Adult Family Home Agencies (AFHA) are private, not-for-profit agencies. Regional centers contract with AFHAs to develop homes for adults who want to live with a family.[1]Section 4689.1. After being trained, and with continued help from the AFHA, a family can take in one or two adults with developmental disabilities to live with them as part of their family.[2]Section 4689.1(b).
The regional center will decide the need for AFHA services based on:
- Whether there are enough AFHAs providing services;
- Whether the AFHA will meet an unmet need in your IPP; and
- Whether there may be a future need for AFHA services within the regional center’s service area.[3]Title 17 Cal. Code Regs. section 56077(a).
The purpose of the AFHA model is to provide a cost-effective living option for adults. This option allows adults to enter into partnerships with families as fully participating family members. The regional center contracts with the AFHA to recruit and train families, certify family homes, match people and families, give ongoing support to families, and monitor family homes.[4]Title 17 Cal. Code Regs. section 56076(e)(6).
AFHAs are not licensed, but regional centers and DDS monitor their quality.[5]Title 17 Cal. Code Regs. section 56095(g). Regional center staff visit the family home at least four times a year and evaluate the AFHA once a year. Sometimes, DDS evaluates how well the AFHAs and the regional centers are performing.
If you live in an AFHA home, you will usually have the same chores and responsibilities as other family members. You can have supervision for non-medical self-care and daily living skills, if you need it. You will get the support and services you need from the family, AFHA, and the regional center.