inclusion, community inclusion, and access to medical services. Natural supports are encouraged and supported. Supports are to be consistent with the participant's skill level, goals, and interests.

D. Host Homes are administered and managed by agency providers that are responsible for all aspects of Host Home Services. Host Home agency providers must:

1. Complete an evaluation of each prospective Host Home family and setting. The evaluation must receive prior approval from DMH;

2. Conduct background checks for all Host Home family members over the age of 18;

3. Provide training to Host Home service providers that is in compliance with Chapter 12;

4. Ensure each Host Home family member has had a medical examination within 12 months of anyone moving into the Host Home and at least annually thereafter, which indicates that they are free from communicable disease(s);

5. Maintain current financial and personal property records for each person served in a Host Home;

6. Conduct at least monthly home visits to each Host Home;

7. Ensure availability, quality, and continuity of Host Homes;

8. Take into account compatibility with the Host Home family member(s) including age, support needs, and privacy needs;

9. Ensure each person receiving Host Home Services has their own bedroom;

10. Recruit and oversee the Host Home;

11. Have 24-hour responsibility for the Host Homes, which includes back- up staffing for scheduled and unscheduled absences of the Host Home family; and

12. Have plans for when a Host Home family becomes unable to provide the services to someone on an immediate basis. The agency provider must ensure the availability of back-up plans to support the person until another suitable living arrangement can be secured.

E. Relief staffing may be provided in the person's Host Home by another certified Host Home family or by employees of the Host Home agency provider or in another Host Home family's home.

F. Host Home family components:

1. The principal caregiver in the Host Home must attend and participate in the meeting to develop the person's Plan of Services and Supports.

2. The Host Home family must follow all aspects of the person's Plan of Services and Supports and any support/activity plan (e.g., Behavior Support Plan, Nutrition Plan, etc.) the person might have.

3. The Host Home family must take the person to and assist in attending appointments (e.g., medical, therapy, etc.).

4. The Host Home family must provide transportation as would a natural family member.

5. The principal caregiver must maintain required documentation as required by DMH.

6. The principal caregiver must meet all employee training requirements as outlined in the DMH Operational Standards.

7. The Host Home family and/or principal caregiver must participate in all training provided by the Host Home agency provider.

G. The Host Home family must provide the following services as appropriate to each person's support needs:

1. Direct personal care assistance activities such as:

(a) Grooming;

(b) Eating;

(c) Bathing;

(d) Dressing; and

(e) Personal care needs.

2. Instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs) which include:

(a) Planning and preparing meals;

(b) Cleaning;

(c) Transportation;

(d) Assistance with mobility both at home and in the community;

(e) Supervision of the person's safety and security;

(f) Banking;

(g) Shopping;

(h) Budgeting;

(i) Facilitation of the person's participation in community activities;

(j) Use of natural supports and typical community services available to everyone;

(k) Social activities;

(l) Participation in leisure activities;

(m) Development of socially valued behaviors; and

(n) Assistance with scheduling and attending appointments.

3. Host Home families must provide meals at least three (3) times a day, and snacks must be provided throughout the day. Providers must adhere to any diets as prescribed by a Medical Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Licensed Dietician/Nutritionist. Host Homes should document people's preferences and choices when meal planning and have a menu that includes varied, nutritious meals and snacks.

(a) People must have access to food at any time, unless prohibited by their individual plan.

(b) People must have choices of the food they eat.

(c) People must have choices about when and with whom they eat.

H. The Host Home agency provider is responsible for ensuring the person has basic furnishings in their bedroom if those furnishings are not available from another resource, such as Transition Assistance through the ID/DD Waiver. Basic furnishings include bed frame, mattress, box springs if needed, chest of drawers, two (2) sets of bed linens, two (2) sets of towels, and appropriate lighting.

I. People are not to be left home alone or with someone under the age of 18, for any length of time.

J. People receiving Host Home Services must have access to the community to the same degree as people not receiving services. This includes access to leisure and other community participation activities.

K. The Host Home agency provider must ensure methods are in place to assist people in arranging and accessing routine and emergency medical care and monitoring of their health and/or physical condition. Documentation of the following must be maintained in each person's record:

1. Assistance with making doctor/dentist/optical appointments;

2. Transporting and accompanying people to such appointments; and

3. Conversations with the medical professional if the person gives consent.

L. Each person must have an Activity Support Plan that is developed based on their Plan of Services and Supports.

M. People receiving Host Home Services are not eligible for Home and Community Supports, Shared Supported Living, Supported Living, Supervised Living Services, In-Home Nursing Respite, In-Home Respite, or Community Respite Services.

N. Behavior Support may be provided in the Host Home to provide direct services as well as modify the environment and train staff/family in implementation of the Behavior Support Plan.

O. Crisis Intervention Services may be provided in the Host Home to intervene and mitigate an identified crisis situation. Crisis Intervention may remain in the home with the person until the crisis is resolved. This could be in 24-hour increments (daily) or less than 24-hour increments (episodic), depending on each person's need for support.

P. Family members, as outlined in the glossary, cannot provide Host Home services to a person.

Notes

24 Miss. Code. R. 2-30.5

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-4-7

Amended 7/1/2016 Amended 9/1/2020 Amended 11/1/2024