• The DMR Service Coordinator, a family member or an individual interested in receiving residential supports should contact the Vice President at Lifeworks as the first step in the process to obtain services.
• The Lifeworks vice president will discuss the referral with the person who is making it, outline all possible services and review the potential possibilities with the individual being referred and their support team. Once the individual and/or the team agree to proceed with the formal referral process, the Lifeworks vice president will assign this person to a Lifeworks Residential Director . This residential director will serve as the primary contact and coordinator of the referral for both the service coordinator, the individual and their family and/or guardian.
• The Residential Director will send out a letter confirming the referral and will enclose a list of required documents that will be needed as a part of the referral. These will be mailed to the DMR Service Coordinator and/or family member(s).
• An initial visit to the residence(s) by the individual and his support team will be set up by Lifeworks' staff once the referral packet is received.

INITIAL VISIT & TOUR

• A tour of a home(s) will be given. A Residential Director will conduct the tour and will visit the home(s) with the individual and their support team. During the tour, staff will discuss many aspects of the program including staff to resident ratio, potential bedroom options, general schedule of the home and any other questions that the individual, family and /or other members of their support team have.
• When Lifeworks is notified that the individual is interested in being served by the program, an evaluation plan will be developed between Lifeworks' staff and the Service Coordinator and/or family member.

EVALUATION

The purpose of an evaluation is to ensure, to the best of everyone's ability, that the residential placement the individual, their family and/or funding source are interested in would be the proper placement. The evaluation visits assist Lifeworks in ensuring that the house, its physical layout, staff ratio and program supports suit the individual being referred's needs. The following is the process by which the evaluation will be followed:

• A typical evaluation period will involve several visits to the program. Visits should be at different times during the day and evening. These visit times should include evenings, weekends and at least one overnight. These visits will include dinner and social outings with the program as well as evaluations of the individual's needs.
• After several visits, an evaluation report will be submitted by the residential staff. This report will include a recommendation regarding the potential referral. The report will be reviewed and a meeting will be scheduled with all members of the team.
• If the team feels that the individual is an appropriate referral and recommends placement at a particular residence, Lifeworks' staff will schedule a meeting with the individual and their support team members including potential residential staff, the Service Coordinator and/or family members and any other interested parties approved by the individual.
• At the meeting, additional required documents will be reviewed. The team will discuss any possible changes such as bank accounts, pharmacies, and transportation needs.

PROCESS FOR MOVING INTO A PLACEMENT

• A transition schedule will be arranged. This schedule will include all visits that will take place up to the date that the person moves. It will also include making arrangements for items needed such as furniture and other purchases. The team will schedule any appointments or changes in areas such as doctors appointments, pharmacies, bank accounts and transportation needs.
• Lifeworks will mail out an acceptance letter to the individual, the DMR Service Coordinator, and/or to the family.