A group of families created High Spirit because they had no choices. They looked around, and the residential programs they liked, their children could not get into because they were not independent enough or there was no space. The State suggested residential placements that were not adequate. So they worked with the MA Department of Disability Services (DDS) to create High Spirit. 

When individuals with disabilities turn 22 they reach a “cliff” --  school services end while adult services and funding are difficult to access. Often when a space in a program is available, it may not be suitable or may not meet the individual's needs. This film tells a story that needs to be told. In Massachusetts alone 72% of individuals with IDD and Autism are still living at their childhood homes, demanding more care than aging parents can provide.  And, the waitlist is only getting longer every year. 

This film is a calling card for High Spirit. It is a way to get people together to learn about the issue, and to begin to consider High Spirit as a model of care that should expand, to become a mainstream, publicly funded option for adults with disabilities.  The model of High Spirit is adaptable and replicable, economical and effective.  Since the era of institutional care for individuals with disabilities ended over 30 years ago, the standard model of care is either Group Homes or Shared Living. While these models can and work for some people, they don’t work for many. The model of High Spirit is an innovative option that should be made available widely.  

Families all around this country are in silos of pain, frustration and fear. Families think they’re alone in their fear, but they are not. Another goal of this film is to connect families to each other, show them that they are not alone, and to offer a path forward beyond pain, frustration and fear. 

High Spirit has been operating and developing our unique model since 2009. It has always been part of our core mission to serve as a catalyst for this model of care and community. We finally felt ready to actively embark on that part of our mission in 2024.  To do so, we started High Spirit Advisory. High Spirit Advisory is here to guide others in creating communities like High Spirit Community Farm. We work with families, advocates and with DDS to create more communities that are based on our model, but that are designed to work specifically for those individuals that live there. 

• We will connect you with other motivated people that share your goals and vision

• We guide your team throughout the process:

  • Meetings as needed with Advisory staff and High Spirit Board Members

  • Support you through a community vision process

• We advocate for your projects with the Department of Developmental Services while also advocating for larger systemic changes so that innovative communities can become more available and also financially sustainable. 

• We share High Spirit experience, knowledge and resources, including:

  • Budget Documents

  • Hiring practices

  • Important Contacts

  • Past experience

• Shared Living Funds - These funds are applied for through DDS and are part of the Federal Medicaid Home and Community Based Supports Waiver. These funds pay for the operations of residential homes and the care provided in the homes. They do not cover salaries of caregivers. 

• Community Based Day Supports - These funds are applied for through DDS and are part of the Federal Medicaid Home and Community Based Supports Waiver. These funds pay for the operation of our Day Program and also pay salaries to caregivers who also serve as Day Program staff. 

• Fundraising - Currently start up capital is required to launch this model. High Spirit’s Board of Directors had to raise the money to purchase the property, cars, and to make capital improvements. We continue to use fundraised dollars to provide employees with health insurance and retirement benefits, and capital improvements.  

*More Funding Information:

• Staff Salaries:

  1. Most staff live onsite. Housing and food are calculated into their annual salaries. 

  2. We also utilize year long international volunteers as part of our care team. These volunteers are also provided with room and board and a modest monthly stipend to cover incidental expenses during their year at High Spirit 

• Advocacy Work: It is our goal for this model to become more financially sustainable and to require less fundraising. We are advocating with the State for funds to cover more of the start-up costs and capital costs.

• Advising - You can request a meeting with High Spirit Advisory to talk about budgeting for your project. We can tell you how we did it, inform you of recent developments in our advocacy work, and relay the latest or most useful funding resources that we have come across.

• Participate in a High Spirit Advisory event: www.highspirit.org/events

• Connect with the Director of High Spirit Advisory: lesley@highspirit.org

• Find your team! This is a very important step. You need to find a group of people who are committed, with shared goals, and who are willing to put in the time and effort that a project like this requires. 

  • High Spirit Advisory can connect you with others that we know who havesimilar goals or live in your area. 

  • You can work with High Spirit Advisory to plan an in-person event in your town so that we can show our film, introduce people to the High Spirit model, and make personal connections.

This is likely to be a long (maybe years-long) process. It is a lot of hard work. High Spirit is here to show you what we did and how we did it. 

