Civitan Services is a licensed Medicaid Community and Employment Services (CES) Waiver provider for individuals of all ages with a qualifying diagnosis and who live in our service area which includes five counties in central Arkansas-Saline, Pulaski, Grant, Hot Springs, and Garland. We offer a wide variety of CES waiver services designed to support persons with disabilities to live in their community and avoid institutionalization.
In general, our flagship service is supportive living, which partners a direct support professional with a person with a disability to assist them in becoming more independent. Goals for each person are set depending on their needs and what their interests are and generally cover a variety of areas including community integration, communication, socialization, activities of daily living, and recreational activities.
Group Home
Civitan Services Group Home, located on Hudson Street in Benton, is a HUD subsidized home with twelve single occupancy rooms. There is a common living area and dining area, and it is staffed round the clock in order to provide health and safety for the residents and to assist with their individual plan goals. The residents function as a family unit—loving, caring for and serving one another. Staff provides assistance with medications, under the direction and supervision of our nurse, and also provide nourishing meals with residents encouraged to take part in preparation and cleanup.
Staff assist residents as needed, but residents themselves practice daily living tasks such as doing their laundry, cleaning their personal spaces and completing various tasks in the common areas. On outings into the community, they get a chance to practice money management skills at the level they are, whatever that is. Community integration for socialization and recreation is also provided both in groups and individually.
Similar services are also provided for some individuals in a private home setting where staff and the person with a disability live together in a roommate arrangement. Others remain in their family home and a support person assists them a few hours a day with a trip into the community, participation in a hobby, or assistance with activities of daily living, as needed.
Other services provided include non-medical transportation, environmental modifications, adaptive equipment and specialized medical supplies.
Applying for Waiver Services
To qualify for waiver services, an individual must be diagnosed with a developmental disability by age 21. Developmental disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and intellectual disability.
Unlike other services provided by Civitan Services such as adult day services or preschool, you cannot apply directly to us for services. You must go through DHS Developmental Disabilities Services.
To apply for waiver services, please go online to Access Arkansas, then to Apply for Programs. For assistance with this process, you can also call the DDS Intake and Referral Unit at 501-683-5687.
If you or your loved one has a qualifying diagnosis, you are urged to apply for waiver services early. There is generally a wait for a slot for services. When you get your notice that a slot is available for you, your next step is to choose a provider for your services. If you live in our geographical service area, we hope you will consider Civitan Services. Our waiver team is available for a consultation to cover in more detail the services we offer.
For more information on any of the services available at Civitan Services through Home and Community Services, please contact Pat Mulkey, Director of HCB Services via e-mail at pat@civitanservices or call 501-776-0691, extension 115.
