Mission Statement

Project Six is dedicated to improving the quality of life of adults with developmental disabilities. Anchored by the belief that every individual is entitled to the supports and structure necessary to help maximize potential, Project Six is committed to a person-centered team approach which supports each resident in the achievement of self-worth and happiness.

Program Philosophy

Project Six’s Group Homes are designed to enable adults with developmental disabilities to function successfully in the mainstream of the community by maximizing self-determination, self-care, direction, and freedom of choice.  This program facilitates the development of those skills necessary for each resident to function more independently in a socially appropriate manner. Inherent to the philosophy of this program is the commitment to assist each resident in the development of his/her potential for independence.

Program Type

In California, there are a variety of adult residential placement options.  The Project Six Adult Residential Group Homes are classified as ICF-DD/H, which stands for “Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled- Habilitative.”  The homes are long-term care facilities, funded by Medi-Cal, licensed independently by the California Department of Public Health, and  provide a cozy, home-like environment with an emphasis on family involvement.

Criteria for Admission

In order to be considered for admission to Project Six, the individual must have been assessed by an interdisciplinary team and recommended for ICF-DD/H services. Project Six will only admit those clients for whom the facility can meet their individual needs. Project Six will admit individuals, age 18 to 70 years, with a documented developmental disability who have been cleared from requiring skilled-nursing care by a physician.

Individuals may be mildly to profoundly cognitively challenged; male/female; ambulatory/non-ambulatory and have developmental deficits in at least two areas related to social-emotional and/or self-care needs.  Project Six will consider individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion or national origin.  No client will be admitted without the approval of the placement from the client’s involved family member (or their legal conservator) and the Regional Center.

Basic Referral Process

• Project Six must receive a referral packet from the potential resident’s Regional Center Service Coordinator.  This packet of information must include current and prior records to help the interdisciplinary team determine initial appropriateness of placement.
• Administrative team will meet the potential resident in his/her current home and day program.
• Potential resident and family member(s) will be invited to see the Project Six home and engage with the current residents to determine appropriateness of fit.

During the week, all Project Six residents participate in community school or adult day programs which meet their individual needs.

Time in the Project Six homes is structured to allow each resident to practice the skills inherent to independence. Central to the program is the idea of active treatment.  Direct care staff is trained to engage residents and to turn “free-time” into teachable moments.  Every resident is working on individual goals which have been created by the interdisciplinary team to help him/her reach maximum potential.  Activities within the home are designed to help residents practice the skills necessary to reach their goals.

Staff members create fun ways for residents to gain critical knowledge and practice in meal preparation, medication administration, personal hygiene and household chores.  As social skills are crucial to community integration, Project Six residents participate in organized events with the other houses, such as BBQ’s, dances, trips to the theatre, baseball games, Special Olympics and activities with community volunteers. Other community outings include visits to the movie theater, bowling alley, local museums and parks, strawberry and cherry picking, shopping, trips to the beach, going out to dinner, and attending community festivals.

Project Six consists of four homes in residential neighborhoods in North Hills.  Each home has been set up to emulate a typical family home environment.  There are three bedrooms and two full bathrooms for resident use.  Bedrooms are shared with careful efforts made to ensure that privacy is maintained and that each resident’s personality and interests are displayed.  Each home consists of two common living areas, a kitchen, dining room, laundry facilities, exercise area and staff quarters.  In addition, each home provides a relaxing and well-maintained outdoor living space including recreational items such as basketball hoops.  The Project Six homes are well-kept and are monitored by the Department of Public Health, North Los Angeles County Regional Center and HUD.

The Project Six ICF-DD/H program utilizes a multi-disciplinary team in which the captain is always the resident.  Additional team members may include family members, conservators, Project Six administrative team including a QMRP and an RN, Regional Center Service Coordinators, direct care staff, adult day program managers, teachers, doctors, etc.

Within the first 30 days of residency, the team will meet to discuss the Individualized Service Plan (ISP), which is designed based on developmental level, to help every individual become independent.  Team meetings will be held at least annually, with individualized programs evaluated at least on a quarterly basis.  Our direct care staff members are an integral part of our team with a staff to resident ratio of 1:3.

In addition, Project Six works very closely with a variety of professionals to ensure that each resident’s needs are being met.  The Project Six administrative team prides itself on its positive relationships with community providers and works in conjunction with a team of local doctors, dentists, psychiatrists, psychologists, as well as a podiatrist, optometrist and a registered dental hygienist, a registered dietician, licensed recreational therapist and a behavior consultant in order to ensure that all components of each resident’s well-being are being addressed.

For additional information, please contact Program Director Kendra Guyton-Sheppard, MA at 818-893-8370. or ksheppard@thehelpgroup.org