In 1978, a grassroots effort gained approval to construct a home for developmentally disabled adults. This home was later named Samuel C. Evans, Jr. Group Home in honor of one of the founders. Alleghany County Group Homes, Inc. was formed as a non-profit organization to oversee this effort. A workshop was established in the basement of the First Baptist Church which later became the Adult Developmental Vocational Program (ADVP). In 1990, the ADVP moved to a 10,000 square foot feed and grain building which expanded our capabilities to move from arts and crafts and lawn mowing to industrial contract work for our clients. Classroom instruction was added and was provided by Wilkes Community College. In 1997 the Board of Directors set a goal to build and move into a new facility for our ADVP. This work was completed, and we moved into our new 12,750 square foot facility in September of 2000. This new facility allowed us to expand services to the developmentally disabled adults of Alleghany county and increase our variety of contract work. An expansion was added to the warehouse area of the new building in August of 2004 to make more storage space for additional contract work materials.
At ACGH, Inc. & ADAP Day Services we provide life skills development, vocational training, community inclusion, literacy and basic education, a hot lunch, recreational opportunities and transportation to and from the program. Qualified clients are provided work in a light industrial type setting. Each client is tested and earns wages based on their individual abilities under the guidelines of a Special Wage Certificate. Our Training Center is not all work and no play. We strive to expand and cultivate all our client’s talents and skills through community activities, arts, crafts and regular outings.
Vocational Partners:
THEM of NJ / GCP Applied Technologies, Inc. – Micro-fiber Concrete Reinforcement Packaging
Darco Southern – Fasteners and Rivets Packaging
Pioneer Eclipse – Sanding Plates Assembly & Packaging
NAPCO – Assembly & Packaging
Perry Craft – Packaging
Group Life Skills Development
The purpose of Group Life Skills Development is to enable stable living in the community at the least restrictive level of care. These group sessions focus on the development of necessary skills to live as independently as possible in the community and provides supports so that the individual can reach highest level of functional capacity. This helps individuals exercise meaningful choice and have control in their daily lives while working toward their highest level of independence. These programs are designed to foster individuals' nurturing relationships, full membership in the community, work toward their long-range personal goals, and avoid institutionalization. Common Life Skills include: Occupational Skills, Social Skills, Communication Skills, Daily Living Skills, and Community Skills.
Compensatory Education and Basic Skills Program
Compensatory Education and Basic Skills Program are offered at the ADVP site by Wilkes Community College. This program is operated by a teacher and part time aide which are provided by Wilkes Community College. This program assesses educational and developmental needs of its students and in conjunction with the ADVP program and student self-assessment to determine training goals and objectives. Training is completed in a small class setting to allow for one-on-one training to develop identified student needs.
Compensatory Education is a program to compensate mentally disabled adults age 17 and over who have received an insufficient or inadequate education. The program requires that a specialized diagnosis be determined and certified by a qualified professional, such as a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist. The goals of the Compensatory Education program are to help these individuals acquire the basic skills and abilities needed to become more independent and self-directed and to manage their community, social, employment, and personal responsibilities. Topics studied in Compensatory Education include: reading, life skills, money management, community living, health habits, problem solving, and pre-vocational skills.
Long Term Community Supports
Broad range of services for adults with developmental disabilities who, through the person-centered planning (P*P) process, choose to access active treatment to assist them with skills to live as independently as possible in the community.
Innovations
The N.C. Innovations Waiver is a home and community-based service funded by Medicaid. The Innovations Waiver program provides services and support that allow people with an intellectual or developmental disability to live as independently as possible within their communities—rather than in an institution such as a developmental center.
One-on-One Developmental Therapy
Developmental Therapy is a developmental disability service that includes individually designed instruction, training or functional developmental intervention activities based on the assessment of, and unique strengths and needs of the individual adult. It is designed to support the individual in the acquisition of skills that the recipient has not gained during the developmental stages of life and is not likely to develop without additional training and supports. Developmental Therapy may include training in activities to strengthen appropriate developmental functioning in areas such as self-care, mobility, socialization, independent living, self-advocacy and rights.
One-on-One Personal Assistance
Personal Assistance is a support service which provides aid to a client so that the client can engage in activities and interactions from which the client would otherwise be limited or excluded because of his disability or disabilities. The assistance includes: (1) assistance in personal or regular living activities in the client's home, (2) support in skill development, or (3) support and accompaniment of the client in regular community activities or in specialized treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation service programs.
Sam Evans Group Home
Sam Evans Group Home is a five-bed group home for mild and moderately intellectually developmentally disabled adults in Sparta, NC. Clients are provided residential care and training in a home like setting with a goal of teaching independence within the home and in the community. Opportunities for development of social, self-help and community living skills are provided. The residents receive free time for personal activities. Active treatment is coordinated by the staff (including consultant) and the resident to develop skills so that self-sufficiency of each resident will be obtained. Staff, or other advocates, will be available to aid the resident with money handling budgeting, purchasing, dressing, personal hygiene, and transportation, etc. The staff share in the responsibilities of housekeeping chores and meal planning and preparation. Residents are assisted in acquiring medical, dental and emergency care. The staff see that proper medication is given when necessary following a doctor’s prescription. ACGH, Inc. encourages visits from relatives and/or friends and encourages visits to families’ or friends’ places of residence. ACGH, Inc. provides space for each resident to have personal belongings. A neat, clean homelike environment is always maintained.
New River Cottage, Inc.
The New River Cottage, Inc. is an Intermediate Care Facility operated by New River Cottage Board of Directors, a non-profit corporation. The group home provides interim residential placement for five adults who are substantially intellectually developmentally disabled.
We believe every human being has the inherent right to enhance their development and maximize their achievement of self-determination and autonomy. The group home is one opportunity available to adults who are developmentally disabled, to enable them to become free-thinking, self-sufficient members of society.
The purpose of the New River Cottage, Inc. ICF/MR is to provide and environment necessary for the highest quality of living for adults with substantial developmental disabilities. Residents are involved in an Active Treatment Plan which contributes to growth and development. These plans are implemented in the least restrictive environment and as normally as possible. The goals of the New River Cottage, Inc. ICF/MR Group Home are to provide specialized services and encourage the individual resident to develop skills enabling him/her to become more self-sufficient, independent and to maximize social acceptance.
In an effort to achieve these goals the following services are available for each resident as needs are identified:
Medical and nursing care,
Physical and occupation therapy,
Psychological,
Speech, Language and Hearing,
Social Work, Recreational,
Educational and Vocational,
Nutritional Services
The New River Cottage, Inc. ICF/ID Group Home views individuals with mentally and physically handicapping conditions as people having potential for further growth and development of intellectual and adaptive skills. To meet the special individualized needs of the residents, an Interdisciplinary Team, made-up of Specialized Consultants, develops an active treatment plan for each resident. The individual needs may be met through community resources and through day treatment services.
