Our Story

In 1973, while sipping coffee around the kitchen table and sharing stories of their children, a small group of parents had a vision - a vision of a safe, "children first" environment where kids with disabilities would receive quality, loving care. Just three years later, Hiawatha Homes opened its doors at a brand new facility in northwest Rochester, providing forty children with a cutting edge, state of the art program that included round the clock long term care and short term respite care. Additional services offered included physical and occupational therapy, recreational and leisure activities for children.

As the years moved on, the children grew and so did their needs. Recognizing the need to provide quality programming for soon-to-be young adults, Hiawatha Homes opened the Adult Home in 1981 to provide support for twenty adults with disabilities.

The trend for smaller homes to promote independence and community inclusion saw the opening of Hiawatha's first community-based home in 1986 and the closure of the Children's Home and Adult Home soon after. Today, over 140 individuals benefit from Hiawatha's community-based residential homes.

Who We Support

Hiawatha Homes, Inc. supports children, adults, and families with:

• Developmental disabilities
• Physical health needs
• Brain injury
• Specialized medical needs
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Emotional and behavioral health needs

How We Support People

Hiawatha Homes is dedicated to providing person driven support services to individuals and families. Quality support services will be delivered with dignity and respect for each person and his or her unique needs.

Our Homes and Programs

Community-Based Homes
Family Support Services
LEEP
SKIP
In-Home Support Program

Respite

Since opening the Children’s Home in 1976, Hiawatha Homes has expanded to become a diversified system of family support services and twenty-two community-based homes.  Today, over 140 individuals benefit from Hiawatha’s community based residential homes through:

• Advocacy
• Nursing and support therapies
• Community involvement
• Respite support

Our goal is to coordinate opportunities for greater personal growth for people with disabilities in their homes and in the community through:

• Lifetime skills training
• Personal needs training
• Recreations/leisure activities
• Social activities
• Community involvement

LEEP is a program for older school aged youth and adults who have disabilities. The program runs Monday through Friday after school, non-school days, before and after day programs, and during the summer.  LEEP provides a supervised environment with structured learning and recreational activities.  Activities may include:

Activities may include:

• Craft and cooking
• Domestic training
• Personal safety training
• Social skills training
• Special Summer field trips

SKIP is a program for school-aged youth who have emotional support needs or disabilities.  The program runs Monday through Friday after school, nonschool days, and during the summer.

SKIP focuses on developing:

• Domestic and life skills
• Personal safety
• Social skills
• Special summer field trips
• Tools for successfully dealing with emotions

Once a child has matured and developed skills they may move to the LEEP Program (Life Enrichment and Exploration Program) which is very similar to the SKIP program but focused on young adults.

Referral Information:
Marge Dent, Program Director
(507) 226-0703 direct line

Contact Information:
Brandy Allen, Coordinator
(507) 289-4444

Sam Peplinski, Program Coordinator
(507) 289-4444

In-Home Support Program

Hiawatha’s In-Home Program is for individuals of all ages who have a disability and still live in their family’s home or in foster care.  Individuals receiving services in this program have 1:1 staffing.  The program runs 365 days a year and is flexible based on individual needs. Services are provided in the family home, at a Hiawatha location, or elsewhere in the community.  Activities are customized to the individual’s wants and needs. Examples of activities are similar to those of the LEEP program, but may also include:

• Assistance in getting up and ready for school/work
• Assistance with homework
• Participation in evening or weekend leisure activitiess

Respite

Respite care offers temporary care within our community based homes for individuals whose care givers may need a helping hand. This is offered to individuals who are currently living at home but on occasion the families may need a break.  This offers families the opportunity to spend some quality time with their other children, covers assistance in family emergencies, gives families an opportunity to travel for work or leisure, and assures the families that their child is safe and is enjoying their time away also. 

Board of Directors

Hiawatha Homes Inc 2013

• Margaret (Peg) Lloyd, MD, President
• Mary Brouillard, Vice President
• Peter Carryer, MD, Treasurer
• Linda Becker, Past President
• Mark Johnson, HHF President

• Linda Becker
• Bradly (Brad) Berg
• Fran Bradley
• Larry Johnson
• Rahn Lund
• James (Jim) Marcella
• Frank McAnulty
• Brian Rotty
• Anna Restovich Braun
• Victoria (Vicki) Snyder

  Get To Know Us!

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