Lifesharing at EMAN Community Living was started in 1999 with the opening of a provider home for an individual who had resided in one of  the Agency’s community homes for five years. Lifesharing, at that time called Family Living, became an alternative for him because of the positive, supportive relationship he had with a staff person who worked with him in his community home at that time and asked to become his life sharing service provider.

To reflect the diversity of relationships and not to disregard the connection that people have with their biological families, the concept of “Lifesharing through Family Living” has been embraced by the Agency to describe the lifestyles and choices of those we support. The Lifesharing program continues to grow as we move forward in the process of recruiting new Lifesharing providers. The Agency currently supports providers in various neighborhoods in Philadelphia, with concentration in the Mt. Airy, Germantown, and Chestnut Hill areas.

The Lifesharing option has become a major form of support for the individuals in  EMAN’s residential program. Individuals now have the opportunity to choose the kind of  residential support they desire.

An individual’s choices in Lifesharing include: Living with an identified family in the community. Roommate type living situation with a Lifesharing provider. A Lifesharing provider and/or family move into the home of the individual who has developmental disabilities.   Lifesharing offers: Opportunity to choose where and with whom to live. Community inclusion. Exploration of creative possibilities for self-determination and personal outcomes.

EMAN continually seeks qualified, committed persons and families to serve as Lifesharing providers. If you are interested or know someone who is interested, please consider seriously the following qualifications to become a provider:

• Criminal and Child Abuse clearances.
• Physicals for all persons living in the household.
• Home inspection.
• Complete Home study.
• Personal and professional references.
• Regulatory oversight
• Home visits
• Minimum of 24 hours of pre-service and annual training.     

Agency supports to life sharing providers at EMAN include:

• Lifesharing Specialists together with the Lifesharing Director work as a Team to provide supports based on the Personal outcomes of the Individuals.
• Provide assistance and coordination along with our agency nurse of medical care, nutritional guidelines and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Provide a tax-exempt monthly stipend for supporting the individual, along with room and board cost, to the Lifesharing provider.
• Provide 24 hours a day/ 7 days week availability for management or on-call emergency support.
• Respite support.

For further information please contact Theresa Empson, Lifesharing Director, at 215-849-3377, extension 235.