Two Success Stories

Two successful group home development programs are in New Jersey and Illinois. The Good Neighbors Program in New Jersey, established by the Department of Human Services, is similar to the Portland program but is statewide. Its mission is “to advocate for an ongoing, proactive exchange of information and education among providers of residential social services and community members to ensure mutual understanding and respect that results in long-term, supportive, peaceful relationships that promote safe, livable communities.”

Besides facilitating the establishment of group homes, the program is also dedicated to educating children, which includes a school curriculum about disability and difference, along with coloring books that introduce the ideas of difference and disability.

In Illinois, the DuPage County Community Development Commission has worked with the DuPage County Health Department and the Alliance for the Mentally Ill to facilitate the siting of group homes. By keeping the elected officials and residents constantly informed of new developments in group home building, they have diffused tensions and achieved many of their construction goals.