Family Care Giver as Host Home Provider: Meet the Family and Village that Support Bre Bradshaw

Bre is a 39-year-old fun loving woman who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a complex, genetic disorder that affects multiple systems in the body. The syndrome usually results from partial chromosome deletions that affect how genes turn off and on. The most predominant symptom of PWS is an inability to control eating.

“Within months after her birth, we knew Bre would need support, especially after she was diagnosed with PWS at three (years of age),” says her mother, Beverly. “The school system and various private pay agencies assisted our family until Bre graduated from high school and turned 21 years old. Unfortunately, Prader-Willi will prevent Bre from ever living on her own.”

While living in Jefferson County, Bre’s host home living situation wasn’t working out. In 2016, the family moved to Colorado to be closer to Bree’s brother Kit Jr., and his growing family. Upon moving, notifications and referrals were sent out to new agencies searching for a good home for Bre’s continued program services. “Mary Anne Cooper, a Dungarvin Placement Supervisor, received our request and began to really pursue Bre. We are so thankful she did,” shares Beverly, who then began working for Dungarvin as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). Through this process, the family discovered that Bre could actually be supported by her parents while living at home. So, Beverly and husband, Kit, became Dungarvin Host Home Providers for their daughter, but not before making sure they had enough support.

“Becoming a provider is a fairly easy process,” says Director Bruce Mayberry. “After processing one’s application and completing background checks, the staff provide you with an outline of trainings required from the State of Colorado and from Dungarvin. Most trainings are done online, from the convenience of your own home. Dungarvin’s staff are here to support you with a common goal of being able to support family members (or others) with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities while being compensated for your services.”

For the last eight years, Bre has been supported by the Dungarvin Day Program in El Paso County (CO). Four days a week, the Day Program picks up Bre up each morning and drops her safely at home after a day full of community activities. Beverly says this is the first time she has ever encountered such a service-minded Day Program. “They have been providing amazing activities this year,” says Beverly. “Bre and the Day Program participants are planting two gardens; visiting museums; doing ceramics; and going bowling. Bre has the highest single game and series, and she’s even become captain of her team! The staff keep Bre active and engaged all while providing crucial line of sight supervision, making sure she is safe around extra food temptation.”

Day Program Director Jennifer Acree, Robin Avitia and Cindy Ward stay in constant communication providing daily journals on Bre’s activities, food consumption, exercise, and any issues to keep Beverly in the loop.

“Dungarvin has been an answer to our family’s prayers,” believes Beverly. “They genuinely love Bre and have become like family to us.” Program staff have all studied Bre’s rare syndrome and partner with her parents at monthly home visits by Program Director Tandi Schips and Nurse Kathy Diamond. Dungarvin supports family care givers to prepare annual reviews both with County agencies as well as Human Rights Committees. Beverly reports that Dungarvin has offered classes to keep her up-to-date on necessary requirements to fulfill her qualifications to remain Bre’s Host Home Provider.

“Bre has a never give up spirit which has propelled her to do more and to function at a higher capacity than specialists told us she would be capable of,” gushes Beverly. One of Bre’s favorite activities is being a co-host in an annual holiday fundraiser called “Christmas This Year.” Each year, she and her friend Matthew Gordon sing and dance with children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to raise money for Club 21, a non-profit benefitting South African children with Down Syndrome. The play has been held at the ENT Center in Colorado Springs with several thousand in attendance, and Bre truly shines when she steps onto the stage.

If you live in Colorado and are interested in becoming a Host Home Provider, please contact Bruce Mayberry at bmayberry@dungarvin.com.