Community Living Arrangements

(CLAs) enhance the quality of life for

adults with mental retardation through

community-based personalized supports.

This is often an attractive option for

individuals with mental retardation who

require supervised housing but wish to

live in a community setting. Currently,

the level of support at each CLA is 24-

hour staff supervision for three

residents.

Since 1996, the Mental Retardation

Services division of Catholic Social

Services has opened seven CLAs. The

CLAs challenge assumptions and

expand the boundaries of what is

possible through:

• Maintaining family-sized homes

in the community,

• Fostering the development of

relationships with other

community members,

• Encouraging residents to

participate in community and

volunteer activities, and

• Promoting independent living

and socialization skills.

The CLAs accept referrals from the

Department of Human Services in

Philadelphia and from the Offices of

Mental Retardation throughout

Southeastern Pennsylvania.