Resident Services

Corporate

1. What are the criteria for admission into a UMAR group home?
    
2. How many group homes does UMAR manage?
    
3. How many apartments does UMAR manage?
    
4. How many people does UMAR support?
    
5. How big is a group home?
    
6. What age are UMAR residents?
    
7. How are the group homes staffed?
    
8. What programs does UMAR offer?
    
9. Does UMAR have a registry list for its group homes?
    
10. Upon acceptance into a UMAR home, what financial requirements will I be responsible for?

1. What is UMAR’s turnover rate for direct care employees?
    
2. What is UMAR’s mission?
    
3. When was UMAR established?
    
4. Who makes up UMAR's Board of Directors?
    
5. What is UMAR’s annual budget?
    
6. How many employees does UMAR have?

Resident Services

1. What are the criteria for admission into a UMAR group home? 
   UMAR does not base acceptance requirements upon a general or standard for its residents. Aside from being at least 18 years of age with a primary diagnosis of mental retardation or other developmental disability, UMAR considers age compatibility within a home, personality compatibility and specific physical requirements of the individual. To ensure that an individual’s placement is beneficial to both the individual and the other group home residents, a 90-day trial period is standard  for all new admissions
    

2. How many group homes does UMAR manage?
   UMAR currently operates 22 group homes across Western North Carolina in Asheville (2), Hayesville (1), Charlotte (5), Concord (1), Cornelius (1), Statesville (1), Lexington (1), Lincolnton (2), Gastonia (2), High Point (1), Greensboro (2) and Winston-Salem (3). High Point was the site of UMAR's original group home. Our Lexington group home will open in late summer 2008.
    

3. How many apartments does UMAR manage?
   UMAR operates 8 apartments in Charlotte
    

4. How many people does UMAR support? 
   UMAR serves over 200 individuals through its program services.
    

5. How big is a group home?
   On average, group homes are approximately 3,000 sq. ft. with 7 bedrooms (one for overnight staff) and common living areas. In this home-like atmosphere, residents learn independence and enjoy a social environment that is not available in other long-term care settings.
    

6. What age are UMAR residents?
   UMAR residents vary in age (from 18 to 70), gender, race, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
    

7. How are the group homes staffed?
   Staffing is handled around-the-clock by trained Residential Counselors. UMAR's group homes have live-in staff that work 7-days on and 7-days off. A couple of group homes require 3 shifts of awake staff, due to the needs of the residents. Apartment homes only require up to 20 hours of residential care per week (depending on the needs of the individuals).
    

8. What programs does UMAR offer?
   UMAR's program services include an arts program, group supported employment, recreation activities, personal growth goals,  advocacy, Developmental Therapies Services and CAP services (Community Alternatives Program) in a parent/guardian’s home or the client’s own home. Group home residents gain independence by learning to cook dinner, wash their own laundry and clean their bedrooms. Because UMAR provides transportation services, a large portion of group home residents are active in vocal and musical groups, hobby clubs and sporting events, and a majority are employed in the community.
    

9. Does UMAR have a registry list for its group homes?
   While UMAR provides supports to over 200 individuals through its program services, there are still nearly 200 individuals that have specifically requested UMAR's residential services, but we are unable to accommodate at this time. In North Carolina, over 7,000 individuals with developmental disabilities are on waiting lists for services and supports (not served or underserved).
    

10. Upon acceptance into a UMAR home, what financial requirements will I be responsible for?
    Aside from the monthly state approved board rate, UMAR does not enforce any financial requirements on its residents or their families, and acceptance into a group home does not depend on a family’s financial situation. To help bridge the gap between government subsidization and the actual cost of living in the group homes, UMAR does advocate a multi-year pledge program to it’s supporters, as well as planned giving options.

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Corporate

1. What is UMAR’s turnover rate for direct care employees?
   On average, UMAR’s turnover rate for caregivers in 2006-07 was 19%. In April 2005, a University of Minnesota study reported that the national average turnover rate for direct care providers was 75%.
    

2. What is UMAR’s mission?
   UMAR promotes community inclusion, independence and growth for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, employment and cultural enrichment opportunities.
    

3. When was UMAR established?
   Established in 1983, UMAR is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to developing and managing group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. UMAR's first home was in High Point, NC.
    

4. Who makes up UMAR's Board of Directors?
   Click here to view a list of UMAR's Board of Directors
    

5. What is UMAR’s annual budget? 
   UMAR’s annual budget for 2006-07 is $5,400,000. 80% of our income comes from government funding. The remaining 20% is generated through church contributions, multi-year pledging, corporate donations, planned giving and fundraising.  UMAR's 2006 overhead administrative expenses were only 13% of the annual expenses.
    

6. How many employees does UMAR have?
   UMAR employs approximately 83 full time staff, 48 part time staff and hosts a varying number of volunteers depending on special events or availability (please note these numbers are an average and may fluctuate.

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