(a) General Information.  Group homes provide a congregate living arrangement offering up to 24-hour per day supervision, supportive assistance, and training in daily living skills to persons who are eligible 18 years of age or older.  Upon approval of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) director or designee, persons younger than 18 may be served.

• (1) Group homes ensure members reside and participate in the community.  Services are provided in homes located in close proximity to generic community services and activities.
• (2) Group homes must be licensed by DDSD in accordance with Section 1430.1 et seq. of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
• (3) Residents of group homes receive no other form of residential supports.
• (4) Habilitation training specialist (HTS) services or homemaker services for residents of group homes may be approved only by the DDSD director or designee to resolve a temporary emergency when no other resolution exists.

(b) Minimum provider qualifications.  Approved providers must have a current contract with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to provide DDSD Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for persons with an intellectual disability or related conditions.

• (1) Group home providers must have a completed and approved application to provide DDSD group home services.
• (2) Group home staff must:
  • (A) complete the OKDHS DDSD-sanctioned training curriculum per OAC 340:100-3-38; and
  • (B) fulfill requirements for pre-employment screening per OAC 340:100-3-39.

(c) Description of services.

• (1) Group home services:
  • (A) meet all applicable requirements of OAC 340:100; and
  • (B) are provided in accordance with each member's  Individual Plan (IP) developed per OAC 340:100-5-50 through 340:100-5-58.
    • (i) Health care services are secured for each member per OAC 340:100-5-26.
    • (ii) Members are offered recreational and leisure activities maximizing the use of generic programs and resources, including individual and group activities.
• (2) Group home providers:
  • (A) follow protective intervention practices per OAC 340:100-5-57 and 340:100-5-58;
  • (B) in addition to the documentation required per OAC 340:100-3-40, must maintain:
    • (i) staff time sheets that document the hours each staff was present and on duty in the group home; and
    • (ii) documentation of each member's presence or absence on the daily attendance form provided by DDSD; and
  • (C) ensure program coordination staff (PCS) meet staff qualifications and supervise, guide, and oversee all aspects of group home services per OAC 340:100-5-22.6 and 340:100-6, as applicable.

(d) Coverage limitations.  Group home services are provided up to 366 days per year.

(e) Types of group home services.  There are three types of group home services provided through HCBS Waivers.

• (1) Traditional group homes.  Traditional group homes serve no more than 12 members per OAC 340:100-6.
• (2) Community living homes.  Community living homes serve no more than 12 members.
  • (A) Members who receive community living home services:
    • (i) have needs that cannot be met in a less structured setting; and
    • (ii) require regular, frequent, and sometimes constant assistance and support to complete daily living skills, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting; or
    • (iii) require supervision and training in appropriate social and interactive skills, due to on-going behavioral issues to remain included in the community.
  • (B) Services offered in a community living home include:
    • (i) 24-hour awake supervision when a member's IP indicates it is necessary; and
    • (ii) program supervision and oversight including hands-on assistance in performing activities of daily living, transferring, positioning, skill-building, and training.
  • (C) Services may be approved for individuals in a traditional group home at the community living service rate if the member has had a change in health status or behavior and meets requirements to receive community living home services.   Requests to receive community living home services are sent to the DDSD Community Services Residential Unit.
• (3) Alternative group homes.  Alternative group homes serve no more than four members who have evidence of behavioral or emotional challenges in addition to an intellectual disability and require extensive supervision and assistance in order to remain in the community.
  • (A) Members who receive alternative group home services must meet criteria per in OAC 340:100-5-22.6.
  • (B) A determination must be made by the DDSD Community Services Unit that alternative group home services are appropriate.