Our November Informational Tour found us traveling to Wheaton to learn about STARS Family Services and to tour two of their three lovely residences.
STARS Family Services (SFS) was founded to provide living arrangements and related services to adults with intellectual disabilities in the STARS ministry of College Church. SFS is a separate nonprofit organization that relies on private funding for all the services it provides.
SFS focuses on helping their STARS develop the life skills needed for independent or semi-independent living such as grocery shopping and meal preparation, using public transportation, personal hygiene, coping skills, and basic job skills, while at the same time making it possible for them to continue living in the community, participating in STARS activities, and being an integral part of College Church.
SFS operates three residences: Washington House, where four men reside; Kenny’s House, which has five male residents; and the Jean Hooten House, with five female residents. In addition to an “apartment” in each house for the resident Community Builder, Kenny’s House and the Jean Hooten House also have an extra bedroom that is available for respite.
Residents must be 21 years of age or older with no aggression or elopement issues and have the ability to medicate and toilet independently. Each resident has their own bedroom, which families furnish and decorate, with two residents sharing a bathroom. Residents are expected to be out in the community between 10:00-2:00 (with families providing or arranging for transportation) and each resident takes a turn as “Chef of the Week”, cooking for their housemates with support from the staff.
CTC would like to thank STARS Family Services for allowing us to visit, especially Life Skills Supervisor Carol Casey who arranged and facilitated our tour. We truly appreciate your willingness to share your wonderful program model with our families and we would love to see other faith communities replicate your success. Your efforts are inspiring!
For more information about STARS Family Services, visit their website at http://starsfamilyservices.org/
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