For generations, Sunrise Community has advanced its mission to “create valued lives for people with disabilities” and is a respected leader of service with a highly favorable reputation among peer providers, governing agencies, families, and people served. Through acquisitions and organic growth, Sunrise has responded to the needs of communities in states throughout the eastern United States for decades.
On December 21, 2022, representatives from the State of Iowa met with several Sunrise leaders to share the state’s plan to transfer over 120 adults with I/DD from its two Resource Centers. It was Sunrise’s solid service reputation that motivated the introduction. This initial conversation launched an extensive due diligence of the expansion opportunity that included a variety of environmental, funding, demographic, and service delivery study.
On February 21-24, 2023, Sunrise leaders visited Iowa to meet with state, provider, Medicaid, and MCO representatives to further study and confirm service and system support details before submitting the provider application. From multiple meetings throughout the visit, Sunrise was enthusiastically encouraged to apply to join the service delivery system to meet the current and growing service and care needs of some of the most vulnerable Iowans residing in Iowa State Resource Centers.
Another Sunrise visit to Iowa soon followed, including tours to both state Resource Centers. In June, Sunrise acquired three, four-person homes in communities surrounding the capital of Des Moines, including: Grimes, Polk City, and Altoona. Concurrently, we worked with state employees to finalize our provider application to serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with priority service to adults who plan to transition from the Glenwood Resource Center. In June, Sunrise received approval to become an Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) with plans to provide Supported Community Living services starting in the Summer of 2023.
On July 11-14, Sunrise’s VP of Business Development will travel to Iowa to interview finalists for the Iowa State Area Director, with plans to hire by July’s end. Once hired, recruitment for direct support professionals will commence as adults who desire to reside in a Sunrise home are identified. We are thrilled to continue expanding and positively impacting the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the nation!
