A Place to Call Home

As part of The MENTOR Network, REM Iowa has access to a national network of resources. The Network’s Host Home video explains the benefits of this community-based model for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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Host Home

In our Host Home program, individuals live in private family homes with dedicated caregivers who we call Mentors. We use the term “Mentor” because the people who open their homes to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities become so much more than just care providers. They are advocates, teachers, friends, and family.

Customized Support for Individual Needs

Our Host Home program begins with a highly personalized matching process. We carefully select our Mentors and ensure they have the skills needed to support the individuals we serve. In partnership with our Mentors, the individuals, and their families we develop Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) and continually adjust service plans as individuals reach new goals or their needs change.

Personal Choice and Program Stability

Every individual in our Host Home program is actively involved in planning their daily routine and the services they need to be successful. Our Host Home program includes:

24-hour support in family homes
Life skills development
Opportunities to participate in
community activities and day programs
Advocacy services
Community integration

Family involvement and support
Medication management oversight
24-hour on-call support for Mentors
Quality improvement

With a track record of success, REM Iowa’s Host Home program has changed the lives of numerous individuals, providing them with new opportunities to learn, grow and achieve their dreams.

It’s all About Relationships

In our Host Home program, our goal is not “making a placement.” We focus on “making a match” between the individual and Mentor, which provides the foundation for a lasting and enriching relationship. These relationships—built in natural family settings—are what make our Host Home program a success.

Backed by our clinical experts and experienced human services professionals, our Mentors provide individuals with personalized services and countless opportunities to take part in everyday activities of family life, such as:

Learning new skills
Socializing with family and friends
Managing household chores

Discovering new hobbies
Improving independence
Participating in community events

Click here to learn more about our Host Home program, or contact us at any time. You can also visit www.makeadifferenceathome.com for more information.