• Gather a committed team

• Create a vision that your group all supports

• Form a Board of Directors

• Connect with potential staff who may contribute to the vision process

• Form a Nonprofit (510c3) so you can begin Fundraising

• Connect with the High Spirit Agency 

• Communicate with DDS

• Continue fundraising. Share your vision with potential donors

• Purchase (or rent) and renovate property

• Collaborate with Agency to apply for DDS Funds and licenses

• Hire staff

Any Residential or Day Program that receives funding from DDS needs to work with an Agency. The Agency serves as the Contract Manager for the DDS Funds flowing into your program. DDS also requires that the Agency provides case management services to the individuals that benefit from these funds, and that the Agency provides regulatory oversight to the programs serving individuals with IDD/Autism. There are many Agencies in Massachusetts that can provide these services. High Spirit operates an Agency that understands the specific needs of unique communities like High Spirit. Our High Spirit Agency may be available to work with your program if you so choose.

There are many layers of oversight and transparency incorporated into this model of care. The most important is the community ethos and the physical layout of the community. We suggest that the ultimate goal is to have a neighborhood with three homes on one property or contiguous properties. Each home is open to everyone. All residents and staff feel comfortable in all of the homes. And the staff are very familiar with all of the individuals with IDD no matter which home they live in. This means that there are a lot of caring and concerned eyes on every individual and every location. We also work hard to cultivate a sense of open communication, honesty and respect amongst the community members. So, if something were to seem “off” in one of the homes, there are many ways for a staff person or individual to voice their concerns, which can then be addressed promptly and with dignity for those involved. 

Other layers of oversight include: 

• Onsite Agency Staff - Manages our DDS Contracts, regulatory compliance, and also provides Case Management services. This person has an office on-site and participates in community life. 

• Board of Directors - We have an actively involved Board of Directors who have maintained a close working relationship with the on-site community. The Board includes some parents, and they visit HCSF regularly. 

• Parents and Families - The HCSF Staff and Board maintain positive working relationships and open communication with parents, guardians and other family members. Families may express concerns to Board members or directly to staff members.

Potential Residents do not need to have Priority 1 status to be placed in a setting like High Spirit Community Farm

Most of the individuals that High Spirit Community Farm has accepted, with DDS approval, were considered Priority 2. As openings become available in new programs like High Spirit, it is likely that the majority of applicants will fall into the Priority 2 category, and they can be considered for placement there. 

Regardless of Priority status, it is important that the individuals who live in each home are a good fit, and have the potential to live peacefully and well together long-term. DDS has supported High Spirit Community Farm in making these decisions and we expect that support to continue for other programs based on our model.

• High Spirit Community Farm typically searches for staff on Indeed.com. The Household and Day Program Managers need to have well developed leadership skills, a history of good judgement, and excellent communication skills. They should be motivated by the nature of the work and the adventure of living in community. 

• Ensure that staff needs are consistently met: 

  1. Provide a very good salary and benefits

  2. Provide a well equipped and restful personal space for live-in staff - for House Managers this means an apartment with a private bathroom, living area, bedroom and some kitchen appliances. 

  3. Listen to, respect, and be flexible for the staff. Living onsite where you provide care to people is very energy intensive and self care can be difficult to achieve. It is important that live-in staff have what they need to maintain their health and wellness.

  4. No amount of money can prevent burn-out, so adequate personal space, time-off, and autonomy for staff is crucial. 

High Spirit Community Farm has a variety of staff and volunteer roles: 

• Householders - Permanent live-in staff that manage the homes and care of the residents and also provide leadership to the Day Program. These staff receive a salary that includes housing and food. 

• International Volunteers - We have relationships with a few international volunteer organizations that send young volunteers (18 - 20 years old) to help out social organizations like ours. These volunteers work full-time hours and live in the home with us for 1 year. 

• Longer term live-in Coworkers - These staff are doing mostly care work, and do not have as much of a leadership role. They also receive a salary that includes room and board. 

• Shift Staff - We hire a few people that live locally to come and work in more typical shifts. They may help with both the care at home and with the Day Program. They are paid a competitive salary with those care providers at other similar organizations.