Types of Group Homes in California
Families and professionals searching for group homes in California often encounter confusing terminology. In practice, the term group home refers to several licensed residential programs for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, each designed to meet different levels of support and behavioral needs. Below is a clear explanation of the most common residential options regulated by the State of California.
Community Care Facilities (CCFs)
Most California group homes are licensed as Community Care Facilities (CCFs) by the Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
CCFs provide 24-hour, non-medical residential care for adults with developmental disabilities who require:
Personal care and supervision
Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
Support for health, safety, and self-protection
Regional Centers vendor CCFs and assign service levels based on the intensity of staffing, training, and clinical oversight required.
CCF Service Levels (Example: Level 4)
Service Level 4 Community Care Facilities support individuals with:
Significant deficits in self-help skills
Severe physical limitations
Serious behavioral challenges
These homes require higher staffing ratios and professional clinical oversight, making them appropriate for individuals who need structured, consistent support in a residential setting.
Supported Living Services (SLS)
Supported Living Services (SLS) are not group homes. Instead, SLS allows adults with developmental disabilities to live in:
Homes they own
Homes they lease
Shared housing of their choosing
SLS services are individualized and may include:
Personal care assistance
Household and budgeting support
Community integration and independence skills
SLS emphasizes choice, autonomy, and community inclusion, in alignment with California’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) requirements.
Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes (EBSH)
Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes (EBSH) are specialized residential programs for individuals with severe behavioral challenges.
Population Served
Children, adolescents, or adults with developmental disabilities who exhibit:
Severe self-injury
Aggression toward others
Elopement
Property destruction
Services Provided
24-hour awake staffing
Staff with advanced behavioral training, including Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)
Intensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) interventions
Individualized behavior support plans
Crisis intervention and stabilization
Clinical oversight by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and licensed clinicians
Licensing & Oversight
Licensed by CDSS
Program model regulated by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
Coordinated through Regional Centers
Community Crisis Homes (CCH)
Community Crisis Homes (CCH) provide short-term residential crisis stabilization for individuals with developmental disabilities experiencing acute behavioral or psychiatric crises.
Services Provided
Temporary 24-hour residential care
Intensive behavioral and mental health supports
Crisis prevention and intervention
Transition planning to less restrictive community settings
Coordination with Regional Centers and mental health providers
CCH programs are designed to prevent hospitalization or institutional placement and are typically time-limited.
Licensing & Oversight
Licensed by CDSS
Operated in close coordination with DDS and Regional Centers
Shared Goals of Specialized Residential Programs
Both Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes (EBSH) and Community Crisis Homes (CCH) aim to:
Provide community-based alternatives to institutional care
Support individuals with complex behavioral or psychiatric needs
Promote safety, stabilization, and skill development
Facilitate successful transitions to less restrictive environments
Comply with California’s HCBS Final Rule, emphasizing individual rights, autonomy, and community integration