Shared Living Providers offer individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities intensive social and independent living skills training in a family setting. Individuals living with a Shared Living Provider help determine their own goals for habilitation and independence. In some cases, individuals receiving Shared Living services may also have a mental health diagnosis or significant behavioral challenges that require therapy, behavioral strategies or other supports as recommended by the care team. Shared Living Providers also provide transportation to appointments to help individuals follow through on recommendations from medical or mental health professionals.

First, we recommend reading all the information provided in this FAQ to better understand the full process and requirements for becoming certified. Next, you can submit this form to complete an application.

The required paperwork includes a screening form, background checks, direct deposit form, voided check or bank form with routing and account numbers, W-9 and a list of references.

You will also need to provide copies of the following: your driver’s license, current car insurance, homeowner or renter’s insurance, completed E-Verify and training certificates.

The rest of the process includes:

1. Initial Interview
   Our Developmental Disabilities (DD) Teacher will contact you to schedule an interview with them and our DD Program Support Specialist. They will ask you questions about yourself and your experience working with the DD population.

2. Background Checks
   After the interview, our DD Teacher will send you a two-step process to complete background checks including an APS/CPS check.

3. KVC Orientation Day
   Once background checks are complete, the DD Teacher will schedule you for an orientation day. This day includes training about KVC, emergency procedures, developmental disabilities, individual rights and more.

4. Formal Trainings
   After you complete the online quizzes with 100% accuracy, KVC’s Training Coordinator will arrange for you to attend the following trainings: MANDT (a two-day training on crisis de-escalation and relationship building), Medication Aide Training and CPR/First Aid/Universal Precautions.

5. Home Visit – Walkthrough/Interview
   Once all training is complete, a KVC Licensing Specialist will visit your home to conduct a walkthrough and interview to assess your strengths, limitations, physical environment, experience, knowledge of the client population and support needs.

6. Certification as a Shared Living Provider
   Congratulations! Once all steps are complete, you will officially be certified as a Shared Living Provider.

No. You must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license and/or reliable transportation. We are looking for energetic caring adults who want to make a positive impact on an individual’s life. You can be single, married, any sexual orientation, a homeowner or apartment renter.

Shared Living Providers may serve up to two individuals in their home. Each individual must have their own room.

Everyone living in your home must complete an initial background check and then annually. You will also need to meet all Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services certification requirements and complete the required training program.

In many situations, individuals with a criminal background can still become Shared Living Providers depending on the type and frequency of charges. KVC follows Nebraska DHHS guidelines when determining whether someone with charges may continue in the certification process.

However, individuals convicted of a felony involving abuse or neglect of a child, spousal abuse, a crime against a child or children, or a crime of violence are not eligible to become Shared Living Providers. Additionally, anyone listed as a perpetrator on the Central Registry or an equivalent registry in any state is ineligible to provide Shared Living services.

Shared Living Providers need:

• A desktop or laptop computer with internet access
• General computer knowledge such as learning new systems, sending emails, adding attachments to emails and similar tasks
• A functioning home phone or cell phone
• Access to a functioning printer
• Access to a functioning scanner or the ability to download the free CamScanner app

Per KVC policy, Shared Living subcontractors are not allowed to subcontract with other agencies or provide Shared Living services to individuals not receiving oversight through KVC. This policy helps ensure accurate and timely care coordination, reduces communication issues, minimizes confusion around differing policies and expectations and lowers the risk of placing incompatible individuals in the same home.

If you currently maintain a foster care license through another agency, please contact our Foster Care Department to learn how to transfer to KVC. We’d love to have you under one roof.

Timelines for placement are difficult to determine. Placement depends largely on the individual’s supervision, support and habilitation needs as well as your home’s experience, skills, ability and willingness to meet those needs. Other factors that often influence placement timing include referral frequency, guardian preferences, home location, medical needs and the need for accessible housing.

Yes. KVC will contact you to request placement of an individual in your home or to schedule an “initial interview” with the individual and their guardian. This meeting is your chance to ask questions and learn more about the individual. You may say “No” to a placement for any reason. Placements are mutually agreed upon, giving the individual and their guardian as much say in the process as you do. An individual can also choose not to live with you as their provider.

This varies greatly for each participant. The goal of Shared Living placements is to provide long-term support. We encourage independence, and some individuals may eventually transition to independent living.

KVC Nebraska has a team of designated professionals to help participants and Shared Living Providers with any mental health or medical questions or concerns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Once you have an individual placed in your home, you will be assigned a Shared Living Specialist to provide 24/7 support as needed. We ask that non-emergent calls to Shared Living Specialists be limited to regular business hours (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm). In case of an emergency, you can contact your Shared Living Specialist outside those hours. Our Shared Living Specialists work on a rotating on-call schedule on weekends so there is always someone available to assist.

Providers are reimbursed by KVC for habilitation services, supervision and support. Payments are made on the 10th and 25th of each month. The amount is based on the level of supervision, support and habilitation or behavioral needs of the individual being served. This is determined by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services before placement. Reimbursement typically ranges from $60 to $300 per day.

Additionally, adult participants in KVC’s Developmental Disability program may pay for room and board. This payment goes directly to the provider and helps cover living expenses such as the individual’s living space and a portion of utilities.

All provider trainings are offered once per month. The certification process to become a Shared Living provider with KVC can vary depending on background check turnaround times, training needs and your availability for training sessions.

Alternate care, also called respite care, provides a short-term break for Shared Living Providers. It can be arranged when the provider is out of town, has personal matters to attend to, or needs time for self-care.

The KVC team is happy to assist in finding alternate care options from within our pool of Shared Living Providers. Support staff are another option and help care for the participant. Support staff must complete the same background checks and KVC training requirements as Shared Living Providers before providing care.

If a spouse or another competent individual living in the home will provide care independently, they must be approved as support staff before doing so.

This is determined on a case-by-case basis by the individual’s team and communicated to the Shared Living Provider. If an individual has alone time in the community or for extended periods, it will be specified in the Individual Support Plan created by the participant’s Service Coordinator.

For youth in the foster care system living in a Shared Living Provider’s home, decisions are typically made on a case-by-case basis. Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standards apply.

A Shared Living Provider cannot deny an individual contact or visits with family for any reason including as a consequence for challenging behaviors. Parameters around family visits such as phone calls, supervision, location and timing are determined by the individual’s team which may include the service coordinator, case manager, guardian and/or the judge assigned to the case.

Yes. Shared Living Providers are responsible for transporting the individual to appointments, school or vocational programs and other activities outside the home. Depending on the individual’s circumstances, natural supports such as school transportation may be available.

To be certified as a Shared Living Provider, your home must have a bed in the room available for the individual receiving Shared Living services.

Occasionally, adults with disabilities coming into care will have their own bed, bedroom furniture and other personal belongings. For youth in the foster care system living with a Shared Living Provider, they usually do not have a bed, furniture or major personal belongings. These items will need to be supplied by the provider.

Shared Living Providers are required to provide habilitation and behavioral interventions and electronically document daily progress on goals set by KVC staff. These goals are based on the needs and desires of the individual being served. Daily documentation is required for KVC to bill for services and for providers to be reimbursed. Once an individual is placed in your home, your assigned Shared Living Specialist will train you on how to complete the required daily documentation.