Progress Industries secures grant for HCBS expansion – Newton Daily News

Progress Industries, a leading provider of services for individuals with disabilities since 1979, has been awarded grant funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Housing Infrastructure grant. This funding to expand home and community-based services is a tremendous achievement, particularly as Progress celebrates its 45th year of service, and underscores the agency’s commitment to sustaining a legacy of exceptional services for people with disabilities to achieve a fulfilling life in their community.

This grant, coupled with an earlier grant, has enabled Progress to acquire an additional home and complete accessibility modifications to that home as well as an existing home. Concurrently, renovations are underway at these homes, increasing P.I.’s capacity to deliver HCBS 24-hour residential living for eight people in Newton and Jasper County.

In Jasper County, Progress delivers 24-hour Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in eight homes with five residents per home. Progress also provides ICF residential services in three locations, with eight residents per home. Jasper County services also include hourly residential living support, day habilitation and supported employment. In Polk County, P.I. delivers 24-hour and hourly HCBS services.

This HCBS expansion enables eight individuals served in P.I.’s Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) program to transfer to an HCBS setting in their current community. This transition will be carefully executed with involvement from various stakeholders such as guardians, physicians, case managers and P.I. staff. Using this collaborative approach helps to prepare individuals, families and staff for the transition and supports their ongoing success in the HCBS environment.

Sandy Ham, President and CEO of Progress Industries stated, “This expansion of HCBS access is a strategic step forward for P.I. and the individuals we serve. Over the past several decades, home and community-based services have become a critical component of the Medicaid program and are part of a larger framework of progress toward community integration for people of all ages with disabilities. It aligns with the evolving landscape of Medicaid and the state of Iowa and reflects P.I.’s commitment to promoting independence, inclusion and choice for people with disabilities.”

“With greater flexibility and opportunities for individuals to participate in activities of their choice, such as day habilitation or supported employment, we are confident this transition will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.”