Short answer: To get paid to care for a loved one through Structured Family Care (SFC) or our Family Hire program, your loved one first needs Georgia Medicaid and a spot on one of two Medicaid waivers: CCSP or SOURCE. Here’s how that works in Columbus, and where we can help.
CCSP or SOURCE: which one?
- CCSP (the Community Care Services Program) is for adults 65 and older, or younger adults with a physical disability, who need the level of care a nursing home provides but want to stay home.
- SOURCE is for people who get SSI Medicaid and have a chronic health condition or disability. It adds a primary care doctor who works with a case manager.
- Both can include SFC and Family Hire. For a side-by-side look, read SFC vs CCSP vs SOURCE.
Step by step in Columbus
1. Make sure your loved one has Georgia Medicaid
If they don’t, they’ll need to apply through DFCS or Georgia Gateway. Income and asset limits apply and change each year. We can help you figure out where to start.
2. Ask for a screening
For CCSP: in Columbus, CCSP intake goes through the River Valley Area Agency on Aging. Call the statewide line, 1-866-552-4464, and it will connect you to the right office. They’ll do a short phone screening.
For SOURCE: SOURCE is run by local SOURCE programs, and each one covers certain counties. If your loved one has SSI, call us and we’ll point you to the SOURCE program for your county.
3. Have the in-home assessment
If the screening looks like a fit, a nurse or case manager visits your loved one at home to see how much help they need with daily activities like bathing, dressing and getting around.
4. Expect a possible wait
CCSP has a limited number of spots. If there’s a waiting list, people with the greatest need are usually served first. Keep your phone number current so you don’t miss the call.
5. Tell the case manager which provider you want
Once your loved one is approved, a case manager builds the care plan and arranges services. This is where you say you want Freedom Adult Care for Structured Family Care or Family Hire. Use our full name, Freedom Adult Care. FreedomCare is a separate company, and we’ve had other names over the years, so the full name helps the referral reach us.
Already on CCSP or SOURCE?
Then you may be able to skip straight to the last step. Call us and we’ll check your loved one’s waiver status and talk with their case manager.
Where we can help
Freedom Adult Care is a Medicaid-credentialed provider based in Columbus since 2003. We can’t approve anyone for a waiver. That’s the state’s job. But we can tell you which waiver to ask for, help with the paperwork and work with the case manager once your loved one is approved.
Common questions
How long does it take to get on CCSP?
It depends on the screening, the assessment and whether there’s a waiting list. Some families move in weeks. Others wait longer. Calling early helps.
Can I start SFC or Family Hire before the waiver is approved?
No. Your loved one needs Georgia Medicaid and an approved CCSP or SOURCE waiver first. We can help while you wait.
My loved one already has a case manager. Can we switch to Freedom Adult Care?
Often, yes. Tell the case manager you want Freedom Adult Care by name, or call us and we’ll help.
Do I have to live in Columbus?
No. We offer SFC in 20 Georgia counties and Family Hire in 10 counties around Columbus. The steps are the same, though the local office may be different.
Find out in one call
The first call is free and takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Call (706) 786-3041 and we’ll tell you which waiver to ask for and which program fits. You can also read How to become a paid family caregiver in Columbus or SFC or Family Hire: which one fits?