On February 12, 2020, Mary C. Mayhew, Secretary for the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration, visited our ICF (Intermediate Care Facility) Davie Group Home, in Davie Florida.
We were honored that the Secretary took the time out of her busy schedule to stop by one of our homes.
The Florida Agency of Health Care Administration’s mission is “Better Health Care for All Floridians.” Every day the agency looks for ways to improve health care in Florida. As Secretary, she administers the state’s estimated $25.2 billion Medicaid program, the licensure of the state’s 48,500 health care facilities and shares health care data through the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis. So, needless to say, the Secretary’s time is very valuable.
The Secretary’s goal was to see firsthand the services provided to people with intellectual disabilities within an ICF (Intermediate Care Facility) setting. She was interested in discussing and learning about the services we provide and how the she could best assist us in meeting the needs of the people we support.
She learned much about this home, which has been in operation since the early 90’s.
The Secretary listened intently as we described the home that has 6 residents with intellectual/developmental disabilities who have lived together for many years.
She learned how the residents receive medical, dietary and behavioral services, as well as training in daily living and social skills to help them become as independent as possible.
We described how residents attend day services outside the home where they are able to socialize with a variety of people while learning new skills.
The Secretary offered encouragement and pledged her support in any way she could. She expressed her thanks for the informative tour and that the experience gave her a deeper understanding of the group home environment and its needs.
Her visit was very meaningful to us. We’re grateful for the opportunity to communicate the services we provide and role we play in the lives of the people we support.
